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Elementary Curriculum

 

Science - 2nd Grade

District Course #212

Course Description

Science at the elementary level will explore concepts in three main areas: earth science, physical science, and life science. The scientific method and measurement concepts will be incorporated in all three areas, and coordinated with laboratory activities. Unit Zero is not to be taught as a separate unit. Unit Zero has been added to the scope of the course in order to outline major concepts that will be used in units throughout the year. State standards are imbedded throughout the course and guide its instructional objectives. While each standard is expressed through specific instructional objectives, instructors should seek opportunities to apply standards throughout the course.

Adopted Materials

Title: Discover the Wonder
Publisher: Scott Forseman

Hands on Science Laboratory Kits

STC Changes
STC The Life Cycles of Butterflies
STC Balancing and Weighing
FOSS Air and Weather

Copyright Resources

Appendix - Bibliography

Course Scope

Unit 0 Unifying Concepts Ongoing
Unit 1 Physical Science: Matter 8-12 Weeks
Unit 2 Earth Science: Weather 4-6 Weeks
Unit 3 Life Science: Animals 4-6 Weeks

Unit 0 Unifying Concepts
Scientific Inquiry, Technology, Communication
Unit 1 Physical Science
  • Recognize, identify, and classify states of matter (solids, liquids, gases)
  • Position/ motion of objects
Unit 2 Earth Science
  • Four seasons
  • Characteristics of weather
  • Evaporation & precipitation
  • Properties of air
  • Recycling
Unit 3 Life Science
  • Animal Growth & Development
  • Animal habitats

Assessment Correlation acronyms key

Unit 0

Unifying Concepts, Scientific Inquiry, Technology, and Communication

Ongoing

Instructional Objective

212.00 Know the Unifying Concepts and Skills that direct science, activate technology and provide historical and social perspectives.

Standard Reference
2.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Explore & use models to explain how theories work

Discover the Wonder by ScottForesman
STC Kits
FOSS Kits

 

02

Measure in standard and/or metric units

 

03

Understand the concepts of past, present, and future

 

04

Understand & utilize the scientific method

 

05

Use scientific inquiry to develop critical thinking skills

 

06

Understand the relationship between science and technology

 

07

Use available technology to assist in solving problems

 

08

Understand the importance of working in teams to solve scientific problems

 

09

Identify the contributions of notable scientists

 

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Unit 1

Matter & Motion

8-12 weeks

Instructional Objective

212.01 Know that objects have combinations of properties.

Standard Reference
2.S.2

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Identify a property of a form of matter.

STC Kit "Changes"

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.02 Recognize and classify matter as a solid, liquid, or gas.

Standard Reference
2.S.2.1.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Classify and compare matter based on properties.

STC Kit "Changes"
Trade Books

TMA

02

Give examples of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.03 Recognize that matter can change states (solid, liquid, gas).

Standard Reference
2.S.2

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Identify changes that occur in matter.

STC Kit "Changes"

TMA

02

Show how water can change states.

TMA

03

Create an experiment by dissolving a solid in a liquid and then make observations.

TMA

04

Observe and describe how a liquid in a covered and an uncovered dish differ in the evaporation process.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.04 Explore the position and motion of objects.

Standard Reference
2.S.2

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Locate the position of an object relative to another object or the background.

STC Kit "Balancing and Weighing"
Lessons 2-5
Trade Books
Multimedia Source

TO

02

Record changes in the position of an object and describe the resulting motion.

TO

03

Explore and create a structure that balances.

TMA

04

Relate ways balance and weight are used in everyday life.

TMA

05

Investigate a beam balance and the position of the fulcrum.

TMA

06

Research people who have used balance and weight in their occupation.

TMA

07

Investigate balance and motion through the use of mobiles.

TMA

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Unit 2

Weather

4-6 weeks

Instructional Objective

212.05 Identify the four seasons and their characteristics.

Standard Reference
2.S.4

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Draw an outdoor scene that depicts typical weather for each season.

Trade Books

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.06 Understand the characteristics of different weather conditions.

Standard Reference
2.S.4.1.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Identify a fact pertaining to the characteristics or the formation of clouds.

FOSS Kit "Air and Weather

TO

02

Identify different types of clouds.

TMA

03

Know how warm air rises to form clouds.

TMA

04

Observe and describe patterns of weather and temperature.

TMA

05

Chart the early morning weather conditions, make a prediction for the day’s weather based on charted conditions, and compare his or her predictions to actual conditions at the end of the day.

TMA

06

Become familiar with instruments that monitor weather conditions.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.07 Explore evaporation and precipitation.

Standard Reference
2.S.4

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Identify a specific stage of the water cycle.

FOSS Kit "Air and Weather
STC Kit "Changes"
Lesson. 3

TO

02

Conduct an investigation to demonstrate the water cycle.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.08 Know the properties of air and its effect on weather.

Standard Reference
District

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Demonstrate that air is invisible and takes up space.

FOSS Kit "Air and Weather
ScottForesman Ch. 3 D54

TMA

02

Investigate the movement of air.

TMA

03

Design and construct a project that uses air to make it move.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.09 Identify the characteristics of the local environment.

Standard Reference
2.S.5

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Analyze the importance of resources (i.e. rocks, water, plants, soil).

Trade Books
McGraw-Hill Health
ScottForesman
Ch. 3 B50-B54
Fish & Game, Idaho Power, BFI, Parks and Recreation, BLM

TMA

02

Know how changes in the environment affect living things.

TMA

03

Identify social issues of the local environment through guest speakers and social action activities.

TO

Instructional Objective

212.10 Understand the concept of recycling.

Standard Reference
2.S.5

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Explain recycling and material conservation methods.

McGraw-Hill Health,
Lessons 35, 36

TMA

02

Understand the relationship between recycling and water, air, and land pollution.

TMA

03

Explore ways people can prevent pollution.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.11 Understand the conservation of natural resources.

Standard Reference
2.S.5

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Investigate ways people can conserve natural resources through recycling efforts.

McGraw-Hill Health,
Lesson 35
Trade Books
Multimedia Sources

TMA

02

Research ways conservation of natural resources has changed over time.

TMA

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Unit 3

Animals

4-6 weeks

Instructional Objective

212.12 Observe and explore the life cycles of plants and animals and their basic needs.

Standard Reference
2.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Compare living and nonliving things.

MK Nature
Trade Books

TMA

02

Analyze the similarities and differences of living things (use a Venn diagram).

TMA

03

Name a part of a living thing and determine its use or benefit.

TMA

04

Describe changes in an organism’s life cycle.

TMA

05

Know four stages of an insect’s life cycle.

TMA

06

Compare and contrast the life cycles of at least two living things.

TMA

Instructional Objective

212.13 Recognize that animals live in different habitats for which they are suited.

Standard Reference
2.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Relate an animal to its environment (i.e. ocean, desert, forest).

ScottForesman
Ch. 2 A24 & A26
Trade Books
Ch. 1 A1

TMA

02

Contrast plants and animals that live in different kinds of environments (i.e. hot, cold, wet, dry, sunny, dark).

TMA

03

Describe a model energy system (i.e. terrarium, aquarium).

TMA

04

Know the five elements that all habitats provide: air, water, food, shelter, and space.

TMA

05

Show how color and shape protect an animal in its habitat.

TMA

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This Bibliography provides a sampling of books and other resources that complement the various science units. The selections were made from the resource portions of each kit as well as the National Science Teachers Association (http://www.nsta.org). Please visit these areas for more ideas.

Changes

Blume, Judy. Freckle Juice. New York: Four Winds Press, 1985.
     Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for 50 cents.

Galdone, Paul. The Little Red Hen. New York: Seabury Press, 1973.
     The little red hen finds none of her lazy friends willing to help her plant, harvest, or grind wheat into flour. But all are eager to eat the cake she makes from it.

Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman. Nate the Great. New York: Coward McCann Geoghegan, 1972.
     Nate the Great solves the mystery of the missing picture.

Balancing and Weighing

Fitzpatrick, Julie. Balancing. Illustrated by Diana Bowles. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1988.
     This book contains activities that are designed to encourage students to explore balance. It contains illustrations and clear directions for making balance toys and mobiles and creating balances with fulcrums. The text defines terms such as balance, lever, fulcrum, balance point, and mass in simple words.

Jennings, Terry. Balancing. Illustrated by David Anstey. New York: Gloucester Press, 1989.
     This book contains illustrations that show children involved in balancing activities: playing on seesaws, walking on beams, and riding tricycles and bicycles. It also provides simple directions for making balance toys and mobiles.

McCully, Emily Arnold. Mirette on the High Wire. New York: The Putnam Publishing Group, 1992.
     Emily McCully's watercolor illustrations enhance her story about a little girl's friendship with a tightrope walker who has become afraid of walking the high wire. Mirette learns to walk the rope and, in the process, helps "The Great Bellini" rebuild his courage. This book complements the reading selection in Lesson 3 of Balancing and Weighing unit.

The Life Cycle of Butterflies

Kent, Jack. The Caterpillar and the Polliwog. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1982.
     Impressed by the caterpillar's boast that she will turn into a butterfly, a polliwog is determined to watch the caterpillar very carefully and turn into a butterfly, too.

Ryder, Joanne. Where Butterflies Grow. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1989.
     An imaginative tale of metamorphosis and how it must feel to experience it. Excellent illustrations. Provides hints about how to attract butterflies to your garden.

Viorst, Judith. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. New York: Atheneum, 1971.
     A sensitive story about Barney and how everyone acted and felt when he died. Portrays death as a natural part of life.

Air and Weather

Hiscock, Bruce. The Big Rivers: The Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Ohio. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-80871-2
     This book describes how the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers produced the Midwest floods of 1993. Watercolor illustrations set the mood for the simple text in picture book format. This is an excellent book on weather phenomena for young children.

Simon, Seymour. Tornadoes. Morrow/HarperCollins. ISBN 0-688-14647-3
     Extensive information on tornadoes is provided for readers. More specifically there are explanations of how tornadoes develop, where they occur, how they are tracked, and the dangers associated with them. Through the use of well-illustrated diagrams and real-life photographs, the reader can explore this weather phenomenon.

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