Elementary Curriculum

Science - 5th Grade

District Course #512

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 Microworlds
STC Motion and Design
STC Rocks and Minerals

Copyright Resources

Appendix - Bibliography

Course Scope

Assessment Correlation acronyms key

• For specific Standard References please see: Idaho State Assessment Standards
• Download this curriculum and standards documentation as a "Printer Friendly" pdf file

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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.

Motion and Design

Challoner, Jack. Energy. Eyewitness Science Series. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
      This book explores where we can find energy and how we can make the most of it. "Is it possible to build a perpetual motion machine?" and "How is energy used in transportation?" are two of the many questions answered. Experiments and demonstrations are included.

Cobb, Vicki. Why Doesn't the Earth Fall Up? And Other Not Such Dumb Questions About Motion. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1989.
      This book answers nine questions about motion, explaining Newton's laws of motion, gravity, centrifugal force, and other principles of movement.

White, Jack R. The Hidden World of Forces. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1987.
      This book discusses some of the forces at work in the universe, such as friction, gravitation, electromagnetism, and surface tension. Illustrative experiments are included.

Technology, Engineering, and Design

Bortz, Fred. Catastrophe! Great Engineering Failure - and Success. Scientific American Mysteries of Science Series. Illustrated by Gary Tong. New York: Scientific American Books for Young Readers, 1995.
      This book discusses engineering failures and shows how engineers try to find and eliminate anything that can lad to failure in their designs.

Butterfield, Moira. Record Breakers and Other Speed Machines. Look Inside Cross-Sections Series. Illustrated by Chris Grigg and Keith Harmer. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
      This book contains colorful cross-sectional drawings that show the interior and exterior of 12 speed machines of different eras and kinds - ranging from the tea clipper ships to dragsters, powerboats and Indy cars. Brief text and simple, technical facts about each vessel introduce young readers to the technology of these vehicles.

Gunning, Thomas G. Dream Cars. Minneapolis, MN: Dillon Press, 1990.
      The author describes a variety of present-day experimental cars and tells how teams of designers and engineers can forecast the shape of future automobiles. The book also discusses vintage cars and how they influence future designs. Color photographs illustrate some of these unusual vehicles.

Morgan, Sally and Adrian Morgan. Technology in Action: Movement. Designs in Science Series. New York: Facts on Filek, 1994.
      This book is part of a series designed to develop young readers' knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of movement, structures, energy, light, sound, materials, and water using an integrated science approach. A central theme of the series is the close link between design in the natural world and design in modern technology.

Van Meter, Vicki, with Dan Guman. Taking Flight: My Story. New York: Viking, 1995.
      Vicki Van Meter tells how she piloted a plane across the continent at age 12 and across the Atlantic Ocean when she was 14. Her book tells of the obstacles she had to overcome to realize her dreams and integrates related fields such as mathematics, science, geography, and meteorology.

Inventors and Inventions

Gates, Phil. Nature Got There First: Inventions Inspired by Nature. New York: KingFisher, 1995.
      Illustrated with photographs and prints - contrasts inventions from eight categories of technology - including building materials, building designs, and the shape of tools - with nature's designs.

Jones, Charlotte Foltz. Mistakes That Worked. New York: Doubleday, 1991.
      This book tells the stories behind 40 things or processes that were invented or named by accident, including the vulcanization of rubber and the Frisbee disk.

Karnes, Frances A., and Suzanne M. Bean. Girls and Young Women Inventing: Twenty True Stories about Inventors Plus How You Can Be One Yourself. Minneapolis: Free Spirit, 1995.
      Part one of this book presents the stories of 20 girls and young women and their inventions. Part two describes the steps in the going from an idea to a working invention. Part three includes additional information to encourage readers as they begin the inventing process.

Platt, Richard. Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1994.
      This unique timeline features more than 400 inventions that have changed the world. The book shows, for example, what was happening in the world when the bicycle was invented and how the steam engine influenced industry and transportation during the nineteenth century.

Rocks and Minerals

Asimov, Isaac. How Did We Find Out about Coal? New York: Walker and Company, 1980.
      Presents a history of fire, considers wood as a fuel, and discusses the formation of coal and the history of its use as a fuel.

Brandt, Keith. Caves. Nahwah, NJ: Troll associates, 1985.
      Describes how caves are formed and what one might find inside.

Cole, Joanna. The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth. New York: Scholastic, 1987.
      On a field trip in the magic school bus, Ms. Frizzle's class learns firsthand about different kinds of rock and the formation of the earth.

Hiscock, Bruce. The Big Rock. New York: Atheneum, 1988.
      Traces the origin of a granite rock located near the Adirondack Mountains and describes how it reveals information about the history of the earth.

Lauber, Patricia. Volcano. New York: Bradbury Press, 1986.
      An account of how and why Mount St,. Helens erupted in 1980, the destruction it caused, and the return of life to that area.

Symes, R.F., and R.R. Hading. Crystal & Gem. New York: Knopf, 1991.
      Describes the basic shapes of crystals and how they form in nature, how crystals are studied and identified, how crystals are grown artificially, and other aspects of crystallography.

Microworlds

Gennaro, Joseph, and Lisa Grillone. Small Worlds Close Up. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1978.
      Remarkable black-and-white photographs of common objects magnified hundreds to thousand of times. A favorite for all levels. The text is brief.

Paige, David. A Day in the Life of a Police Detective. Mahway, NJ: Troll associates, 1981.
      A picture essay with brief text highlights investigative techniques and the use of a forensics laboratory in solving crimes.

Simon, Seymour. Hidden Worlds: Pictures of the Invisible. New York: William Morrow & Company, 1983.
      An exploration of things you cannot see around you, inside you, and out in space. Microscopes, telescopes, X rays, and high-speed and infrared photography reveal the invisible world in black and white as well as in color.

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