Science Overview

Science

Use processes of science to actively explore and increase understanding of the envirnoment

• Ask questions about objects
• Use senses to observe, classify, & learn about objects
• Predict what will happen next based on experiences
• Use language to describe observations
• Use simple equipment to experiment, observe, and increase understanding
• Record observations through dictating to an adult, drawing pictures, or using other forms of writing

Acquire scientific knowledge related to life science

• Observe, explore, & describe a variety of animals & plants
• Recognize there are basic requirements for all common life
• Participate in activities related to preserving the environment
• Observe, explore, and describe a vareity of living and non-living objects
• Understand that plants and animals have varying life cycles

Acquire scientific knowledge related to physical science

• Investigate and describes the states of matter
• Describe objects by their physical properties
• Explore simple machines
• Investigate different types / speeds of motion

Acquire scientific knowlege related to earth science

• Participates in activities to explore the earth & sky
• Investigate, compare, & contrast seasonal changes in the immediate environment
• Discover through observations that weather changes from day to day

Ways to support instruction at home

• Create a "feely" bag using a bag or old sock. Place objects in the bag & have your child identify the objects by touching only. Ask your child to identify the objects & describe how it feels (soft/hard, smooth/bumpy, etc.).
• Help you child learn about life science through planting a seed (such as a bean or grass seeds) in a small cup or pot. Talk with your child about what the plant needs to grow, such as water and light. Have your child draw a picture of the plant once a week to chart the plant's grow.
• Help your child understand the different properties of matter by making gelatin. Have them use their senses to observe and describe the changes from liquid to solid. Eat and enjoy!
• On the weekend allow your child to check the weather and decide what to wear.
• Take a nature walk & collect rocks. Have your child sort the rocks by as many possible (size, color, texture, shape, etc.).
• Check out books from your local library about animals, plants, and other science concepts.
• During bath time provide several different objects for your child to play with in the tub. (i.e. a rubber duck, a metal spoon, a plastic bowl, etc.). Talk about why some sink and some float. Do some "experiments" to see if you can change what they do. Fill to bowl with water, for example, to see if it will sink.
• Look at the night sky for several weeks around the same time and locate the moon. Is it behind a treee, over the garage, or across the street? Does it change places? Does it seem higher or lower in the sky? Does it change shape? Invite your child to draw a picture showing all the different wayss he/she has seen the moon each evening.