This course is available in the Fall only.
Description:
Students continue their journeys as scientific explorers, studying the
living world in life science and the characteristics of matter, sound,
and light in our physical science unit. In the Earth science unit,
students investigate the Earth’s composition and the forces shaping its
surface. Students continue to explore the scientific method and careers
in science.
Units:
Weather Patterns
In
this unit, your student will explore weather patterns. He will learn
how clouds form and why certain types of severe storms occur in specific
locations. From the layers of the atmosphere to global climates, your
student will explore the diverse nature of weather on Earth.
During
the unit, your student will complete two labs. The first lab will
require him to use the scientific inquiry skill of communication to
investigate balloons. The second lab focuses on evaporation. It includes
a follow-up investigation on the rate of evaporation.
The final
lesson in this unit introduces the long-term project. In this lesson,
your student will be given the project guidelines as well as the project
rubric and a list of possible topics. Your student will be given
opportunities to work on the long-term project during each remaining
unit.
The Universe
In
this unit, your student will read and watch movies about various
aspects of the universe. She will learn about the solar system as a
whole—and will then explore the relationship between the Earth, moon,
and sun. Your student will read about human exploration and the solar
system.
During the unit, your student will study stars. She will
learn about the colors and sizes of stars, and will be able to explain
the life cycle of a star in detail. Your student will also complete a
hands-on experiment to determine how craters form on planets and their
moons. By the end of the unit, your student will have a better
understanding of the universe.
Your student will complete the
project proposal for the long-term science project and submit it to her
teacher for approval during this unit.
Comparing Kinds of Matter
In
this unit, your student will begin to explore matter and its
properties. Your student will study the periodic table and will read
about different types of elements, including metals and nonmetals. He
will also explore electrical conductivity with relation to metals and
nonmetals.
During the unit, your student will learn about the
structure of matter and will be able to identify the parts of an atom.
He will learn how to compare different kinds of matter and will explore
matter in its different states. Finally, your student will learn how to
make a scientific inference by completing the Inquiry Skill activity,
Infer.
Your student will conduct the experiment for his long-term science project during the course of this unit.
Physical and Chemical Changes
In
this unit, your student will focus on learning about physical and
chemical changes in matter. She will explore how mixtures form and will
investigate whether or not a mixture can be separated into its parts.
She will also investigate what temperature of water freezes the
fastest—hot, warm, cool, or cold.
During the unit, your student
will complete reading assignments about chemical changes, as well
as acids and bases. She will learn how to determine whether a reaction
is a chemical reaction or a physical reaction. She will also learn how
salts are formed.
The experiment for the long-term science
project will be completed and the lab report sheet submitted. The
student will choose a product from three options and begin work on the
selected product for the long-range project presentation.
Using Forces
In
this unit, your student will learn about forces and motion. He will
complete labs that will require him to measure the acceleration of a
model car and measure the effect of friction on the energy of an object.
Your student will also investigate the six different types of simple
machines.
During the unit, your student will learn how motion is
affected by the force of gravity. He will define balanced and
unbalanced forces and will explore Newton’s three laws of motion.
Finally, your student will learn how energy is related to work.
The product choice for the long-term science project presentation will be completed during this unit.
Using Energy
In
this final unit, your student will explore various types of energy:
heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. She will complete three
labs that will require her to develop a hypothesis about heat flow,
explore the pitch of a sound, and examine the polarity of a magnet.
During
the unit, your student will learn how to differentiate between heat and
temperature. She will also learn how light travels and how colors are
made. By the end of this unit, your student will have a better
understanding of different forms of energy and how energy is used.
The
graded long-term science project will be returned to your student.
Lesson time will be given for suggested revisions. Completed projects
will be shared with other students during a sharing session.
Course Sets
Kit
Lesson Manual/Course Guide
- Gifted and Talented Science 5 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- iText McGraw-Hill Science: A Closer Look 5
Supplies
- Cobalt chloride paper
- Compass
- Goggles, safety
- Graduated Cylinder (100 mL)
- Litmus paper
- Magnet, bar (set of 2)
- Modeling clay
- Switch (2)
- Thermometers (2)