Unifying Concepts and
Processes 
Systems, Order, & Organization
Laws of force, motion, classification of organisms, planetary motion.
Evidence, Models, Explanation
Prediction, probability, hypotheses, models, laws.
Constancy, Change, Measurement
Rate, scale, patterns, trends, cycles.
Evolution & Equilibrium
Changes in environment, populations, ecosystems, conservation of energy, natural- and
human- induced hazards.
Form & Function
Diversity and adaptation of organisms, interaction of energy and matter, behavior of
organisms.
Science as Inquiry
Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific
investigation.
Design and conduct scientific investigation.
Use technology and mathematics to improve investigation and
communication.
Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using
logic and evidence |
Content
Life Science:
Characteristics of Organisms
 | Identify distinguishing characteristics of animals. |
| Identify and classify animals based on shared characteristics. |
| Recognize different sensory characteristics of animals. |
Life Cycles and Heredity
| Describe the basic life cycle of animals. |
| Identify the major stages in the life cycle(birth, growth, development, reproduction,
and death). |
| Identify stages in the life cycle of the butterfly. |
| Explain the metamorphosis of the butterfly |
| Compare the life cycle of the butterfly to other animals. |
Organisms
and Their Environment.
| Provide examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time to enable the
species to survive (e.g. shape of beak, shape of feet, placement of eyes). |
| Describe how plants use the sun’s energy to produce sugars by photosynthesis and
these become part of the food chain. |
| Describe seashores/rainforests as habitats. |
| Describe the effects of human interaction on the rainforest and seashore. |
Earth and Space Science:
Structure
of the Earth System
| Classify types of rocks and minerals. |
| Identify minerals based on physical properties. |
| Discuss and demonstrate the tests to measure physical properties. |
| Explain how soil is formed from the weathering of rocks and the decomposition of plant
and animal remains. |
| Relate precipitation, condensation, and evaporation to the water cycle. |
Earth's History
| Explain the effects of severe weather on the surface of the
earth (high winds, excessive amounts of rain/snow) |
Earth
in the Solar System
| Describe the earth’s part in the solar system, which includes the sun, the planets,
and their moons. |
| Identify the earth, sun, moon, and planets. |
| Discuss the earth’s revolution around the sun. |
| Relate day/night to the earth's rotation. |
Chemistry
- Properties of Matter
| Collect data and compare (qualitatively and quantitatively) the
size of objects (length and weight). |
| Describe how matter changes from one state to another. |
| Discuss and demonstrate the relationship of the phases of matter, using water as an
example, and identify these phase changes (evaporation, condensation, etc.) by name. |
Physics -- Energy
| Identify various forms of heat/energy (include friction). |
| Explain the effects of solar heat. |
| Describe the sources of energy/fuel. |
| Demonstrate and describe the effect of magnetic poles. |
| Compare the magnetic properties of objects and materials. |
| Identify characteristics of materials/objects that are attracted toward a magnet. |
Technology
and Engineering:
Materials
and Tools
| Identify materials needed to separate steel/ iron from other
metals (magnets). |
| Discuss what is needed to construct a device to separate and lift paper clips from a
mixture of paper clips and other non-magnetic materials. |
| Identify and discuss uses of simple machines such as incline planes, common levers, and
common pulleys. |
| Explain the difference between simple and complex machines. |
| Discuss how simple machines make work easier. |
|
Science Applications
Identify a problem or design an opportunity.
Propose designs and choose between alternative solutions.
Implement a proposed solution.
Evaluate the solution and its proposed consequences.
Communicate the problem, process, and solution.
Science: Personal & Social Perspectives
Personal and community health.
Population growth.
Natural resources.
Environmental quality.
Natural- and Human-induced hazards.
History and Nature
of Science
Science as Human Endeavor
Requiring reasoning, insight, energy, skill, and creativity, as well as habits of mind,
i.e., intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism, and openness to new ideas.
Nature of Scientific Knowledge
Including evaluation of experiments, observations, theoretical models, proposed
explanations, evidence, reasoning, and alternate conclusions.
Historical Perspectives
Including the study of famous scientists and discoveries. |