State Curriculum - Science

 Print pages on legal paper, landscape mode.
Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Standard 5.0 Physics: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of matter and energy and the energy transformations that occur Standard 5.0 Physics: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of matter and energy and the energy transformations that occur Standard 5.0 Physics: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of matter and energy and the energy transformations that occur
A. Mechanics A. Mechanics A. Mechanics
1. Describe the motion of objects using distance traveled, time, direction, and speed.
  a. Observe, describe, and compare types of motion.
  • Uniform motion as equal distances traveled in equal times, such as escalators, conveyor belts.
  • Variable motion as different distances traveled in equal times, such as an accelerating car, falling objects.
  • Periodic motion as motion that repeats itself, such as a child on a swing, a person on a pogo stick.
  
  b. Use measurements to describe the distance traveled as the change in position.
  
  c. Based on data describe speed as the distance traveled per unit of time.
  
2. Explain that the changes in the motion of objects are determined by the mass of an object and the amount (size) of the force applied to it.
  a. Observe and give examples that show changes in speed or direction of motion are caused by an interaction of forces acting on an object:
  
  b. Observe and explain the changes in selected motion patterns using the relationship between force and mass.
  
4. Cite evidence that energy in various forms exists in mechanical systems.
  a. Identify ways of storing energy (potential) in an object.
  • Raising an object above the ground
  • Putting it on the end of a compressed or extended spring or rubber band
  
  b. Identify that an object has energy (kinetic) related to its motion.
  
  c. Observe and cite examples showing that stored energy may be converted to energy of motion and vice versa.
  
B. Thermodynamics B. Thermodynamics B. Thermodynamics
1. Provide evidence that heat can be transferred in different ways.
a. Recognize and explain that heat can be transferred either by direct contact between objects at different temperatures or without direct contact.
  • A spoon in hot water
  • Heat from a flame
    
b. Observe, describe, and compare materials that readily conduct heat and those that do not conduct heat very well.
    
c. Classify materials as conductors or insulators based on how easily heat flows through them.
    
C. Electricity and Magnetism C. Electricity and Magnetism C. Electricity and Magnetism
1. Recognize and describe the effects of static electric charges.
a. Observe and describe how to produce static charges by friction between two surfaces.
    
b. Observe the phenomena produced by the static charges.
  • Light
  • Sound
  • Feeling a shock
  • Attracting lightweight materials over a distance without making contact
    
2. Investigate and provide evidence that electricity requires a closed loop in order to produce measurable effects.
 		2. Cite evidence supporting that electrical energy can be produced from a variety of energy sources and can itself be transformed into almost any other form of energy.
a. Identify the source of electricity needed to produce various effects:
  • Light - flashlight (battery)
  • Heat - hot plate, hairdryer (outlet, battery)
  • Sound - Ipod (battery) , doorbell(electrical wiring)
  • Movement - mechanical toys (battery, outlet)
   a. Research and identify various energy sources and the energy transforming devices used to produce electrical energy
  • Wind (generators, wind mills)
  • Sun (solar cells)
  • Water (turbines)
  • Fossil fuels (engines)
b. Investigate and describe (orally or with diagrams) how to light a light bulb or sound a buzzer given a battery, wires, and light bulb or buzzer.
   b. Cite examples that demonstrate the transformation of electrical energy into other forms of energy.
c. Describe and compare the path of electricity (circuit) within this system that caused the light to light or the buzzer to sound to those that do not affect the light or buzzer.
   c. Investigate and describe that some materials allow the quick, convenient, and safe transfer of electricity (conductors), while others prevent the transfer of electricity (insulators).
d. Observe, describe and compare materials that readily conduct electricity and those that do not conduct electricity.
   d. Identify and describe the energy transformations in simple electric circuits.
e. Provide evidence from observations and investigations that electrical circuits require a complete loop through which electricity can pass.
    
3. Cite evidence supporting that forces can act on objects without touching them.
 		3. Identify and describe magnetic fields and their relationship to electric current.
a. Investigate and describe the effect that two magnets have on each other.
  • Like poles repel
  • Opposite poles attract
   a. Investigate and describe the magnetic fields surrounding various types of magnets using materials, such as iron filings and small comapasses.
  • A single bar magnet
  • Two bar magnets with like poles facing
  • Two bar magnets with opposite poles facing
  • A horseshoe magnet
b. Based on observations, describe the effect of a magnet on a variety of objects including those that are metallic or non-metallic; those made with iron or made with other metals; and on other magnets.
   b. Investigate and explain ways to change the strength of a simple electromagnet by varying the number of coils wrapped, the amount of electricity in the wire, the number of batteries used, and whether or not an iron core is used.
c. Compare a compass to a magnet based on observations of the effect a variety of objects (metallic or non-metallic; those made with iron or other metals; and magnets) have on a compass.
   c. Describe how the electromagnet demonstrates the relationship of magnetism and electricity and identify common devices that demonstrate application of this relationship.
  • Electric motors (fans, hair dryers, can openers)
  • Electrical generators (turbine)
d. Provide examples to demonstrate the different ways a magnet acts on objects and how the objects respond.
   d. Based on investigations describe that electricity moving through a wire produces a magnetic force on materials placed near the wire.
  • Iron filings
  • Compasses
e. Investigate and describe how electricity in a wire affects the needle of a compass.
    
f. Describe how to make a simple electromagnet with a battery, a nail, and wire.
    
g. Cite examples showing that magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces can act at a distance.
    
D. Wave Interactions D. Wave Interactions D. Wave Interactions
1. Identify and describe the relationships among the various properties of waves.
    a. Cite examples to show that waves transfer energy from one place to another.
    b. Measure and describe the wavelength, frequency, and amplitude of waves using:
  • Water
  • Ropes
  • Springs
    c. Measure and describe the relationship between the frequency and the wavelength of a wave.
2. Provide evidence to demonstrate the relationship among the properties of waves using sound.
    a. Investigate and describe that the pitch of sounds can be varied by changing the rate of vibration.
    b. Identify and describe the relationship among frequency, wavelength, and pitch.
    c. Observe and describe the relationship between amplitude and loudness.
    d. Cite evidence that sound waves transfer energy using observation of sympathetic tuning forks, tuned guitar strings, etc.
3. Provide evidence to show that light travels in a straight line until it is reflected or refracted.
 		3. Investigate and cite the rules that govern behaviors of light.
  a. Observe and describe the images formed by a plane mirror.
 a. Based on data generalize the law of reflection.
  b. Based on observations trace the path of a ray of light before and after it is reflected (bounces) off a plane mirror.
 b. Cite evidence from observations and research to support the fact that something can be "seen" when light waves emitted or reflected by it enter the eye.
  c. Observe and describe that a ray of light changes direction when it crosses the boundary between two materials such as air and water or air to glass.
 c. Based on observations predict the change in the direction (refraction) of light as it travels from one material to another.
    d. Cite evidence that the amount of light energy absorbed or reflected depends on the color of the object illuminated.
4. Recognize and describe how light interacts with different materials.
  a. Classify materials as translucent, transparent or opaque.
  
  b. Explain that shadows are formed when objects block light.
  
  c. Observe and describe that prisms separate white light into its component colors.
  
  d. Pose questions about why objects appear to be different colors.
  
 

Note: Highlighting identifies assessment limits. All highlighted Indicators will be tested on the Grades 5 and 8 MSA. The highlighted Objectives under each highlighted Indicator identify the limit to which MSA items can be written. Although all content standards are tested on MSA, not all Indicators and Objectives are tested. Objectives that are not highlighted will not be tested on MSA, however are an integral part of Instruction.

 

MSDE has developed a toolkit for these standards which can be found online at: http://mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/science/vsc_toolkit.html.

 

January 2008