Units
summarized under each grade level are available from the
SSRC. |
| |
A
to Z Science |
A
to Z Science is an optional integrated science program. Teachers
who complete the two-hour district inservice receive the manual
and materials for teaching this program. The materials will
then be housed in the individual teacher’s classroom.
Professional Development offers training for this program.
Check your Professional Development catalog in the Science/Social
Sciences section online. |
Growing
Materials |
Teachers
receive a class set of planting materials. Students plant
seeds and observe their growth. |
| |
| |
This
unit takes a look at the characteristics of living things,
the similarities and differences between groups of animals,
and the habitats in which animals and plants live. Using language
acquisition strategies, two contrasting habitats (desert and
rain forest) are used to help students learn about the animals
and plants that exist in a habitat and their interdependence
on each other. The students will also have the opportunity
to observe living animals (aquatic snails and pill bugs) in
their natural habitat.
• Do NOT order this unit on the FIRST available delivery
date.
• All live animals that are delivered MUST be picked
up and cared for immediately upon arrival. |
| Solids
and Liquids
(Physical Science) |
In this
unit, students will make observations and conduct simple tests
to learn the properties of solids and liquids. Students will
learn to classify objects by their observable properties of
shape, texture, size, color and weight. |
| Skywatchers
(Earth Science) |
This
unit provides an introduction to objects observed in the sky
and the characteristics of seasonal weather patterns. Through
active participation students learn about the Sun being the
natural source of heat and light on the Earth, to read a thermometer,
measure precipitation, and gauge wind speed. |
| Rocks,
Soil, Water
(Earth Science) |
In this
unit, students learn the basic Earth materials of rocks, soil,
and water. Through hands on activities they learn the physical
properties and common uses of earth materials. Students will
also learn to identify the Earth’s natural resources
and ways to conserve these resources. |
Sorting |
This
unit includes a variety of different objects to help students
with beginning concepts of classification. Students classify
objects by their desirable properties of shape, texture, size,
color and weight. |
Measurement |
These
activities help teach the four types of measurement: area
and volume, linear measurement, weight, and comparisons. |
| |
The
Life Cycle of Butterflies
(Life Science) |
This
unit highlights the life cycle of the “Painted Lady”
butterfly. Students will observe the life cycle of the butterfly
while also observing the life cycle of the mealworm. Students
learn observation and recording skills while comparing these
two life cycles. |
Breath,
Blood, & Guts
(Life Science) |
This
unit introduces students to the human respiratory, circulatory,
and digestive systems. Through active exploration students
learn the major parts of these three systems and their functions.
*Jr. Scientist Beginning Lab Notebooks (yellow) are used in
lieu of student books. A supply has been ordered for your
school. See your Science Liaison for location of lab books
at your site. |
States
of Matter
(Physical Science) |
This
unit uses hands-on experiences to identify the properties
of the three common states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas).
Students observe, explore, and measure solids, liquids, and
gases, and investigate the processes by which one changes
into another. The importance of controlling variables and
keeping records is emphasized. |
Weather
Watching
(Earth Science) |
This
unit teaches students how to observe, describe, and measure
aspects of weather using key science vocabulary, weather instruments,
and scientific understanding. Students investigate such things
as temperature, wind strength, cloud formations, and thunderstorms.
Students also model tornadoes, track hurricanes, and interpret
weather maps. |
| |
The
Nature of Life
(Life Science) |
In
this unit students investigate the parts of a plant, how it
functions and the life cycle of a plant. They will also explore
macroscopic and microscopic organisms in an ecosystem and
the interrelationships between and adaptations of plants and
animals. |
Finding
Out
(Physical Science) |
Students
will explore the nature of how people find information. Communicating
information accurately is studied by having students work
in cooperative groups. Students will conduct a survey to answer
a question of their choosing. Later, they begin to design
simple experiments to control variables. |
From
Barley to Bubbles
(Physical Science) |
The
activities in this unit include matching, estimating, predicting
and comparing. The students begin the unit by using barleycorns
as a unit of measurement and end the unit by measuring the
duration and size of soap bubbles. |
Physics
of Sound & Light
(Physical Science) |
The
activities in this unit help students investigate how sound
travels, pitch and vibration and various ‘sound challenges’.
In addition, students will explore how light reacts when it
is reflected, refracted and absorbed.
*Jr. Scientist Intermediate Lab Notebooks (green) are used
in lieu of student books. A supply has been ordered for your
school. See your Science Liaison for location of lab books
at your site. |
Rocks
& Fossils
(Earth Science) |
This
unit includes activities for the students to learn about the
Earth through exploration of fossils, the earth’s layers
and rock formations. Natural events that affect the Earth
are researched and presented to the class.
*Jr. Scientist Intermediate Lab Notebooks (green) are used
in lieu of student books. A supply has been ordered for your
school. See your Science Liaison for location of lab books
at your site. |
| |
Survivor!
(Life Science) |
Students
are introduced to the general principles of classification
in this unit. Students will compare and contrast animals,
their behavior and plants as they learn about adaptations
to the environment. This unit should coincide with the 4th
Grade Desert Animal Presentation. |
| Variables
(Physical Science) |
Students
will discover relationships between objects and events through
controlled experiments. Students will fling, float, fly and
flip objects as they look for interactions, dependencies,
and cause and effect. |
Energy
& Magnetism
(Physical Science) |
In this
unit students are invited to investigate the characteristics
of magnets and electricity. After an exploration of how magnets
behave, students work with electrical circuits to produce
light, heat, sound and an electromagnet. |
Every
Drop Counts
(Earth Science) |
This
unit includes activities for the students to learn about the
Earth through exploration of fossils, the earth’s layers
and rock formations. Natural events that affect the Earth
are researched and presented to the class. This unit includes
activities designed to make students more aware of the role
that water plays in their lives, and how habits have a direct
effect on the amount of water used in our homes. |
Earth,
Wind, & Fire
(Earth Science) |
The students
will learn about many environmental factors affecting the
Earth as they look at satellite maps and tree-ring core images.
They will learn about weather by making their own weather
station and tracking weather conditions using current weather
maps of Arizona. Earth processes such as erosion, volcanoes,
plate tectonics and earthquakes are also explored in this
unit. |
| |
Bones,
Muscles, Brains
(Life Science)
|
This
unit helps students understand the relationships between structures
and functions of the skeletal, muscular and nervous systems
through several activities, including an extensive owl pellet
investigation!
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition
Bones, Muscles, Brains |
| Mystery
Powders
(Physical Science) |
In
this unit, students distinguish between mixtures and compounds
by conducting several tests. The unit stresses the importance
of carefully recording experimental results and making inferences
and predictions from those results. Pairs well with “What’s
the Matter?”
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition
Mystery Powders
|
| What's
the Matter?
(Physical Science) |
This
unit provides students the opportunity to investigate properties
of matter (molecules and atoms), including physical and chemical
changes of matter. Pairs well with “Mystery Powders”.
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition
What's the Matter? |
| May
the Forces Be With You
(Physical Science) |
Through
a series of hands-on activities, students explore the relationship
between force and motion. Investigations focus on Newton’s
Three Laws of Motion, principles of gravity and friction,
simple machines in everyday life, and the forces of flight.
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition.
May the Forces Be With You |
Guide
to the Galaxy
(Earth Science) |
In this
unit, students will travel through our solar system to discover
the relationships of the Earth and other objects in the solar
system. Through interactive activities, students will learn
about the lunar cycle, rotation, revolution, gravity and much
more!
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition.
Guide to the Galaxy |
|
This
is a required unit for teachers who are planning to take their
students on a field trip to one of our two Flight Centers.
"May the Forces Be With You" and this unit MUST
be completed prior to the field trip date. Students learn
about the parts of an airplane, the functions of the instrument
panel, and the effects of the pedals and control stick. This
unit is ordered by the flight center teacher after you schedule
the field trip. |
| |
Cells
to Systems
(Life Science)
|
This
unit helps students understand the relationships between structures
and functions of organisms through several hands-on activities,
including microscopic investigations into the parts of plant
and animal cells.
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition
Unit 1: The
World of Microscopes
Unit 2: Plant and Animal
Cells
Unit 3: Cells to Systems
|
Cells
to Systems Training
Complete the following activities and bring them with you
to class.
Activity
1 Importance of Water to Living Organisms
Activity 2 Plant Systems
Activity 3 Photosynthesis
Activity 4 Plant, Animal and Bacterial Cell Models
Activity 5 Human Body Systems
Powerpoint–Plant Systems |
| Powering
Our Future
(Physical Science)
|
In
this SRP developed unit, students will work through an interactive
computer learning experience to determine how energy can be
stored and transferred. They will also participate in various
hands-on activities through which they will gain a general
understanding of natural resources, basic scientific concepts
about forms of energy and energy transformations, and the
essential role energy plays in our lives.
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition
Powering
Our Future |
Oceanography
& Extreme Weather
(Earth Science) |
In this
unit, students will investigate the Earth’s atmosphere
and bodies of water and their interaction with earth systems.
They will also learn about various factors and weather systems
that impact our planet.
Click here for more resources from Britannica Online School
Edition
Oceanography
& Extreme Weather |
| |
The SSRC
and Educational Technology Departments are pleased to offer
students the opportunity to participate in the MPS/Boeing
Space Integration Module, also referred to as SIM. This highly
motivational experience is available to all 6th grade classes.
The 12 ft X 22 ft spacecraft is delivered to your school site
and is ready for students to take a simulated trip through
space powered by state standards in reading, writing, math,
social studies, science, technology and the arts. Using space
as the theme, SIM provides a lesson in critical thinking as
sixth grade students apply their curriculum in a variety of
scenarios using the latest in technology.
Training, support and all materials are provided by SSRC and
the Educational Technology Department. |
