Science activities: First Grade UNIT CONTENT STANDARD ACTIVITY NAME DESCRIPTION WEEK #1 9/13-9/17 Intro + Find pictures for board/modeli ng clay animals Introduce the classroom & lab structure, go over lab safety rules; have students find pictures that fit into the categories that make Earth unique/use modeling clay to make animals. WEEK #2 9/27-10/1 (solid) Observe Ice & ABCs of Solids Students observe ice cube in a plastic bag and write/draw what it looks like now vs. in the future; students help me make an ABC list of various solids WEEK #3 10/4-10/8 WEEK #4 10/11-10/15 WEEK #5 11/1-11/5 (liquid) (gas) 1.b: Students know the properties of substances can change when the how liquids flow, liquids, & Gleup Gas Shapes & Observe Air Making Mixtures Students use droppers with water and oil to drop on a piece of wax paper to see how they flow; Students measure water into a measuring cup and see how the shape changes in various containers; make gluep. Students observe the shape of gas when a balloon is filled with air and how it s shape changes when the balloon moves; Students look outside to try to explain how we can tell there is air. Students make mixtures of solids using many objects in a shoebox and shaking them to mix; mixture of liquids with oil & water; solids & liquids with salt and water.
WEEK #6 11/15-11/19 WEEK #7 11/29-12/3 Investigation & experimenta tion 1.b: Students know the properties of substances can change when the Visualizing Melting & Dry Ice Reversible vs. Not Reversible Students will observe and compare an ice cube (colored with food coloring) melt in a cup of hot water vs. cold water. They will also make observations about dry ice. Students will observe things that have undergone changes, and see which changes can be reversed and which cannot. WEEK #8 12/6-12/10 WEEK #9 1/3-1/7 WEEK #10 1/10-1/14 1.b: Students know the properties of substances can change when the 3.a: Students know how to use simple tools (e.g., thermometer, wind vane) to measure weather conditions and record changes from day to day and across the seasons. 3.a: Students know how to use simple tools (e.g., thermometer, wind vane) to measure weather conditions and record changes from day to day and across the seasons. Baking Soda & Vinegar Snowflakes temperatures Students will try mixing baking soda and vinegar in different ways to see the reactions and gasses. Students look at images of snowflakes and draw them, and if time permits, take temperature measurements of sand, air, & water. Students will watch a brainpop video about the water cycle; students will rotate around the room to 6 thermometer stations to measure the temperatures around the room.
WEEK #11 1/24-1/28 3.c: Students know the sun warms the land, air, and water. Temperature with Heat Lamps Students will record temperatures of sand, water, and air while under heat lamps for a period of time. They will then compare how the temps are different for the 3 trials. WEEK #12 1/31-2/4 WEEK #13 2/7-2/11 Investigation & Experimenta tion Water Cycle on Butcher Paper Magnets Students will crumple up butcher paper on their tables to represent mountains/valleys, and then draw the mountains & ridges with a marker. When water is added, it shows precipitation/runoff. Students will use magnets to determine things around the classroom that are made of metal, and gain an understanding of how magnets work. WEEK #14 2/28-3/4 3.c: Students know the sun warms the land, air, and water. Sun vs. Shade Students will use a temperature chart to measure temperatures (with thermometers) of things outside that are either in the sun or the shade. WEEK #15 3/14-3/18 Environments Students will walk outside with a hand lens, find a specific area, and write (or draw) things in their chart that are living or non-living.
WEEK #16 3/21-3/25 No TLP, IB training WEEK #17 3/28-4/1 Rain Forests Students will watch the Brain Pop video about rain forests, then do a rhyming activity, find the hidden animal game (from the video links), then draw a rain forest canopy. WEEK #18 4/18-4/22 Earth Day Planting Seeds Each student will plant seeds in their own containers to take home and care for. WEEK #19 4/25-4/29 WEEK #20 5/2-5/6 2.a & 2.d: Students know how to infer what animals eat from the shapes of their teeth (e.g., sharp teeth: eats meat; flat teeth: eats plants). Under Cover Animal coverings Model Feathers & Observe Teeth Students will watch a BrainPopJr. video about classifying animals, then use materials to represent different animal coverings (feathers, fur, etc ) to glue onto pictures of the appropriate animal. Students will make feathers by drawing on waxed paper, then dropping water on them to show what happens to birds when they get wet; students will look at their own teeth as well as pictures of animals teeth and determine if they eat meat or plants.
WEEK #21 5/23-5/27 2.e: Students know roots are associated with the intake of water and soil nutrients and green leaves are associated with making food from sunlight. Examine Plants Students will use hand lenses to examine several examples of different types of plants, including all their parts. WEEK #22 6/6-6/10 Last day of science! Q & A Students will be able to ask any science related questions they might have and summarize science for the year.