1st Grade Science Curriculum

Below is an outline of the science concepts covered in the 1st grade science course.

Chapter 1: Sound & Vibrations

Objectives

  • Understand that sound is produced by vibrations.

  • Identify different sources of sound.

  • Vibrations are what cause us to hear.

  • Explore sound waves and their characteristics.

  • Learn how scientists investigate the world around them.

NGSS Standards Covered

1-PS4-1: Plan and conduct investigations to provide evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate.

Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Sound is Created by Vibrations

  • Key Concept: Vibrating materials create sound.

  • Science Fact: Objects like bells, strings, and drums vibrate to produce sound.

  • Lesson 2: Different Sounds Have Different Vibrations

  • Key Concept: The intensity of sound is related to the amplitude of vibrations.

  • Science Fact: Louder sounds have larger vibrations, while softer sounds have smaller vibrations.

  • Lesson 3: Sound Travels in Waves

  • Key Concept: Sound travels in the form of waves.

  • Science Fact: Sound waves move through the air, and their properties (e.g., frequency) determine the pitch of a sound.

  • Lesson 4: Scientists Investigate with Questions

  • Key Concept: Scientists explore and investigate the world to answer questions.

  • Science Fact: Scientists use their curiosity to ask questions and conduct experiments to find answers.

  • Lesson 5: Making Observations and Drawing Conclusions

  • Key Concept: Observations and data collection are essential to the scientific process.

  • Science Fact: Scientists observe, collect data, and draw conclusions to learn about the world.

Chapter 2: Light

Objectives

  • Understand how light behaves and interacts with objects.

  • Explore the properties of light, including reflection and refraction.

  • Learn about the sources of light.

  • Apply knowledge to create a special light communication device.

NGSS Standards Covered

  • 1-PS4-2. Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects can be seen only when illuminated.

  • 1-PS4-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.

  • 1-PS4-4. Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.*

Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Introducing Light

  • Light is a form of energy that travels in straight lines

  • Objects need light to be seen

  • Lesson 2: Colors in Light

  • The shape and materials of objects can impact how they project and manipulate light.

  • Prisms, CD, transparent/opaque

  • Lesson 3: Properties of Light

  • Light can go through, somewhat through, or be blocked by different materials

  • Lesson 4: Light Signals and Communication

    • Light can carry information and be used for communication.

Chapter 3: Animal Traits & Mimicry

Objectives

  • Explore animal and plant traits.

  • Understand the concept of mimicry in nature.

  • Take aspects of plant/animal parts and use them to create unique designs to solve problems.

NGSS Standards Covered

1-LS1-1: Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.*

Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Structure and Function in Nature

  • The external structures and features of plants and animals are adapted to help them survive and thrive in their environments.

  • Understanding that specific traits have evolved to serve specific purposes in nature, such as protection, mobility, and survival.

  • Lesson 2: Biomimicry for Problem Solving

  • Learn how humans can draw inspiration from nature's solutions to design innovative and sustainable solutions for various challenges.

  • Recognizing that mimicking traits found in plants and animals can lead to developing new technologies and designs for human needs.

  • Lesson 3: Biodiversity and Sustainability

  • Species are interconnected in an ecosystem, and biodiversity contributes to the overall health and balance of nature.

  • Understanding that maintaining biodiversity and sustainable practices are critical for the well-being of both natural ecosystems and human society.

Chapter 4: Animal Traits & Mimicry

Objectives

  • Explore the relative life cycles of different organisms.

  • Understand the processes of growth, development, and reproduction, specifically how parents train their young.

  • Learn about various survival strategies and adaptations in the animal kingdom.

NGSS Standards Covered

  • 1-LS1-2. Read texts and use media to determine patterns in the behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.

  • [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns of behaviors could include the signals that offspring make (such as crying, cheeping, and other vocalizations) and the responses of the parents (such as feeding, comforting, and protecting the offspring).]

  • 1-LS3-1. Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.

  • [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include features plants or animals share. Examples of observations could include leaves from the same kind of plant are the same shape but can differ in size; and, a particular breed of dog looks like its parents but is not exactly the same.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include inheritance or animals that undergo metamorphosis or hybrids.]

  • LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms Adult plants and animals can have young. In many kinds of animals, parents and the offspring themselves engage in behaviors that help the offspring to survive. (1-LS1-2)

  • LS1.D: Information Processing Animals have body parts that capture and convey information needed for growth and survival. Animals respond to these inputs with behaviors that help them survive. Plants also respond to some external inputs. (1-LS1-1)

  • LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits Young animals are very much, but not exactly, like their parents. Plants also are very much, but not exactly, like their parents. (1- LS3-1)

  • LS3.B: Variation of Traits Individuals of the same kind of plant or animal are recognizable as similar but can also vary in many ways. (1-LS3-1)

Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Plants

  • Plants have families, too

  • Variation in plants

  • Lesson 2: Animals and Care

  • Learn about various survival strategies used by animals to protect themselves and their young.

  • Discuss how animal adaptations help them survive in their habitats.

  • Lesson 3: Plants and Animals Work together

  • Underwater, plants and animals can work together to survive.

  • Lesson 4: Human variation, conclusion

  • Humans have variety too.

Chapter 5: Earth’s Place in The Universe

Objectives

  • Understand Earth's position in the solar system.

  • Explore the effects of Earth's tilt on seasons and daylight.

  • Use observations of celestial objects to make predictions.

NGSS Standards Covered

  • 1-ESS1-1: Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.

  • 1-ESS1-2: Make observations at different times of the year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.

Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Earth's Place in the Solar System

  • Students will learn about Earth's position in the solar system and the placement of sun, Earth, and moon

  • Lesson 2: Earth’s Tilt

  • Introduce how the tilt of the Earth's axis affects the changing seasons and the amount of daylight.

  • Lesson 3: Day and Night

  • A day has 24 hours, and is one full rotation of Earth on its axis

  • The sun rising and setting really comes from Earth’s rotation, the sun stays in one place

  • Lesson 4: Seasons

  • One year is one full orbit around the sun

  • One year has four seasons

  • Each season comes from the axis tilt at a given point in the year.