Overview

The Fairfax County Elementary Science Program of Studies is a hands-on or experiential curriculum designed to provide students with a basic understanding of Earth and space, life, and physical science concepts. Students develop a solid base of science knowledge, apply learned knowledge to solve problems, communicate information, use experimental design, and make connections to science in our everyday world. The program materials include activity-centered units, science trade books, Windows on ScienceTM videodiscs, and specific web sites correlated to each science unit.

• Scientific Investigation, Reasoning, and Logic
  • Experimental Design
  • Five Senses
• Physical Science
  • Shapes, Colors, and Physical Properties
  • Magnets
  • Sink or Float
• Earth Science
  • Seasonal Changes
  • Natural Resources
• Life Science
  • Squirrels
  • Ants

Scientific Investigation, Reasoning, and Logic

Experimental Design

• K.1 The student will conduct investigations in which
  
  • a) basic properties of objects are identified by direct observation;
    
  • b) observations are made from multiple positions to achieve different perspectives;
    
  • c) objects are described both pictorially and verbally;
    
  • d) a set of objects is sequenced according to size;
    
  • e) a set of objects is separated into two groups based on a single physical attribute;
    
  • f) nonstandard units are used to measure common objects;
    
  • g) a question is developed from one or more observations;
    
  • h) picture graphs are constructed using 10 or fewer units;
    
  • i) an unseen member in a sequence of objects is predicted; and
    
  • j) unusual or unexpected results in an activity are recognized.

Five Senses

• K.2 Students will investigate and understand that humans have senses that allow one to seek, find, take in, and react or respond to information in order to learn about one’s surroundings. Key concepts include: five senses and corresponding sensing organ (taste-tongue, touch-skin, smell-nose, hearing-ears, and sight-eyes); and sensory descriptors (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, rough/smooth, hard/soft, cold, warm, hot, loud/soft, high/low, bright/dull)

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Physical Science

Shapes, Colors, and Physical Properties

• K.4 The student will investigate and understand that the position, motion, and physical properties of an object can be described. Key concepts include colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple), white, and black; shapes (circle, triangle, square, and rectangle) and forms (flexible/stiff,straight/curved); textures (rough/smooth) and feel (hard/soft); relative size and weight (big/little, large/small, heavy/light, wide/thin, long/short); and position (over/under, in/out, above/below, left/right) and speed (fast/slow).

Magnets

• K.3 The student will investigate and understand that magnets have an effect on some materials, make some things move without touching them, and have useful applications. Key concepts include attraction/nonattraction, push/pull, attract/repel, and metal/nonmetal; and useful applications (refrigerator magnet, can opener, magnetized screwdriver, and magnetic games).

Sink or Float

• K.5 The student will investigate and understand that water flows and has properties that can be observed and tested. Key concepts include water occurs in different states (solid, liquid, gas); the natural flow of water is downhill; and some materials float in water while others sink.

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Earth Science

Seasonal Changes

• K.6 The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals. Key concepts include living things change as they grow and need food, water, and air to survive; plants and animals live and die (go through a life cycle); and offspring of plants and animals are similar but not identical to their parents and one another.
  
  
• K.8 The student will investigate and understand simple patterns in his/her daily life. Key concepts include weather observations; the shapes and forms of many common natural objects including seeds, cones, and leaves; animal and plant growth; and home and school routines.
  
  
• K.9 The student will investigate and understand that change occurs over time, and rates may be fast or slow. Key concepts include natural and human-made things may change over time; and changes can be noted and measured.

Natural Resources

• K.10 The student will investigate and understand that materials can be reused, recycled, and conserved. Key concepts include materials and objects can be used over and over again; everyday materials can be recycled; and water and energy conservation at home and in school helps preserve resources for future use.
  

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Life Science

Squirrels

• K.6 The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals. Key concepts include living things change as they grow and need food, water, and air to survive; plants and animals live and die (go through a life cycle); and offspring of plants and animals are similar but not identical to their parents and one another.

Ants

• K.6 The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals. Key concepts include living things change as they grow and need food, water, and air to survive; plants and animals live and die (go through a life cycle); and offspring of plants and animals are similar but not identical to their parents and one another.

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