Kindergarten Science

STANDARD 1: SCIENCE AS INQUIRY
As a result of the activities in grades kindergarten, all students will experience science as full inquiry. In the elementary grades, students begin to develop the physical and intellectual abilities of scientific inquiry.

Benchmark 1: All students will be involved in activities that develop skills necessary to conduct scientific inquiries.

Process Skills:

Observation:    characteristics of objects (size, color, shape)

Classification:    arrange items by a variety of characteristics

Measurement:    non-standard, linear

Communication:    ask questions to compare/contrast (venn diagram) draw a picture describe orally

Predicting:    make reasonable predictions to a given question

  STANDARD 2: PHYSICAL SCIENCE
As a result of the activities in grades kindergarten, all students will explore the world by observing and manipulating common objects and materials in their environment.

  Benchmark 2: All students will describe the movement of objects.

                #1  move objects by pushing, pulling, throwing, spinning, dropping, and rolling; describe the motion.  Observe that a force (a push or a pull) is applied to make objects move.

                #2  Describe locations of objects (using positional words)                                                                                                     

Benchmark 3: All students will recognize and demonstrate what makes sounds.

                #1  Discriminate between sound made by different objects.

(vocal music)

  STANDARD 3: LIFE SCIENCE
As a result of the activities for kindergarten, all students will begin to develop an
understanding of biological concepts.

  Benchmark 1: All students will develop an understanding of the characteristics of living things.

               #1  Discuss that living things need air, water, and food.

                #3  Discuss ways humans use their senses in their environments.

  STANDARD 4: EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
As a result of the activities for kindergarten, all students will observe closely the objects and materials in their environment.

  Benchmark 1: All students will describe properties of earth materials.

                #1  Observe, compare, and sort earth materials.

  Benchmark 2: All students will observe and compare objects in the sky.

                  #1  Distinguish between human-made and natural objects in the sky.

                #2  Recognize sun, moon, and stars.

  STANDARD 5: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
As a result of the activities for kindergarten, all students will have a variety of educational experiences that involve science and technology.

  Benchmark 1: All students will use technology to learn about the world around them.

                #2  Explore science through technology.  (science tools)

  STANDARD 6: SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES
As a result of the activities for kindergarten, all students will have a variety of experiences that provide understandings for various science-related personal and environmental challenges.

  Benchmark 1: All students will demonstrate responsibility for their own health.

                #1  Engage in personal care.  (hygiene)

                #2  Discuss healthy foods.  (proper diet)

                #3  Discuss that safety and security are basic human needs.  (safety)

                                (including principal, nurse, assemblies)

                #3  Practice reducing, reusing, and recycling.

  STANDARD 7: HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE
As a result of the activities for kindergarten, all students will experience scientific inquiry and learn about people from history.
This standard should be integrated with physical science, life science, and earth and space science standards.

 Benchmark 1: All students will know they practice science.

                #1  Be involved in explorations that make them wonder and know that they are practicing science.  

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