The following chart contains the Kentucky Combined Curriculum Document for 5th Grade Science as of November, 2009.
Big Idea: Grade: The Earth and the Universe (Earth/Space Science) Grade: Fifth The Earth system is in a constant state of change. These changes affect life on earth in many ways. Development of conceptual understandings about processes that shape the Earth begin at the elementary level with understanding what Earth materials are and that change occurs. At the heart of elementary students’ initial understanding of the Earth’s place in the universe is direct observation of the Earth-sun-moon system. Students can derive important conceptual understandings about the system as they describe interactions resulting in shadows, moon phases, and day and night. The use of models and observance of patterns to explain common phenomena is essential to building a conceptual foundation and supporting ideas with evidence at all levels. Academic Expectations2.1 Students understand scientific ways of thinking and working and use those methods to solve real-life problems.2.2 Students identify, analyze, and use patterns such as cycles and trends to understand past and present events and predict possible future events.2.3 Students identify and analyze systems and the ways their components work together or affect each other. | ||
Program of Studies: Understandings | Program of Studies: Skills and Concepts | Related Core Content for Assessment |
SC-5-EU-U-1Students will understand that the earth’s water supply has existed since the formation of the planet and is constantly cycled from the ocean to the atmosphere, allowing the same water to be endlessly reused without the creation of new water. SC-5-EU-U-2Students will understand that water is a powerful solvent that dissolves earth materials, allowing them to impact the ocean system as water is cycled into it. | SC-5-EU-S-1Students will investigate how water can change forms yet still be conserved in the water cycle SC-5-EU-S-2Students will create/analyze/explain representations that illustrate the circulation of water (evaporation and condensation) from the surface of the Earth, through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere (water cycle) SC-5-EU-S-4Students will explore the concept of watersheds and identify factors that impact them, including results of interactions of water with earth materials (e.g., dissolving minerals, moving minerals and gases) SC-5-EU-S-8Students will explain why scale models are important tools for understanding a number of phenomena (e.g., solar system, watersheds, earth’s atmosphere) but are not always easy to construct or require trade-offs in other aspects of the model (e.g. distance vs. size) | SC-05-2.3.1 Students will: · describe the circulation of water (evaporation and condensation) from the surface of the Earth, through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere (water cycle);· explain how matter is conserved in this cycle. Water, which covers the majority of the Earth’s surface, circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere in what is known as the water cycle. DOK 2 SC-05-2.3.2 Students will explain interactions of water with Earth materials and results of those interactions (e.g., dissolving minerals, moving minerals and gases). Water dissolves minerals and gases and may carry them to the oceans. DOK 3 |
Here is a link to the new Learner Standards based on national standards http://www.education.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6C5BD824-B2E3-4D10-B219-7878176323DC/0/SPLDScience.pdf . You will see that these contain benchmarks at 4th, 7th and 11th grade. We're all waiting to see what the detailed expectations are for 5th grade. Stay tuned!