Web Resources Supporting the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum

Topic
A. Scientific Inquiry

Indicator
1. Seek information from readings, investigation, and/or oral communication.

a. Gather information from scientifically accurate resources and investigations to answer questions or solve a problem.

b.Use print and non-print resources that relate to the question or problem.

c. Record information using graphic organizers.

Indicator
2. Make predictions about what may occur.

Objectives

a. Use information collected from observations and investigations to make a prediction.

b. Ask questions that can be answered through an investigation.

Indicator
4. Recognize simple procedures in an investigation.

Objectives

a. Identify procedures in an investigation:

• Multiple trials are completed
• Appropriate materials and equipment are selected
• Clear, logical directions are included

Indicator
5 Identify and demonstrate safe procedures when conducting an investigation.

Objectives

a. Follow oral and written procedures.

b. Identify situations when wearing safety goggles, plastic gloves, and aprons is appropriate.

c. Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of science equipment and materials.

d. Use senses in appropriate and safe ways.

Indicator
6. Collect and record data from investigations.

Objectives

a. Collect data using simple tools, such as gears, pulleys, thermometers, hand lenses, simple microscopes, rulers, timers, funnels, and balances.

b. Record and describe data in charts, tables, graphs, and picture graphs.

c. Use metric units with numbers when making and recording observations.

Indicator
8. Compare data using observation, charts or graphs.

Objectives

a. Identify and describe likenesses and differences in data collected through observations and investigations.

b. Identify and describe likenesses and differences in data displayed on charts or picture graphs.

c. Recognize that conclusions can be made from data.

Indicator
9. Communicate findings from observations and investigations.

Objectives

a. Use oral language, drawings or writing to describe observations and results of investigations:

• The question investigated
• The prediction made
• The findings of the investigation

Topic
B. Critical Thinking

Indicator
1. Describe the similarities and differences among objects and materials.

Objective

a. Recognize similarities and differences among objects and materials.

b. Use observations and investigations to compare objects.

Indicator
2. Classify objects according to properties.

Objectives

a. Identify and describe the attributes and functions of objects.

b. Classify objects based on their attributes and functions.

c. Describe how objects were classified.

Indicator
3. Identify patterns found in the natural environment.

Objectives

a. Recognize repeated elements in a sequence.

b. Use oral language, drawings, or writing to describe repeated sequences found in nature, such as designs (veins on a leaf or patterns on a butterfly wing), sounds (heartbeats), and events (seasonal weather changes).

 

 

• Grouping and Classifying Materials... from the BBC's ReviseWise, an interactive activity in which students classify objects by the materials in which they are made.
• Sorting and Classifying Objects... interactive activity in which students test various objects and then sort them according to what they learn... fun!
• Grouping and Changing Materials... another interactive activity in which students sort objects by their material (wood, rubber, glass, metal).

Topic
C. Applications of Science

Indicator
1. Apply scientific concepts to make decisions about an identified, relevant science issue.

Objective

a. Use what they know and have learned to recognize a science-related issue.

b. Collect additional information using print and non-print resources and investigations.

c. Identify advantages and disadvantages of a possible decision.

Indicator
2. Use scientific knowledge to solve science problems.

Objectives

a. Identify a problem.

b. Use prior knowledge and investigations to solve a problem.

Topic
D. Technology

Indicator
1. Identify that models of real objects can be used to learn something about those objects.

Objectives

a. Identify that models can represent actual objects.

b. Construct models using classroom materials and equipment.

c. Explain how models are similar to and different from real objects.

Indicator
2. Recognize ways tools are used to collect scientific information.

Objectives

a. Make observations using magnifying instruments, such as hand lenses, binoculars, other magnifiers and stethoscopes.

b. Make measurements using standard tools, such as yardsticks, measuring cups, and bathroom scales, and metric tools, such as meter sticks, measuring cups, spring scales, and balances.

c. Describe how tools are used to collect information.

Indicator
3. Construct objects with simple tools using a variety of materials and describe the functions of those objects.

Objectives

a. Use common classroom materials to construct objects.

b. Describe objects constructed using oral language, drawing, or writing.

c. Explain the use of objects constructed using oral language, drawing, and writing.

Indicator
5. Recognize that inventions allow new ways to do work and solve problems.

Objectives

a. Identify that inventions such as Velcro and scissors have made work easier or solved problems.

b. Recognize that technologies, such as computers, calculators, television, CD-ROM, and DVD, have influenced daily life.

Topic
E. History of Science

Indicator
1. Recognize and describe that everyone can do science and invent things.

Objectives

a. Investigate and explore science concepts.

b. Identify student roles during science investigations.

Topic
C. Plate Tectonics

Indicator
1. Identify and describe natural features found on Earth.

Objectives

a. Describe the similarities and differences among mountains, hills, streams, rivers, and oceans. .

b. Identify and describe the natural features in their immediate environment.

c. Recognize and describe changes in the land and water of their immediate environment.

• Landforms... this website contains great information and photographs of earth's landforms.

Topic
E. Interactions of Hydrosphere and Atmosphere

Indicator
3. Identify and describe weather conditions for each season.

Objectives

a. Compare temperatures and type and amount of precipitation across the seasons.

b. Identify weather conditions for the different seasons.

Topic
A. Cellular

Indicator
1. Recognize and explain that the similarities and differences of external structures can be used to classify living things.

Objectives

a. Recognize external structures that can be used to classify familiar organisms.

• Body covering, such as hair, scales, and fur
• Appendages, such as arms, legs, antennae, and tails
• Number of legs, such as 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8
• Leaf shape, such as oval, rounded, and lobes

b. Classify familiar and unfamiliar organisms according to external structures.

• Familiar, such as humans, rockfish, bees, wolf spiders, and roses
• Unfamiliar, such as orangutan, penguin, blowfish, cicada, horseshoe crab, and Venus fly trap

Indicator
2. Recognize and explain how the function of various external structures enables plants and animals to survive.

 

 

 

Objectives

a. Identify and describe the physical structures of seeds that help them to be dispersed.

b. Identify and describe structures necessary for survival, such as eyes, nose/antennae, ears, skin/hair/scales/feathers, legs/fins/wings/tail, arms, and mouth/beak/teeth/proboscis.

c. Explain how identified structures function in survival, such as ways to locate others of the same species, to obtain food, to avoid predators and other dangers, to move from place to place, to communicate, etc.

Topic
B. Genetics

Indicator
1. Identify the similarities and differences among offspring and their parents.

Objectives

a. Compare the features of an offspring to those of its parents.

b. Compare the features of multiple offspring from the same parents.

c. Observe and describe how living things change as offspring develop into adults.

• Plants
• Animals

• Are You My Mother?... interactive game in which students match an offspring with its parent.
• Life Cycle Sites... series of sites about this topic, interactive.
• Life Cycle of a Butterfly... webquest, lesson w/activity, diagram of cycle.

Topic
A. Properties of Matter

Topic
C. Classification and Structure of Matter

Indicator
1. Identify and classify materials as solids and liquids.

Objectives

a. Recognize that solids have a definite shape.

b. Recognize that liquids flow and take the shape of their containers.

c. Classify materials as being either solids or liquids.

d. Recognize and describe that water on Earth can be a solid or a liquid.

Indicator
3. Recognize and describe the properties of a mixture.

Objectives

a. Describe a mixture as a combination of two or more substances.

b. Identify the parts of a mixture using physical properties.

c. Identify common mixtures, such as salads, trail mix, and Tinker Toys[tm].

 

• What Are the 3 States of Matter?... short movie from NASA kids, very cute!

• Solids, Liquids and Gases... interactive activity from the BBC's ReviseWise in which students learn and classify these, test and worksheet included.

Topic
A. Mechanics

Indicator
3. Identify and describe forces.

Objectives

a. Describe that a force is a push or pull that changes the way an object moves.

b. Identify that things near Earth fall to the ground unless something holds them up.

Topic
C.. Electricity and Magnetism

Indicator
2 . Recognize and describe the effect of magnets on some objects.

Objectives

a. Classify materials that are attracted and not attracted by magnets.

b. Describe that magnets exert pushes and pulls on other magnets.

Topic
D. Wave Interactions

Indicator
2. Recognize and describe that vibrating objects make sounds.

Objecitves

a. Recognize that the vibrations of various materials cause sound.

• Rulers
• Rubber bands
• Strings
• Tuning forks

b. Recognize that sound producing vibrations can be seen and/or felt.

c. Identify the vibrating parts of various musical instruments that produce sound.

d. Recognize that vocal chords vibrate to produce sound.

Topic
B. Interdependence of Organisms

Indicator
1. Recognize and explain that a habitat provides for the survival needs of animals and plants

Objectives

a. Identify the survival needs of plants.

• Light
• Air
• Water

b. Explain how animals depend on plants for food and shelter.

c. Identify the survival needs of animals.

• Air
• Water
• Food
• Shelter

d. Compare the survival needs of humans with those of other animals.

• Aquatic Explorers... research model developed by BCPS addresses this indicator.

 

• Growing Plants... interactive activity from the BBC in which students have to give a plant the right amount of water and light in order for the plant to grow, a lot of fun!

Topic
D. Environmental Issues

Indicator
1. Identify and classify aspects of the environment that are made by humans and those that are not made by humans.

Objectives

a. Identify features of the natural environment, such as a mowed lawn or a park, that are made by humans.

b. Identify features of the natural environment, such as plants, erosion, bird's nest that are not made by humans.