Children are naturally curious about their world.  I will be using many hands-on activities in the teaching of science.  I will also be using visual aides in technology to review concepts taught.  Virginia Standards of Learning for Science may be viewed at the following web site:  http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/sciencek.pdf

Month of September

Children will investigate and understand simple patterns in their daily lives.  These patterns include the weather, plants and animals, home and school routines.

Month of October

Today our science lesson was about living and non-living things.  We discovered that plants and animals are living things and water and rocks are non-living things.  We talked about different types of animals-mammals, birds and insects.  We discussed the characteristics of each type of animal.  Mammals have hair, four extremities, and give birth to their offspring.  Brids have feathers, wings, two feet, a beak and lay eggs.  Insects have six legs, two antenna and three body parts.  We wrapped up our discussion of animals.  We talked about the habitats of animals of the desert, woodland, and pond.  We talked about how animals change as they grow and how some look like their parents as they grow and how some go through metamorphisis as they change into adult animals. 

Month of November

Our unit of study this month centered around the five senses.  Children learned that humans have senses that allow them to seek, find, take in, and react or respond to information in order to learn about their surroundings.  The key concepts covered included: five senses and their corresponding sensing organs (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) can be used when responding to this information.

Month of December

Children will investigate and understand the difference between their basic needs and their wants.  They will also understand that money is used in exchange for their needs and wants.  Children will also learn about how living things change as they grow, and that they live and die, and offspring of living things are similiar but not identical to their parents and to one another.  Children will understand that these changes can be noted and measured.

Month of January

Children will study the season of winter and how people and animals react to this season.  They will also 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, and gas); the natural flow of water is downhill; and some materials float in water, while others sink.

Month of February

Children will investigate and understand that shadows occur when light is blocked by an object, that shadows occur in nature when sunlight is blocked by an object and that shadows can be produced by blocking artificial light sources.

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

Month of March and April

Children will continue to discuss changes and how changes can be noted and measured.  This month will center around plants and insects.

Children will investigate and understand that materials can be reused, recycled and conserverd.  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.

Month of May

Children will put into practice skills taught this year in science.  They will observe nature while playing outside and on field trips to Steele’s Creek.  They will recycle, plant seeds, and watch insects change forms