Science in fifth grade explores the nature of scientific inquiry, earth science, food and nutrition, and ecosystems.
By the end of the school year, all students should be able to:
■ Formulate questions that can be answered by scientific inquiry, such as observation and collection of data. Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer the questions.
■ Use mathematics in scientific inquiry.
■ Understand that rocks are composed of minerals.
■ Investigate, record, and explain how rocks and soil form.
■ Identify events, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, that cause earth movements.
■ Design and construct models of land forms.
■ Recognize habits that contribute to good health, including avoiding harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising regularly.
■ Understand that food supplies the energy and materials that living things need to grow and repair themselves.
■ Observe and identify the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
■ Identify examples of human activity that have had beneficial or harmful effects on other organisms.
Learning at Home
With your child, decide on a change that would help your family be healthier, for example, getting more exercise. Ask your child to find reliable sources of information in books or on the Web, and discuss what your family can do to make the change.
Encourage your child to take part in Earth Science Week, sponsored annually by the American Geological Institute. Local and national activities, information, and resources are available at www.earthsciweek.org.
As a family, visit the New York State Environment Hall at the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side to see how the natural landscape of our City and State developed over time. To find online information on rocks of New York and other places, visit www.amnh.org/ology/earth and click on “If Rocks Could Talk.”