MSAD #55
Grade
Four Science Benchmarks
And
Units
10/05
A. Students
will understand that there are similarities within the diversity of all living
things. Students will be able to:
1. Group the same organisms in different ways using different characteristics.
q
Microworlds
2. Design and describe a classification system for organisms.
q
Microworlds
3. Describe the different living things within a given habitat.
q Microworlds
4. Compare and contrast the life cycles, behavior, and structure of different organisms.
q Microworlds
B. Students
will understand how living things depend on one another and on non-living
aspects of the environment.
Students will be able to:
1. Describe a food web and the relationships within a given ecosystem.
q
Microwords
2. Explain the difference between producers (e.g., green plants), consumers (e.g., those that eat green plants), and decomposers (e.g., bacteria that break down the ÒconsumersÓ when they die, and identify examples of each.
q
Microworlds
C. Students
will understand that cells are the basic units of life. Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding that a cell is the basic unit of living organisms.
q
Microworlds
2. Describe how single celled organisms exist.
q
Microworlds
3.
Explore
how the use of a microscope allows one to see cells in a variety of organisms.
q
Microworlds
4.
Describe
the functions of the major human organ systems.
q
Health
D. Students
will the basis for all life and that all living things change over time. Students will be able to:
3. Explain
how adaptations, in response to change over time, may increase a speciesÕ
chances of survival.
q
Microworlds
4. Illustrate how water and other
substances go through a cyclic process of change in the
environment.
q
Land
and Water
Energy
H. Students
will understand concepts of energy.
Students will be able to:
1. Identify different forms of energy (e.g., light, sound, and heat)
q
Magnetism
and Electricity
2. Draw conclusions about how the amount of force affects the motion of more massive
and less massive objects.
q Microworlds
I. Students
will understand the motion of objects and how forces can change that
motion. Students will be able to:
1. Describe the effects of different types of forces (e.g., mechanical, electrical, magnetic) on motion.
q
Magnetism
and Electricity
2.
Draw
conclusions about how the amount of force affects the motion of more massive
and less massive objects.
q Magnetism and Electricity
3.
Generate
examples illustrating that when something is pushed or pulled, it exerts a
reaction force.
q
Magnetism and Electricity
J. The student
will apply inquiry and problem-solving approaches in science and
technology. Students will be able
to:
1. Make accurate observations using appropriate tools and units of measure.
q
Magnetism and Electricity
q
Land and Water
q
Microworlds
2. Conduct
scientific investigations: make
observations, collect and analyze data, and do experiments.
q
Magnetism and Electricity
q
Land and Water
q
Microworlds
3. Design
and build an invention.
q
Magnetism and Electricity
q
Microworlds
4. Explain how
different conclusions can be derived from the same data.
q
Microworlds
q
Magnetism and Electricity
Scientific Reasoning
K. Students will
learn to formulate and justify ideas and to make informed decisions Students will be able to:
1. Give
alternative explanations for observed phenomena
q Magnetism and Electricity
2.
Describe
how feelings can distort reasoning.
q Microworlds
3.
Draw conclusions about
observations.
q Microworlds
4. Use
various types of evidence (e.g., logical, quantitative) to suppor a claim.
q Land and Water
5. Demonstrate
an understanding that ideas are more believable when supported by good reasons.
q Land and Water
6.
Practice
and apply simple logic, intuitive thinking, and brainstorming.
q Land and Water
Communication
L. Students
will communicate effectively in the application of science and technology. Students will be able to:
1.
Record
results of experiments or activities (e.g, interviews, discussions, field work)
and summarize and communicate what they learned.
q
Microworlds
2.
Ask
clarifying and extending questions.
q Microworlds
3.
Reflect on work in science and technology using such
activities as discussions, journals, and self-assessment.
q Microworlds
4.
Make and/or use sketches, tables, graphs, physical
representations, and manipulatives to explain procedures and ideas.
q Microworlds
5.
Gather and effectively present information, using a variety
of media including computer (e.g., spreadsheets, word processing, programming,
graphics, modeling)
q Microworlds
6.
Cite examples of bias in information sources and question
the validity of information from varied sources,
q Land and Water
7.
Function effectively in
groups within various assigned roles (e.g., reader, recorder)
q Land and Water
Implications of Science and Technology
M. Students will
understand the historical, social, economical, environmental, and ethical
implications of science and technology.
Students will be able to:
2.
Investigate
and describe the role of scientists and inventors.
q
Magnetism and Electricity
4.
Explain
practices for conservation in daily life based on a recognition that renewable
and
non-renewable resources have limits.
q Land and Water