5th Grade-Week 1 Earth Science Syllabus

Mr. Gantt’s Earth Science Lab

Weekly Lab Lessons and Homework

5^th Grade

1^st Lab Session Week

Earth Science Vocabulary Pre-Test

Concept: The Solar System

Homework: Solar System Crossword Puzzle and Parent Letter signed

Class Reading: FOSS Science Resources Read pages 145-168. Wonders CA Content Reader Read pgs 78-81, 84-87 & 90-93.

5. The solar system consists of planets and other bodies that orbit the Sun in predictable paths. As a basis for understanding this concept:

5a. Students know the Sun, an average star, is the central and largest body in the solar system and is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.

5b. Students know the solar system includes the planet Earth, the Moon, the Sun, eight other planets and their satellites, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets.

5c. Students know the path of a planet around the Sun is due to the gravitational attraction between the Sun and the planet.

2^nd Lab Session Week

Concept: The Solar System Part 2

5. The solar system consists of planets and other bodies that orbit the Sun in predictable paths. As a basis for understanding this concept:

5a. Students know the Sun, an average star, is the central and largest body in the solar system and is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.

5b. Students know the solar system includes the planet Earth, the Moon, the Sun, eight other planets and their satellites, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets.

5c. Students know the path of a planet around the Sun is due to the gravitational attraction between the Sun and the planet.

1^st quiz on the Solar System

3^rd Lab Session Week

Concept: Water Vapor        

Class Reading: FOSS Science Resources Read pages 182-196. Wonders CA Content Reader Read pgs 54-55.

In classroom experiment: Surface Area page 187-188

3. Water on Earth moves between the oceans and land through the processes of evaporation and condensation. As a basis for understanding this concept:

3b. Students know when liquid water evaporates, it turns into water vapor in the air and can reappear as a liquid when cooled or as a solid if cooled below the freezing point of water.

6. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

6c. Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on a student-developed question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure.

6g. Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and labeled

Concept: Local Water.

Class Reading: Wonders CA Content Reader Read pgs 60-61.

3e. Students know the origin of the water used by their local communities.

4^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Water Cycle

Homework: Water Cycle worksheet

Class Reading: FOSS Science Resources Read pages 219-226. Wonders CA Content Reader Reread pgs 54-55.

3a. Students know most of Earth’s water is present as salt water in the oceans, which cover most of Earth’s surface.

3b. Students know when liquid water evaporates, it turns into water vapor in the air and can reappear as a liquid when cooled or as a solid if cooled below the freezing point of water.

3c. Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow.

3d. Students know that the amount of fresh water located in rivers, lakes, underground sources, and glaciers is limited and that its availability can be extended by recycling and decreasing the use of water.

5^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Severe Weather

Class Reading: FOSS Science Resources Read pages 227-235. Wonders CA Content Reader Read pgs 56-57, 62-63 & 68-69.

4c. Students know the causes and effects of different types of severe weather.

6^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Forecasting Weather

Homework: Weather worksheet

Class Reading: FOSS Science Resources Read pages 236-250. Wonders CA Content Reader Read pgs 72-73.

4a. Students know the influence that the ocean has on the weather and the role that the water cycle plays in weather patterns.

4c. Students know how to use weather maps and data to predict local weather and know that weather forecasts depend on many variables.

4d. Students know that the Earth’s atmosphere exerts a pressure that decreases with distance above Earth’s surface and that at any point it exerts this pressure equally in all directions.

7^th Lab Session Week

2^nd quiz on the Water Cycle and Weather & Earth Science Vocabulary Post-Test

Concept: Heating Earth

Class Reading: FOSS Science Resources Read pages 198-217. Wonders CA Content Reader Read pgs 66-67.

4. Energy from the Sun heats Earth unevenly, causing air movements that result in changing weather patterns. As a basis for understanding this concept:

4a. Students know uneven heating of Earth causes air movements (convection currents).

6b. Develop a testable question.

6c. Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on a student-developed question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure.

6f. Select appropriate tools (e.g., thermometers, meter sticks, balances, and graduated cylinders) and make quantitative observations.

6g. Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and labeled diagrams) and make inferences based on those data.

6h. Draw conclusions from scientific evidence and indicate whether further information is needed to support a specific conclusion.