Mr. Gantt’s Earth Science Lab
Weekly Lab Lessons and Homework
5th Grade
1st 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.
2nd 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.
1st quiz on the Solar System
3rd 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.
4th 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.
5th 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.
6th 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.
7th Lab Session Week
2nd 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.
