First Grade Science Topics
All children in first grade are expected to know the following:

FIRST SEMESTER

Safety
• demonstrate safe and ethical practices in the classroom, during field investigations, and at home

Properties and Patterns
• Use charts and graphs to organize information
• Identify and list properties of magnifiers
• Classify objects as magnifiers
• Recognize anything that has parts is a system


Non-standard Measurement Tools
• Use charts and graphs to organize information
• Anything that has parts is a system
• Use non-standard measurement to explore the properties of objects including length, mass, temp, and capacity
• Compare lengths of everyday objects
• Compare masses of everyday objects
• Compare temperatures of everyday objects
• Compare capacities of everyday objects
• Sort objects by properties
• Create patterns and groups based on properties of length, mass, temperature, and capacity

Heat
• Test items by adding heat
• Record properties and patterns of objects after adding heat
Identify that heat causes change

Systems in Motion
• Use charts and graphs to organize information
• Classify objects based on similar patterns
• Build and take apart things that have working parts

Sound
• Use everyday items to make sound
• Make changes to items to change sound

Weather and Water
• Record daily weather
• Identify patterns in weather through the seasons
• Describe changes in temperatures in different seasons
• Identify appropriate clothing for different seasons based on the weather
• Use charts and graphs to organize information
• Identify ways that water occurs naturally in the world
• How do we use water
• Identify where water comes from and where it goes
• Use maps to identify and record water in the community

SECOND SEMESTER

Rocks, Soil and the Natural World
• Use charts and graphs to organize information
• Compare rocks, soil and water
• How do we use rocks, soil and water
• Classify items as rocks or soil
• How are rocks, soil and water used in a student’s everyday life
• How are rocks, soil and water used and recycled
• Identify ways that water occurs naturally in the world

Plants
• Use charts and graphs to organize information
• Plants are made up of parts: roots, stems leaves and flowers
• Draw and describe the steps of the life cycle of a plant: seed, seedling, plant
• Classify organisms as living or non-living
• Identify similar characteristics of living things
• Identify seeds as the beginning of all plants
• Describe basic needs of all plants: water, soil, Sun
• Identify that seeds are found inside fruits and vegetables
Group seeds according to patterns

Animals
• Animals have parts: head, legs, tails, feet
• Identify characteristics all animals have in common
• Draw and describe the life cycle of an animal
• Classify organisms as living or non-living
• Describe the basic needs of animals: food, water, air and shelter
• Identify characteristics that allow needs to be met
• Classify animals based on their characteristics