5Th Grade Science Syllabus
Unit 1
Science Process Skills
1. Following Directions
2. Observing
3. Measuring
4. Classifying
5. Forming Hypothesis
6. Experimenting
7. graphing
Lab Procedure and Safety
Unit 2
Matter and its Properties
1. What is matter?
2. how can physical properties be used to identify Matter?
3. How does matter change from one state to another?
4. How does matter react chemically?
Unit 3
Energy and Motion
1. What forces affect objects on Earth everyday?
2. What are balanced and unbalanced forces?
3. What are kinetic and potential energy?
4. What is electrical energy?
5. What are light and sound energy?
6. What are thermal and chemical energy?
Unit 4
Plants and Animals
1. What is a life cycle?
2. Why are offspring like their parents?
3. What are the functions of roots, stems and leaves?
4. What are the 2 major groups of plants?
5. How do plants make food?
6. How do plants respond to light and gravity?
7. How do plants reproduce?
8. How do plants grow?
Unit 5
Systems and Interactions in Nature
1. How does nature reuse materials?
2. What is the water cycle and why is it important?
3. What are ecosystems?
4. How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
5. How do organisms compete and survive in an ecosystem?
6. What is extinction and what are its causes?
7. What are land biomes?
8. What are water ecosystems?
9. How do ecosystems change naturally?
10.How do people change ecosystems?
11.How can people treat ecosystems more wisely?
Unit 6
Changes to the Earth's Surface
1. What processes change landforms?
2. What causes mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes?
3. How has the surface of the Earth changed over time?
4. How do Earth and moon compare?
Homework: homework will vary depending on the topic of study. Generally as
a rule of thumb students can expect Science homework on average about twice
per week. (2 assignments) Homework will also be posted on my web site.
Homework and labs are due on the given date. Due dates will be posted on my web site. Late
work will be penalized according to the Star Charter handbook and on the following scale:
1st day late: minus 20 points
2nd day late: minus additional 30 points (50 points total)
3rd day late: a zero will be given however the assignment must still be completed.
Vocabulary: Many weeks students will receive a list of
vocabulary words. We will discuss the definitions. The words will be
directly related to the unit of study for the week. A quiz on the words and
their definitions will be given.
Labs: Labs include all hands on activities we do in class. My goal is to
conduct at least 2 or more labs per week depending on the topic of study.
Each lab will have a corresponding written lab report. I will give the
students a due date for each written report. In most cases the due dates
will be 2 days after completion of the in class lab. Some labs will take
more than one day to conduct. In class labs will be a major portion of the
students grade each 6 weeks. All questions are required to be answered in
complete sentences. Failure to do so will result on loss of credit.
Exams: Students will be given an exam at the end of each chapter. A review
sheet will be put together for each exam. Exams will cover class notes,
vocabulary and labs for each chapter. Notes cover any notes
taken in class including class discussion.
Missed work:
It is the students responsibility to ask for any missed work as well as
notes taken in class. Missed labs will not be made up unless otherwise
specified by the teacher. Tests will need to be made up within 3 days of
returning to school.