Students investigate how the adaptation of insulation optimizes animals' survival in a specific environment.

Students use a simple circuit to learn how conductors allow electricity to flow and how insulators do not allow electricity to flow.

Students learn how decomposers play an important part in the cycling of matter through an ecosystem by breaking down matter and returning it to the soil. They will set up a classroom composting bin.

Students are introduced to the idea that energy flows through a food chain.

This unit focuses on earthquakes and volcanoes as the visible signs of plate tectonics. Students progress through a series of investigations using indirect evidence (models) and direct evidence, experiments, active learning experiences, researching using a variety of sources, questions, and assessments. Assessments include: pre-, post and 4 formative assessments.

This unit focuses on the layers of the Earth and what causes movement in the layers. Students progress through a series of investigations using indirect evidence (models) and direct evidence, experiments, active learning experiences, researching using a variety of sources, questions, and assessments. Assessments include: pre-, post and 4 formative assessments.

Students learn that the properties of matter help to organize elements on the periodic table.

In this lesson, students are introduced to the many forms of energy. Energy station materials are explored and discussed to introduce and clarify characteristics of each form of energy.

In this lesson, students are introduced to energy transfer and tansformation by examining examples and then building their own Rube Goldberg machine.

In this lesson, students learn how light energy from the sun radiates to the earth and the light energy is transformed to heat. Students also learn about heat transfer: conduction, radiation, and convection.

In this lesson, students learn how wind energy i transformed to mechanical energy using windmills to capture the wind.

In this lesson, students learn how energy from water is transformed to mechanical energy using water wheels to move the water.

In this lesson, students demonstrates that stored energy in a peanut transforms to heat energy when combusted.

This lesson demonstrates that the source of energy to run small motors can be the sun or chemical energy stored in a battery.

In this lesson, students learn about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources and discuss benefits and drawbacks.

Students learn about magnetic fields using iron filings and then will apply this to an understanding of the Earth as a giant magnet.

Students review the concept that matter cycles in a food chain. They will participate in a reader's theater skit presentation that describes the roles that producers, consumers, and decomposers play in an ecosystem.

Students learn about magnetic force. They will test the magnetism of various classroom objects. Then they will complete an inquiry-based scenario to reinforce the concepts associated with magnetic poles.