Science education at City Academy is firmly rooted in both the school’s culture of academic rigor, as well as an environment of affective transformation.  Fostering well-rounded, critical thinkers requires an atmosphere that couples science literacy with the experiences that come with true exploration and discovery.

 

Enduring Understandings (Junior Kindergarten – Second Grade)

Life Science

  • Animals and plants have life cycles that include reproduction, development, and decomposition.
  • Parent and offspring relationships vary between species.
  • Plants and animals rely on each other for basic survival needs.

Physical Science

  • There are forces in our world that cause movement.
  • Machines have been invented over time to make types of work easier and more efficient.
  • There are three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
  • Matter and energy change forms.
  • We can use scientific tools as well as our five senses to explore and understand the natural world.

Earth Science

  • The Earth’s surface changes over time due to erosion, decay, and human influences.
  • The sun is an essential source of energy for the Earth.
  • Earth has natural resources such as water, air, soil, and rock that need to be cared for and preserved.
  • Weather can be observed, predicted, and measured using scientific tools and methods.
  • The solar system has many parts to it that rotate and orbit around the sun.

Enduring Understandings (Third – Sixth Grade)

Scientific Reasoning & Practices

  • Scientists examine cause and effect to distinguish relationships between the biotic and abiotic factors of the universe.
  • Scientists analyze and interpret evidence to solve problems and make decisions.
  • The scientific process of exploration requires the collection, measurement, evaluation and organization of data in logical ways.
  • Scientists routinely communicate and collaborate with others in an attempt to build knowledge and understanding.
  • Current scientific knowledge and theory is subject to change based on new evidence.

Physical Science

  • All objects and substances are composed of matter with physical and chemical properties.
  • Matter is capable of being physically or chemically changed by the influence of energy to form new substances.
  • Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can exist in different forms and undergo various transformations.
  • Mechanical energy, in the form of forces, is required to change the motion of objects.

Earth Science

  • The natural history of Earth reveals the planet has undergone tremendous change as a result of geologic, biological, physical, and chemical processes.
  • Earth’s location, movement and composition are unique within the solar system, allowing for the resources necessary to sustain life
  • The geological processes of Earth are dynamic and result in both slow and immediate change to its surface.
  • Earth’s weather and climate systems are the result of complex interactions between the sun, air, water and land.

Life Science

  • Organisms have adaptations with unique functions that allow them to survive and interact with their environment and each other.
  • The physical traits of organisms are composed of cells that carry out life-sustaining functions.
  • Organisms can be classified to better study and understand them.
  • Relationships and interactions between the biotic and abiotic components of an environment can affect an ecosystem.