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.