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Elementary Science - Grade 5

Overview of Science in Fifth Grade

Students in fifth grade use the skills and processes of science to investigate the natural cycles caused by Earth’s rotation and revolution around the Sun; explain the importance of water to exist on our planet in three states and that the Sun powers the water cycle; investigate the properties of water to describe how human activity can have positive and negative effects on water quality; explain how those effects impact streams and rivers in our watershed and the Chesapeake Bay; describe how restoring Riparian Forest Buffers can improve local water quality and the quality of the Bay ecosystem.

Curriculum Objectives

For detailed information on Grade 5 curriculum objectives and goals, click here (pdf).

Units-At-A-Glance

Following are documents that summarize vocabulary and key ideas broken down by unit and lessons.

• Patterns and Cycles (pdf) - Earth, Space, Life and Environmental Science
  
• Earth Matters (pdf) - Earth, Space, Life and Environmental Science
  
• What Can WE DO? (pdf) - Earth, Space, Life and Environmental Science
  
• Forces and Motion (pdf) - Physical Science
  

Parent Science Resource Links

• MSA: Maryland School Assessment – Information about the MD School Assessment in Science.
  
• 2007 Grade 5 Science Public Release test (pdf); 2007 online answer key.
  
• 2008 Grade 5 Science Public Release test (pdf); 2008 online answer key.
  
• 2009 Grade 5 Science Public Release test (pdf); 2009 online answer key.
  
• Online public releases! See what it is like when your child takes the assessment next year. Download the ePat Launcher, then download the MSA Grade 5 test.
  
• Online sample MSA Science BCRs and rubrics.
  
• MSDE Science State Curriculum Glossary (PreK - 12).
  
• Enchanted Learning - Science facts, pictures, quizzes, game and maps.
  

Student Friendly Interactive Web Sites

Following is a list of websites to visit that supports our fifth grade level science curriculum.

• Amazing Space - Interactive activities about the solar system.
  
• NASA: Astronomy Picture of the Day - Photos range from the cosmos to astronauts.
  
• NASA: HubbleSite Gallery - Information and pictures the Hubble Space Telescope.
  
• NASA: Planetary Photojournal - Pictures and information about missions in space.
  
• NASA: Goddard Space Flight Center - Interview a NASA scientist from an archive of questions and answers.
  
• StarChild: Astronomy - Solar system, universe, and other information from ESL units.
  
• The Astronomy Café – FAQs about asteroids, meteors and comets.
  
• Surfing for Sunbeams: The Yohkoh Public Outreach Project - A Hypermedia Tour of the Sun.
  
• Chem4Kids - The properties of matter including solids, liquids and gases.
  
• Matter - Good site to use with an LCD projector or TV hook-up.
  
• Chem4Kids - States of Matter - A great reference site that includes definitions and examples.
  
• Bayville – Interactive activities to save the Bay! Through MD public TV.
  
• Give Water a Hand - Involves students in a clean drinking water project.
  
• Ocean Dwellers - All you ever wanted to know about creatures in the sea.

STEM Resource Links

• Nova - Bridges - Build a bridge after learning about the different types of bridges.
  
• EdHeads: Simple Machines - Learn about simple and compound machines that are around the house.
  
• Museum of Science - Inventor's Toolbox - Elements of machines and links to interactive pages.
  
• The Official Rube Goldberg Site - Explanations of cartoons and inventions.
  
• The Franklin Institute - Simple Machines - Explanations of simple machines.