Science Lessons & Investigations

Grade 1:
Science Lessons and Investigations presents science learning through in-depth investigation and observation, supporting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in life, earth, and physical science. Each comprehensive unit includes a hands-on engagement activity to allow students to explore and investigate science concepts.

The 14 science units build upon prior knowledge and experience and allow students to apply their understanding in a variety of ways. Each unit guides students through exploring the science concept and includes hands-on, cross-curricular activities to extend learning.

This robust teaching resource gives you everything you need, including:

• Teacher support pages and an answer key
• Unit concept page to guide discussion
• Vocabulary/Words to know
• Reading selections with real-life visual examples
• Comprehension and vocabulary activities
• “I wonder” and/or research and write writing prompts
• Hands-on science investigation that may include science experiments, STEM challenges, observations, art projects, and other creative cross-curricular activities

Topics covered in Science Lessons and Investigations grade 1 include:

Life Science

• How Do Animals Use Their Body Parts?
• What Parts Do Plants Have and What Do They Do?
• How Do Body Parts Help Animals Grow and Survive?
• Do Animals Have Babies?
• Do Plants Have Babies?
• Are Young Animals and Plants Exactly Like Their Parents?
• Do Animals from the Same Species Always Look the Same?
• Do All Roses Look the Same?

Earth Science

• Can We Predict Patterns for the Sun, Moon, and Stars?
• Can We Predict the Pattern of the Seasons?

Physical Science

• What Happens When Materials Vibrate?
• What Happens When There Is No Light?
• Where Do Shadows Come From?
• How Do We Communicate Over Long Distances?

Grade 2:
Science Lessons and Investigations presents science learning through in-depth investigation and observation, supporting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in life, earth, and physical science. Each comprehensive unit includes a hands-on engagement activity to allow students to explore and investigate science concepts.

The 14 science units build upon prior knowledge and experience and allow students to apply their understanding in a variety of ways. Each unit guides students through exploring the science concept and includes hands-on, cross-curricular activities to extend learning.

This robust teaching resource gives you everything you need, including:

• Teacher support pages and an answer key
• Unit concept page to guide discussion
• Vocabulary/Words to know
• Reading selections with real-life visual examples
• Comprehension and vocabulary activities
• “I wonder” and/or research and write writing prompts
• Hands-on science investigation that may include science experiments, STEM challenges, observations, art projects, and other creative cross-curricular activities

Topics covered in Science Lessons and Investigations grade 2 include:

Life Science

• What Do Plants Need to Grow?
• How Do Animals Help Plants?
• How Do Animals Pollinate Plants?
• How Many Things Live in One Place?

Earth Science

• How and When Does Earth Change?
• How Do Wind and Water Change the Shape of the Land?
• How Do Maps Show Land and Bodies of Water?
• Where Is Water on Earth?

Physical Science

• What Is Matter?
• What’s the Best Material to Use?
• What Can These Pieces Make?
• What Happens When You Heat or Cool Something?

Science

• How Does Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Help Earth?
• What Do Scientists Study?

Grade 3:
Inspire students to explore real-world science topics with Science Lessons and Investigations! The 12 robust science units present important science concepts, supporting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in life, earth, and physical science.

Each unit guides students in exploring a science concept following the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Evaluate, and Extend. The variety of activities helps to build on students’ prior knowledge and experience and helps them apply their understanding of the science concept in a creative way.

Science Lessons and Investigations provides you with teaching support and comprehensive science units that include:

• Concept engagement activity that sparks students’ interest and engages prior knowledge by introducing each topic with questions and discussion. (Engage)
• Exploration activity that helps students explore the concept through hands-on investigation. (Explore)
• Reading selections, real-life visuals, and vocabulary review to help students develop understanding. (Explain)
• Comprehension activities incorporating higher-order thinking to help students show and apply what they have learned. (Evaluate)
• Writing prompts and hands-on activities* to help students apply and extend their understanding. (Extend)

*The hands-on activities may include science experiments, STEM challenges, art projects, or other cross-curricular activities.

Topics covered in Science Lessons and Investigations grade 3 include:

Life Science

• Plant and Animal Life Cycles
• Nature and Nurture
• Adaptations
• Organisms in a Changing Environment
• Group and Social Behavior
• Fossils of Ancestors

Earth Science

• Weather
• Climate
• Natural Processes and Hazards

Physical Science

• Changes in Movement
• Predicting Motion from Patterns
• Magnetic Forces

Includes answer key for vocabulary and comprehension activities. Ideal for the classroom and homeschooling.

Grade 4:
Inspire students to explore real-world science topics with Science Lessons and Investigations! The 13 robust science units present important science concepts, supporting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in life, earth, and physical science.

Each unit guides students in exploring a science concept following the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Evaluate, and Extend. The variety of activities helps to build on students’ prior knowledge and experience and helps them apply their understanding of the science concept in a creative way.

Science Lessons and Investigations provides you with teaching support and comprehensive science units that include:

• Concept engagement activity that sparks students’ interest and engages prior knowledge by introducing each topic with questions and discussion. (Engage)
• Exploration activity that helps students explore the concept through hands-on investigation. (Explore)
• Reading selections, real-life visuals, and vocabulary review to help students develop understanding. (Explain)
• Comprehension activities incorporating higher-order thinking to help students show and apply what they have learned. (Evaluate)
• Writing prompts and hands-on activities* to help students apply and extend their understanding. (Extend)

*The hands-on activities may include science experiments, STEM challenges, art projects, taking on the role of a scientist, or other cross-curricular activities.

Topics covered in Science Lessons and Investigations grade four include:

Life Science

• Plant Life Structures
• Animal Life Structures
• Human Life Structures

Earth Science

• Erosion and Weathering
• Patterns in Earth’s Crust
• Natural Disasters
• Human Impact on Land

Physical Science

• Waves as Patterns of Motion
• The Nature of Energy
• Light Energy
• Sound Energy
• Heat Energy
• Electrical Energy

Includes answer key for vocabulary and comprehension activities. Ideal for the classroom and homeschooling.

Grade 5:
Inspire students to explore real-world science topics with Science Lessons and Investigations! The 14 robust science units present important science concepts, supporting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in life, earth, and physical science.

Each unit guides students in exploring a science concept following the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Evaluate, and Extend. The variety of activities helps to build on students’ prior knowledge and experience and helps them apply their understanding of the science concept in a creative way.

Science Lessons and Investigations provides you with teaching support and comprehensive science units that include:

• Concept engagement activity that sparks students’ interest and engages prior knowledge by introducing each topic with questions and discussion. (Engage)
• Exploration activity that helps students explore the concept through hands-on investigation. (Explore)
• Reading selections, real-life visuals, and vocabulary review to help students develop understanding. (Explain)
• Comprehension activities incorporating higher-order thinking to help students show and apply what they have learned. (Evaluate)
• Writing prompts and hands-on activities* to help students apply and extend their understanding. (Extend)

*The hands-on activities may include science experiments, STEM challenges, observations, art projects, taking on the role of a scientist, or other cross-curricular activities.

Topics covered in Science Lessons and Investigations grade five include:

Life Science

• Healthy Ecosystems
• Energy in the Food Chain
• Nutrients for Survival
• Recycling Energy in Food Webs

Earth Science

• Patterns on Earth
• The Stars
• Gravity
• Earth’s Spheres
• Water from All Its Sources
• Protecting Our Planet

Physical Science

• Tiny Particles of Matter
• Conservation of Matter
• Identifying Matter by Properties
• Making New Substances

Includes answer key for vocabulary and comprehension activities. Ideal for the classroom and homeschooling.

Grade 6:
Inspire students to explore real-world science topics with Science Lessons and Investigations! The 14 robust science units present important science concepts, supporting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in life, earth, and physical science.

Each unit guides students in exploring a science concept following the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Evaluate, and Extend. The variety of activities helps to build on students’ prior knowledge and experience and helps them apply their understanding of the science concept in a creative way.

Science Lessons and Investigations provides you with teaching support and comprehensive science units that include:

• Concept engagement activity that sparks students’ interest and engages prior knowledge by introducing each topic with questions and discussion. (Engage)
• Exploration activity that helps students explore the concept through hands-on investigation. (Explore)
• Reading selections, real-life visuals, and vocabulary review to help students develop understanding. (Explain)
• Comprehension activities incorporating higher-order thinking to help students show and apply what they have learned. (Evaluate)
• Writing prompts and hands-on activities* to help students apply and extend their understanding. (Extend)

*The hands-on activities may include science experiments, STEM challenges, observations, art projects, taking on the role of a scientist, or other cross-curricular activities.

Topics covered in Science Lessons and Investigations grade six include:

Life Science

• Cells and Life
• Making and Processing Food
• Inheriting Traits
• Biodiversity
• The History of Life

Earth Science

• A Tilt for All Seasons
• Dynamic Earth
• History Through Geology
• Water’s Role on Earth
• Weather and Climate

Physical Science

• Thermal Energy on the Move
• Matter and Its Interactions
• Predicting Motion from Forces
• Wave Behavior

Includes answer key for vocabulary and comprehension activities. Ideal for the classroom and homeschooling.