First Grade Science Bundle

Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. Examples of human problems that can be solved by mimicking plant or animal solutions could include designing clothing or equipment to protect bicyclists by mimicking turtle shells, acorn shells, and animal scales; stabilizing structures by mimicking animal tails and roots on plants; keeping out intruders by mimicking thorns on branches and animal quills; and, detecting intruders by mimicking eyes and ears.

Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive. Examples of patterns of behaviors could include the signals that offspring make (such as crying, cheeping, and other vocalizations) and the responses of the parents (such as feeding, comforting, and protecting the offspring).

Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Examples of devices could include a light source to send signals, paper cup and string "telephones," and a pattern of drum beats. Assessment does not include technological details for how communication devices work.

Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects can be seen only when illuminated. Examples of observations could include those made in a completely dark room, a pinhole box, and a video of a cave explorer with a flashlight. Illumination could be from an external light source or by an object giving off its own light.

Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light. Examples of materials could include those that are transparent (such as clear plastic), translucent (such as wax paper), opaque (such as cardboard), and reflective (such as a mirror). Assessment does not include the speed of light.