GLE-Sci1
COLORADO MODEL CONTENT
STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE
1st Grade Level Expectations
STANDARD 1:
Students understand the processes of scientific investigation and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigations.
By the end of first grade, students will be able to:
1a. Ask questions and state predictions that can be addressed through scientific investigation
●talk about the question they are going to answer
●answer questions that begin with “What do you think will happen if . . .?”
1b. Select and use simple devices to gather data related to an investigation
●use tools (for example, hand lens, primary balance, thermometer) to do things
●match tools with the weather conditions they measure (for example, thermometer measures temperature)
●match a temperature with words (for example, 10°F is cold, 90°F is hot)
1c. Use data based on observations
●describe things using appropriate senses
●use more than one sense when making observations
●draw and color pictures showing the main characteristics
●plot their own data on a class bar graph
1d. Communicate about investigations and explanations
●use their graph to answer questions
●find patterns by answering questions about similarities and differences
●tell what they saw and did during an activity
STANDARD 2:
Physical Science: Students know and understand common properties, forms, and changes in matter and energy.
PROPERTIES OF OBJECTS
In first grade, students learn to describe properties of objects and materials.
By the end of first grade, students will be able to:
2.1a. Examine, describe, classify, and compare objects in terms of common physical properties
●observe and describe objects in terms of common physical properties (for example, size, shape, color, texture, and flexibility)
●give detailed descriptions that make it possible to identify an object
●use physical properties to sort objects
●tell how two objects are the same based on properties
●name the materials from which an object is made (for example, plastic, wood, metal)
●sort objects based on the materials they’re made of
2.1b. Measure common physical properties of objects
●measure the length of objects using nontraditional measures
●measure the mass of objects using a primary balance
●use their measurements to compare the sizes of two objects
●put several objects in order of length or mass
STANDARD 3:
Life Science: Students know and understand the characteristics and structure of living things, the processes of life, and how living things interact with each other and their environment.
ANIMALS AND THEIR NEEDS
In first grade, students learn how animals are similar
and yet different with respect to body parts, needs, and where they live.
By the end of first grade, students will be able to:
3.1b. Classify a variety of organisms according to selected characteristics
●group animals according to selected characteristics (for example, with wings, with 6 legs, with fur)
●name animals that are found around the school or in the neighborhood (for example, fly, worm, robin) *
3.1c. Describe the basic needs of an animal
●name the basic needs of all animals (food, water, air, shelter)
●describe the basic needs of specific kinds of animals
●describe shelters used by particular animals
3.2a. Recognize that animals consume plants and other organisms to live
●realize that animals eat plants and other animals in order to live
●give examples of foods eaten by animals in the classroom (for example, fish, snails, pill bugs)
●compare the foods eaten by two types of animals
3.4a. Identify characteristics that are common to all individuals of a species
●point out characteristics that are common to all animals of a specific kind (for example, birds have feathers, fish have fins)
●tell how specific body parts allow an animal to meet its needs
●describe the body parts of specific types of animals (for example, fish, pill bug, snail, bird)
●compare how a body part looks with and without magnification (for example, the tentacle of a snail, a segment of a pill bug)
●identify a type of animal when several characteristics are described (for example, an animal with fins, two eyes and gills is a fish)
3.4b. Recognize differences in appearance among individuals of the same group
●compare two animals of the same group and tell how they’re alike (for example, two fish or two birds)
STANDARD 4:
Earth and Space Science: Students know and understand the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems and the structure and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space.
DAILY WEATHER
In first grade, students learn that daily weather conditions can be described more accurately by using weather tools.
By the end of first grade, students will be able to:
4.2a. Recognize that the Sun is a principal source of Earth’s heat and light
●compare the temperatures in sunny and shady places *
●compare daytime and nighttime temperatures
●explain why the temperature is usually warmer during the daytime
●identify the Sun as being the main source of our heat and light
4.2b. Recognize how our daily activities are affected by the weather
●give examples of how our daily activities are affected by the weather (for example, wear heavy coat and boots on a snowy day, go swimming on a hot, dry day)
4.2c. Describe existing weather conditions by collecting and recording weather data
●collect and record daily weather data on a chart using pictures, words or numbers (for example, temperature, amount of cloud cover, type of precipitation)
●use their weather chart to tell what the weather was on a particular day
●make bar graphs using their weather data
●use their weather graphs to answer questions about the weather (for example, the number of sunny days compared to cloudy days)
4.4c. Recognize the characteristics of seasons
●describe the weather conditions that are typical of each season in Colorado
●compare the weather conditions of two seasons
STANDARD 5:
Students know and understand interrelationships among science, technology, and human activity and how they can affect the world.
Note: This standard is not addressed as a separate unit; rather, it should be integrated into the units at each grade level.
By the end of first grade, students will be able to:
5d. Identify careers that use science and technology
●realize that people who care for animals (for example, people who work in zoos and pet stores) must know the needs of each type of animal in their care
●realize that weather reporters must know how to describe the weather
STANDARD 6:
Students understand that science involves a particular way of knowing and understand common connections among scientific disciplines.
Note: This standard is not addressed as a separate unit; rather, it should be integrated into the units at each grade level.
By the end of first grade, students will be able to:
6c. Identify observable patterns
●name body parts that are common to all animals of a particular type
●describe the type of weather that characterizes each season
* Students may benefit from using the outdoors as a classroom when they are working on these expectations.
