Grade 1 Science Curriculum
Family-facing version of the grade 1 science curriculum
Goals
In first-grade science, students become aware of factors that affect their daily lives. Students continue to learn about the basic needs of all living things and that living things respond to factors in their environment, including weather and the change of season. They continue the examination of matter by observing physical properties and how materials interact with light. Throughout the elementary years, students will develop scientific skills, supported by mathematics and computational thinking, as they learn science content.
In first grade, students will develop skills in posing simple questions, conducting simple investigations, observing, classifying, and communicating information about the natural world. Students are introduced to the engineering design process.
Quarterly Overview of Grade 1 Science
The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.
Units and Details
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that
- objects are made from materials that can be described by their physical properties.
- plants have basic life needs and functional parts that allow them to survive.
- animals, including humans, have basic life needs that allow them to survive.
- there is a relationship between the sun and Earth.
- there are weather and seasonal changes.
- natural resources can be used responsibly.
Students will understand:
- Scientists ask questions, observe, classify, and conduct investigations in order to study and communicate their understanding of the natural world.
- Living things have basic needs (energy and matter) and functional parts that allow them to survive.
- Living things respond to factors in their environment, including weather and change of seasons.
- Objects are made of matter that can be described and classified by their physical properties.
- There is a relationship between the sun and Earth that can be observed through patterns in nature.
- The sun is the primary source of energy providing light and warmth for Earth.
- Human actions can affect the world around us.
- Natural resources can be used responsibly through conservation.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that
- objects can move in different ways.
- animals, including humans, have basic life needs that allow them to survive.
- there are weather and seasonal changes.
Students will understand:
- Scientists ask questions, observe, classify, and conduct investigations in order to study and communicate their understanding of the natural world.
- Forces between objects can cause a change in motion.
- Objects may vibrate and produce sound.
- Living things have basic needs (energy and matter) and functional parts that allow them to survive.
- Living things respond to factors in their environment, including weather and change of seasons.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that
- plants have basic life needs and functional parts that allow them to survive.
- animals, including humans, have basic life needs that allow them to survive.
- there are weather and seasonal changes.
Students will understand:
- Energy and matter are needed for all organisms to survive.
- Animals use matter and energy to move, eat, breathe, and reproduce.
- Plants use matter and energy to grow and reproduce.
- Animals and plants have characteristics that allow them to function in unique and specific ways to survive and reproduce in a particular place.
- Characteristics are used to classify animals and plants.
- Models are pictures, ideas, or objects that can be used to represent and study an object or process.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that
- animals, including humans, have basic life needs that allow them to survive.
- there is a relationship between the sun and Earth.
- there are weather and seasonal changes.
- natural resources can be used responsibly.
Students will understand:
- There is a relationship between the sun and Earth that can be observed through patterns in nature.
- Living things have basic needs (energy and matter) and functional parts that allow them to survive.
- Living things respond to factors in their environment, including weather and change of seasons.
- Human actions can affect the world around us.
- Natural resources can be used responsibly through conservation.
Assessments
Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.
- Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
- Check for understanding
- Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
- Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for next steps in instruction.
For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.
In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), first grade tests focus on basic literacy and numeracy development.
