Florida Standards 5th Grade Science Activities

FL.SC.5.N. Nature of Science

SC.5.N.1. The Practice of Science - A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation. B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of ''the scientific method.'' C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge. D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

SC.5.N.1.4. Identify a control group and explain its importance in an experiment.

SC.5.N.1.5. Recognize and explain that authentic scientific investigation frequently does not parallel the steps of ''the scientific method.''

SC.5.N.1.6. Recognize and explain the difference between personal opinion/interpretation and verified observation.

SC.5.N.2. The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge - A: Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, and is appropriate for understanding the natural world, but it provides only a limited understanding of the supernatural, aesthetic, or other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, or religion. B: Scientific knowledge is durable and robust, but open to change. C: Because science is based on empirical evidence it strives for objectivity, but as it is a human endeavor the processes, methods, and knowledge of science include subjectivity, as well as creativity and discovery.

SC.5.N.2.1. Recognize and explain that science is grounded in empirical observations that are testable; explanation must always be linked with evidence.

FL.SC.5.E. Earth and Space Science

SC.5.E.5. Earth in Space and Time - Humans continue to explore Earth's place in space. Gravity and energy influence the formation of galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy, stars, the Solar System, and Earth. Humankind's need to explore continues to lead to the development of knowledge and understanding of our Solar System.

SC.5.E.5.1. Recognize that a galaxy consists of gas, dust, and many stars, including any objects orbiting the stars. Identify our home galaxy as the Milky Way.

SC.5.E.5.2. Recognize the major common characteristics of all planets and compare/contrast the properties of inner and outer planets.

SC.5.E.5.3. Distinguish among the following objects of the Solar System -- Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets -- and identify Earth's position in it.

SC.5.E.7. Earth Systems and Patterns - Humans continue to explore the interactions among water, air, and land. Air and water are in constant motion that results in changing conditions that can be observed over time.

SC.5.E.7.1. Create a model to explain the parts of the water cycle. Water can be a gas, a liquid, or a solid and can go back and forth from one state to another.

SC.5.E.7.2. Recognize that the ocean is an integral part of the water cycle and is connected to all of Earth's water reservoirs via evaporation and precipitation processes.

SC.5.E.7.3. Recognize how air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation determine the weather in a particular place and time.

SC.5.E.7.4. Distinguish among the various forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, and hail), making connections to the weather in a particular place and time.

SC.5.E.7.5. Recognize that some of the weather-related differences, such as temperature and humidity, are found among different environments, such as swamps, deserts, and mountains.

SC.5.E.7.6. Describe characteristics (temperature and precipitation) of different climate zones as they relate to latitude, elevation, and proximity to bodies of water.

FL.SC.5.P. Physical Science

SC.5.P.8. Properties of Matter - A. All objects and substances in the world are made of matter. Matter has two fundamental properties: matter takes up space and matter has mass. B. Objects and substances can be classified by their physical and chemical properties. Mass is the amount of matter (or ''stuff'') in an object. Weight, on the other hand, is the measure of force of attraction (gravitational force) between an object and Earth. The concepts of mass and weight are complicated and potentially confusing to elementary students. Hence, the more familiar term of ''weight'' is recommended for use to stand for both mass and weight in grades K-5. By grades 6-8, students are expected to understand the distinction between mass and weight, and use them appropriately.

SC.5.P.8.1. Compare and contrast the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases, such as mass, volume, color, texture, and temperature.

SC.5.P.8.2. Investigate and identify materials that will dissolve in water and those that will not and identify the conditions that will speed up or slow down the dissolving process.

SC.5.P.8.4. Explore the scientific theory of atoms (also called atomic theory) by recognizing that all matter is composed of parts that are too small to be seen without magnification.

SC.5.P.9. Changes in Matter - A. Matter can undergo a variety of changes. B. Matter can be changed physically or chemically.

SC.5.P.9.1. Investigate and describe that many physical and chemical changes are affected by temperature.

SC.5.P.10. Forms of Energy - A. Energy is involved in all physical processes and is a unifying concept in many areas of science. B. Energy exists in many forms and has the ability to do work or cause a change.

SC.5.P.10.1. Investigate and describe some basic forms of energy, including light, heat, sound, electrical, chemical, and mechanical.

SC.5.P.10.2. Investigate and explain that energy has the ability to cause motion or create change.

SC.5.P.11. Energy Transfer and Transformations - A. Waves involve a transfer of energy without a transfer of matter. B. Water and sound waves transfer energy through a material. C. Light waves can travel through a vacuum and through matter.

SC.5.P.11.1. Investigate and illustrate the fact that the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit (a complete loop).

SC.5.P.13. Forces and Changes in Motion - A. It takes energy to change the motion of objects. B. Energy change is understood in terms of forces--pushes or pulls. C. Some forces act through physical contact, while others act at a distance.

SC.5.P.13.1. Identify familiar forces that cause objects to move, such as pushes or pulls, including gravity acting on falling objects.

SC.5.P.13.2. Investigate and describe that the greater the force applied to it, the greater the change in motion of a given object.

SC.5.P.13.3. Investigate and describe that the more mass an object has, the less effect a given force will have on the object's motion.

FL.SC.5.L. Life Science

SC.5.L.14. Organization and Development of Living Organisms - A. All plants and animals, including humans, are alike in some ways and different in others. B. All plants and animals, including humans, have internal parts and external structures that function to keep them alive and help them grow and reproduce. C. Humans can better understand the natural world through careful observation.

SC.5.L.14.1. Identify the organs in the human body and describe their functions, including the skin, brain, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, pancreas, muscles and skeleton, reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, and sensory organs.

SC.5.L.14.2. Compare and contrast the function of organs and other physical structures of plants and animals, including humans, for example: some animals have skeletons for support -- some with internal skeletons others with exoskeletons -- while some plants have stems for support.

SC.5.L.15. Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms - A. Earth is home to a great diversity of living things, but changes in the environment can affect their survival. B. Individuals of the same kind often differ in their characteristics and sometimes the differences give individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing.

SC.5.L.15.1. Describe how, when the environment changes, differences between individuals allow some plants and animals to survive and reproduce while others die or move to new locations.

SC.5.L.17. Interdependence - A. Plants and animals, including humans, interact with and depend upon each other and their environment to satisfy their basic needs. B. Both human activities and natural events can have major impacts on the environment. C. Energy flows from the sun through producers to consumers.

SC.5.L.17.1. Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycles variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics.