United States · Common Core State Standards
Kindergarten Science
This curriculum introduces kindergarteners to the fundamental principles of scientific inquiry through hands on exploration of the physical and natural world. Students develop observation skills to understand the needs of living things, the impact of weather patterns, and the mechanics of pushes and pulls.
Force, Motion, and Interactions
Students investigate how objects move and the effects of different strengths and directions of pushes and pulls.
Exploring how applied force changes the motion of an object through direct manipulation and observation.
Investigating how objects collide and how surfaces affect the path of a moving toy or ball.
Applying knowledge of forces to solve a simple design problem like moving an object to a specific target.
Living Things and Their Environments
An exploration of what plants and animals need to survive and how they interact with their habitats.
Identifying the basic requirements for life including water, light, and food sources.
Discovering how the environment provides everything a living thing needs to thrive.
Understanding how humans can impact the environment and ways to protect natural resources.
Sunlight and Weather Patterns
Observing weather patterns and the warming effects of the sun on different Earth surfaces.
Investigating how sunlight warms sand, soil, rocks, and water at different rates.
Recording daily weather conditions to identify patterns over time.
Learning about different types of severe weather and how to prepare for them.
The Senses and Scientific Inquiry
Using the five senses to observe, describe, and classify materials in the world.
Introduction to using magnifiers, rulers, and scales to enhance our natural senses.
Classifying objects based on observable physical properties like texture, color, and flexibility.
Developing the habit of asking 'why' and 'how' through open ended exploration of natural artifacts.