Fifth Grade Science Curriculum

These are the curriculum objectives that will be tested on the Science EOG.

Science Goal 1 - Ecosystems

The learner will conduct investigations to build an understanding of the interdependence of plants and animals.

Science Goal 2 - Landforms

The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of landforms.

Science Goal 3 - Weather

The learner will conduct investigations and use appropriate technology to build an understanding of weather and climate.

Science Goal 4 - Motion and Design

The learner will conduct investigations and use appropriate technologies to build an understanding of forces and motion in technological designs.

Science Calendars

July	August	September	October	November	December
January	February	March	April	May	June

Science Study Guide

Weather

Science Websites

www.fantasticcontraptions.com

Science Notebook - Weather Vocabulary

Water Vapor Water in a gaseous state diffused in the atmosphere but below boiling temperature. Water Cycle The cycle in which Earth’s water moves through the environment. Condensation The process by which a gas changed back into a liquid. Evaporation The process by which a liquid turns into a gas. Clouds A visible collection of tiny water droplets or, at colder temperatures, ice crystals floating in the air above the surface. Clouds come in many different sizes and shapes. Clouds can form at ground level, which is fog, at great heights in the atmosphere, and everywhere in between. Clouds offer important clues to understanding and forecasting the weather. Cirrus Thin wispy clouds that form high in the atmosphere as their water vapor freezes into ice crystals. They do not produce precipitation. Cumulus Fluffy, mid-level clouds that develop in towering shapes and signal fair weather. Stratus Low-lying, gray and sheet like clouds that often produce drizzle. Atmosphere The layer of air that surrounds the Earth. Forecast To predict (the weather). Air Pressure The weight of air. Humidity The amount of water vapor present in a unit of volume of air. A hygroscope indicates the amount of humidity in the air Local Winds The winds dependant on local changes in temperature. Prevailing Winds The global winds that blow constantly from the same direction. Meteorologist A scientist who studies and predicts the weather. Meteorologists use sophisticated equipment, like Doppler radar and supercomputers, but they also rely on old-fashioned sky watching. Precipitation General name for water in any form falling from clouds. This includes rain, drizzle, hail, snow and sleet. Although, dew, frost and fog are not considered to be precipitation. Solar Energy The energy of the sunlight Wind The movement of air relative to the surface of the earth. It’s considered to be severe if 58 m.p.h. or greater. Hurricane winds are 74 m.p.h or greater and the highest tornado winds are about 318 m.p.h. Fog A cloud on the ground that reduces visibility. Temperature The measurement of how hot or cold something is. Thermometer - the instrument that measures temperature. El Nino A short term climate change that occurs every two to ten years. Global Warming The hypothesized rise in Earth’s average temperature from excess carbon dioxide. Greenhouse Effect Process by which the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs heat. Weather It describes the condition of the air at a particular time and place. Weather also tells how the air moves (wind) and describes anything it might be carrying such as rain, snow or clouds. Thunder, lightning, rainbows, haze and other special events are all part of weather. Hurricane They are intense storms with swirling winds up to 150 miles per hour. Usually around 300 miles across, hurricanes are 1,000-5,000 times larger than tornadoes. Hurricanes are known by different names around the world. In Japan they are Typhoons, while Australians call them Willy-Willys. States of Matter 1. Solid – The state of matter that has a definite shape and volume - ice 2. Liquid – The state of matter that has volume but takes the shape of the container - water 3. Gas – the state of matter that does not have a definite shape or volume - steam Climate The average of all weather conditions through all season over a period of time. It describes the average weather conditions in a certain place or during a certain season. Weather may change from day to day, but climate changes only over hundreds or thousands of years. Many animals and plants need one kind of climate to survive. Dolphins and palm trees can live only in a warm climate, while polar bears and spruce trees need a cold climate. Dew Water that forms on objects close to the ground when its temperature falls below the dew point of the surface air. Tornado It begins as a funnel cloud with spinning columns of air that drop down from a severe thunderstorm. When they reach the ground they become tornadoes. Tornadoes are between 300 and 2,000 feet wide and travel at speeds of 20 to 45 miles per hour. They usually only last a few minutes, but their spinning winds, up to 300 miles per hour, can lift houses into the air and rip trees from the ground.