Scarsdale Public Schools

Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles The Sun, Moon, and Stars

Observe and record the changes in the sun over a day and throughout the year, how the Moon’s illumination changes each day, how the stars can be seen, and the amount of daylight changes over the course of a year.
Investigate the changes throughout the day of an object’s shadow and explain a pattern based on the changing position of the Sun.
Utilize a data collection tool to identify that differing amounts of daylight are seen at different times of the year.
Chart and describe changes that occur in the appearance of the Moon over a 20-day period and identify a pattern in the lunar cycle.

Waves: Light and Sound

Discover the cause and effect relationships between vibrations and movement.
Investigate how sound and light behave in unique ways when they encounter different materials.
Collect evidence that they can see objects only when they are illuminated.
Plan and conduct investigations showing the relationship between vibrations and sound.
Design and redesign “phones” to test which one communicates sound the best over a distance.

Structure, Function, and Information Processing

Identify and describe patterns in the behaviors of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.
Argue from evidence using physical characteristics that young plants and young animals are similar to but not exactly like their parents.
Observe and record how plants and animals use their external parts to overcome challenges to survival.
Identify real engineering solutions and the external parts of plants and animals that inspired them.
Design, create, and wear a device that helps them survive, grow, or meet their needs using inspiration from the external parts of plants and animals.

Engineering is Elementary - The Best of Bugs: Designing Hand Pollinators

Conduct investigations to discover that plants have different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow.
Identify that everyday objects designed by people as solutions to problems are examples of technology.
Investigate the parts of a flower and the parts of a bee. Recognize that a system may fail if a part of it is missing or is not working.
Conduct a fair test to determine which materials and properties of materials are good or poor choices for a design that can mimic a bee’s ability to pick up and deposit pollen.