1st Trimester
Introduction to Science – The year starts off with an orientation of the science classroom. They were oriented on where to find student supplies, where to find science reading books and games, where the off limit areas are and how to safety observe our class pets. Safety rules and emergency procedures in the science classroom were discussed as well as practiced.
Plants – During the first trimester, the first graders studied plants. They specifically looked at the parts of the plants, what plants need to grow and the functions of the parts of the plants. Many of the activities were hands-on, such as trying to grow pea plants. After observing, documenting and planting their pea seeds, the students were responsible for watering and taking care of them. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but led to a great discussion about how experiments sometimes do not work as planned. heir second attempt was much more successful, with some plants growing. Other activities included class discussion about plants, children’s books, and short video clips from BrainPopJr.
Turtle Differences – In preparation for their huaka`i to Punalu`u Beach Park, students read and learned about two types of turtles commonly found in the Hawaiian Islands. Reading The Adventures of Gary and Harry, students learned about the differences between the green sea turtle and hawksbill turtle. They discussed and diagrammed the differences between them. The first graders also watched several short videos that explained that cultural and scientific significance of Punalu`u Beach.
2nd Trimester
States of Matter – The main goal of this unit was to explore the properties of solids and liquids. Students learned that solids can be sorted, not only by the physical properties like size, shape and color, but also how it lets light through it. They learned to use the words opaque, transparent and translucent to describe solids. Students also used those words to describe liquids. Next the students observed the properties of liquids. The first graders conducted experiments with liquids that included observing how the liquids moves, how it fills containers, and its viscosity.
Water Cycle – At the end of the second trimester, the first graders started learning about the water cycle. Students discussed what is a cycle and connected this other other cycles, like a butterfly life cycle or how the seasons repeat. There have been fiction and non-fiction class reading on this topic as well as the use of an iPad app, which visually showed the water cycle. The first grader have learned key words such as evaporation and water vapor thus far and conducted an experiment demonstrating water vapor. This topic will continue into the third trimester.
Student are demonstrating their understanding of concept through class discussion, observations recorded in their notebooks in writing and drawing and through teacher observations.
3rd Trimester
Water Cycle – The first graders asked where does the water go and how are clouds made? Those were perfect questions to start their study on the water cycle. Through various experiments, diagrams, short videos, an interactive iPad app and readings, the first graders were able to answer those questions. They can describe how the water evaporates because of the sun’s heat. Then how the water vapor condenses to form clouds. Eventually the clouds get to heavy and falls as precipitation.
Day and Night Time Objects – Closing out the school year, the first graders briefly took some time to compare objects they can see in the sky during the day time and the night time. While enjoying the sunshine, students recorded through writing and drawing the objects seen in the sky around our campus. Then they compared it to objects they have seen during the nighttime sky.
