1. Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science
Practicing Science
Grade K
Nature of Science
Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science
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2. Grade K: Practice of Science Benchmarks
SC.K.N.1.1: Collaborate with a partner to collect information.
SC.K.N.1.2: Make observations of the natural world and know that they are descriptors collected using the five senses.
SC.K.N.1.3: Keep records as appropriate - such as pictorial - of investigations conducted.
SC.K.N.1.4: Observe and create a visual representation of an object which includes major features.
SC.K.N.1.5: Recognize that learning can come from careful observation.
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3. What do all scientists do?
Engage: Have students look at the clip art. In whole group, ask students what they think scientists do just be what they see here. List student responses on chart paper or on the board.
Explore: Have students draw a picture of a scientist based on what the group came up with on the class list. Keep this drawing to use as a comparison for the end of the year when they redraw a scientist based on what they learned. It can be placed in their science notebook.
Go to NBC Learn on your portal and find a video clip to show the students of a scientist at work.
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4. Scientists…Ask Questions
Good scientists ask questions about the world around them. Look at these pictures. What are some questions you have about the pictures?
Explore and Explain: Record students questions and discuss how they could be answered.
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5. Scientists…Work with Others
Explore: Give partners a small puzzle to solve or a set of directions to complete together.
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6. Scientists…Observe Using Their Five Senses
Click on the 5 Senses hyperlink and the 5 senses Poster Set Picture in order to download the free poster set (Teacher’s Notebook, Danielle Mastrandrea krazee4kindergarten.blogspot.com)
Watch Sid the Science Kid, All My Senses (introduction), click the video
Click to watch video
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7. Explore: Give each student a small piece of fruit to observe and record observations on this lab sheet. Have students share out their observations. Start this 5 senses a class chart using words from students fruit observations. Add students senses words as they do observations.
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8. More About the Five Senses
Explain: Have students work in a group to label the pictures on the above chart or you can do this whole group.
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9. Scientists…Observe and Describe properties of Objects
To observe means to carefully explore a type of material’s properties.
We can describe objects using the following characteristics:
Color
Size
Shape
Texture
Weight/Mass
Temperature
Engage: Play the video by clicking the hyperlink: properties
Explore: Students can observe their school supplies’ properties. Write down all the properties students observe. Then have students sort their school supplies and identify what properties they used to sort the objects.

10. Scientists…Collect Data (Information)
As a class, come up with a question that you want to answer (e.g. How many girls and boys are in our class? What is your favorite color? What is your favorite fruit? etc.)
Create a class chart to graph the data collected for the question you chose as a class.
Display the chart in the class to be used as an anchor chart for data collection.
Explore: As a class, come up with a question that you want to answer (e.g. How many girls and boys are in our class? What is the favorite color of our class? What is your favorite fruit of our class? etc.)
Create a class chart to graph the data collected for the question you chose as a class.
Display the chart in the class to be used as an anchor chart for data collection.
Department of Science

11. Scientists…Keep Records
Use this time to show students a science notebook that has already been created. Teachers will work with students to help them create their own science notebook that will be used during the year for record keeping, lab activities, graphic organizers, etc.
We will use our science notebook to record our work in science.
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12. Scientists…Use Tools Name the tools you see in the picture below:
Use the “Science Tool or Toy” link to identify tools that scientists use.
Click on the “Science Tool or Toy” picture to download the free activity. (kindergartenkindergarten.com)
Go over various tools that scientists use. It is best to have as many actual items as you can so students can make a connection.
Use the “Science Tool or Toy” link to identify tools that scientists use. This can be done in groups or with partners.
Give students some of the actual tools to use for free exploration.
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13. Practice of Science Vocabulary
Observe using five Senses
(see, hear, smell, taste, touch)
To study Properties
Shape (round, square)
Texture (rough, smooth, hard, soft)
Size (large, small, weight, heavy, light)
Explain: have students share examples of how they can or have used these words. Students can make a 5 senses foldable and or a properties foldable.
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14. Scientists…Stay Safe
Print the science safety contract or you can create one of your own. This is a free resource from littlemisshypothesis.com
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15. Questions
What are the five senses? How do they help us learn in science?
List the different ways we can describe an object.
How do scientists keep records?
Why do scientists collect information?
What are some ways scientists can stay safe when working?
How can you ask questions about the world around us?
What types of questions can you ask?
Evaluate: These are questions to be asked by the teacher at the end of the lesson.
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16. Resources
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