5th Grade Science Curriculum Night 2017-2018

Class Website Go to: https://www.fsus.school > Departments > Elementary School > 5th Grade > Nancy Rosenbaum View Website Daily assignments/homework will NOT be posted to our class website as it the student’s responsibility to be organized and keep track of their papers.

Standards & Standardized Tests Students will learn the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for 5th Grade Science. Students will take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0) for 5th Grade Science in April. This test will be administered over two days and will be a paper-based test.

Textbooks/Resources Students have a textbook that has been signed out to them. They may take these home at ANY time without asking for permission but need to have them with them in class each day. They are responsible for this book and will be charged for the book if it is damaged or not returned at the end of the school year. Students may use PearsonSuccessNet.com to access their textbook. Username: Rosenbaum1718 Password: noles5

Textbooks/Resources Science notebooks are a place for us to collect information, vocabulary, diagrams, wonderings, and much more. Students may take these home as needed for review and studying but need to have them in class. Notebooks will be collected each quarter and checked for a completion grade. It’s important that students make up missing pages if they are absent. Workbooks should remain in the classroom unless students need to take them home to complete an assignment OR study for an assessment.

Grades Assignments are weighted in FOCUS as follows: 60% = Assessments 30% = Assignments 10% = Lab/Participation

Homework Students are expected to write in their planners each class period. They are given time at the beginning of each class to write in their planners and are directed to do so. Even if students do not have homework, they will always have SOMETHING to write in their planners. Not all homework is completed for a grade but students should treat every assignment as if is being graded. No additional copies will be given for nightly homework assignments.

Lab/Exploration Exploration is a VERY important part of 5th Grade Science. Therefore, students are graded on what they take away from their lab/exploration experience, not just participation. Students may have a written portion of their lab to submit which may be graded. Sometimes, there will be right/wrong answers and other times students will just need to justify their answers in order for them to receive credit (depending on the activity and our learning goals).

Lab/Exploration The following are skills that we are working to build through lab, in addition to content knowledge: Following Directions – Following written and oral directions. Maintaining a Productive Pace - Lab must be completed within our class period.  Therefore, I give students time frames so that they know how much time they have to complete the task.  This helps them stay focused on their goals.  Additionally, I give MANY reminders about time as the class period progresses.

Lab/Exploration Communication of Science - We will work diligently to communicate science both written and orally.  Students will learn to be articulate and concise in their scientific thinking. We will utilize scientific argumentation in our class which will help students consider other viewpoints and/or support their own claims. The expectation is not that the student is always right, but they can justify their claims and explain why they think they are correct. Collaboration - Students will work in collaborative settings, sharing ideas, and considering other viewpoints. They will learn to listen and debate ideas until they determine the best possible answer. We will complete activities that will help students to work in cooperative groups and also identify their role in a group.  This is crucial as they will work with partners/small groups all school year long, typically on a weekly basis.

Vocabulary Students will have two types of vocabulary lists: Florida 5th Grade Science FCAT 2.0 Vocabulary Glossary for FCAT testing. This list will be provided for each body of knowledge as we encounter them. “Vocabulary Exploration” will be composed of words from the Florida 5th Grade Science Vocabulary Glossary and vocabulary from our unit that will help with understanding of content.

Vocabulary Science is a foreign language if you don’t understand the vocabulary. It is important for students to review vocabulary so that they understand the language of science when I use these words in class. Words will be taught and then used, as some words are more complex, it may take more review to recall them. All vocabulary lists will be posted to our class website in the “5th Grade Science Vocabulary Tab.”

Assessments Students will have two different types of assessments in science: Vocabulary Quizzes: Students will be assessed on their knowledge of science vocabulary for the unit we are working on. Students will be given a “vocabulary exploration” at the beginning of each new unit. Before we being studying new content, students are tasked with matching words with definitions from our chapter. Students will utilize their Florida 5th Grade Science FCAT 2.0 Vocabulary Glossary and their textbooks to take a “content walk” (similar to a “picture walk” that a child would take of a picture book to learn more about the book before reading the book) to preview our new unit. This list will become their study guide for the vocabulary quiz that they will take at the end of a unit. Students are encouraged to make flashcards of science vocabulary and review them daily for 5-10 minutes. I will also post a Quizlet link to our class website for students to use to review

Assessments Content Tests: These are tests on the content of the unit that we are studying. These tests will require students to apply knowledge, not just memorize facts/vocabulary. These tests will contain FCAT 2.0 sample test items and will be similar to questions that students will see on FCAT.

Projects Periodically students will be assigned science projects. Thorough instructions will be discussed in class and samples of projects will be displayed when possible. Directions for projects will be posted to our class website and students will be given an extended period of time to complete the project.

Projects Extended periods of work time should be utilized as students may have other homework assignments during the project. Parents will always be required to sign a grading rubric in order for students to receive a grade. This is to help students remember to reread directions/rubric at the conclusion of a project, ensuring that they have completed the criteria expected. Additionally, it helps parents be aware of detailed expectations.