Weather Conditions
Explore 1: Activity-What is the Weather Like? Students collect daily weather data for two cities to investigate how weather is not the same all over the world.
Explore 2: Activity-Meteorologist for a Day Students are given a picture of a weather condition and work collaboratively to create a weather report
Weather Patterns
Explore 1: Scientific Investigation-Weather Pattern Chart Students will measure and record temperature changes throughout the day for 3 days.
Explore 2: Activity-Weather Caterpillar
Students will create a weather caterpillar to show the weather over time. They will observe weather data for various months of the year and explain how weather produces patterns over time.
Pushes and Pulls
In this scope, students learn that pushes and pulls can have different strengths and directions.
Explore 1: Scientific Investigation-Cross The Finish Line
Students determine which object requires more force to be pushed and moved across a finish line. Then, students will see the effect different strengths and directions of pushes and pulls have on different objects.
Explore 2: Scientific Investigation-Push! Pull!
Students determine which boxes are easy to pull and which are harder to pull while learning about the different directions and strengths needed when pushing and pulling items up and down a ramp.
Symbols in the Community and Country
Students will recognize and explain the significance of US symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, U.S. Capitol, Bald Eagle and Liberty Bell. Students will also explore significant symbols of the local community such as Post Office, Fire Department, Sports/Mascots, Police Stations, Schools/Mascots, Medical Facilities, etc. There are new lessons from the DESE website about U.S. symbols you may choose to use instead of the ones in the curriculum document. Those lessons are found in the August S'more.
Communicating with Light and Sound
In this scope, students learn that sounds can make matter vibrate, and vibrating matter can make sound.
Explore 1: Activity-Sound Stations:
Students rotate through four different sound stations. Students will explore how materials make sound and how sound can make materials move.
Explore 2: Inquiry Investigation-Sound System:
Students discover how different materials affect the type of sound that is made.
Responsibilities of Government Leaders
Students will learn the significance of many American symbols such as the White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, national landmarks, national parks, and important memorials. Students should be able to identify the symbols and explain what they represent.
Students will also learn about the three branches of government at the federal, state, and local levels. They will learn the functions of each branch at each level of government and about the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels when it come to decision making processes.
It is important to keep class discussions focused on government as a whole topic and not focus lessons around the 2024 election. Teachers should follow guidelines from district and building leadership about what can and cannot be discussed as it pertains to the upcoming election.
People of Missouri
In this unit students will identify and explain how significant individuals and events have impacted the history of Missouri. The unit starts with a sequential study of early Americans in North America. Students will study Native Americans of Missouri and how they were affected by European explorers. Students will also learn about the Louisiana Purchase and how Missouri became a state.
Social and Group Behaviors
How can living in a group help or hurt an animal's chance of survival? Students will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of hunting in a group versus hunting alone. In their first activity, they will experience a model of hunting involving highly skilled food gatherers and less skilled gatherers. In their second activity, students will play Rock, Paper, Scissors to battle a predator.
Migration
Unit 1: Migration is the fourth grade social studies unit for first quarter. Students may have finished this unit or may still be working on it. In this unit, students learn about the migrations of Native Americans prior to 1800. Students will also learn about the roles of Native Americans, immigrants, African Americans, and women during this time period and their effect on the country at large. Students will culminate the unit learning about the early settlement of America by Europeans and the formation of the 13 Colonies. This ending leads right into Unit 2 for second quarter, which is on Causes of the American Revolution.
Energy and Speed
Energy and Speed is the first topic in Unit 2: Physical Science, Part 1. In this topic, students examine the question: How is the speed of a moving object related to the energy it has to transfer to another object? In their first exploration, students will investigate how the height of a ramp affects the distance an object travels as well as the sound produced when two objects collide.
Territorial Expansion
Territorial Expansion is the 5th grade social studies unit for first quarter. Students may still be working on it. In this unit students will discover what led to the expansion of our country and the lasting implications of the expansion. They will apply this knowledge to present day situations of migration and technology advances in communication, travel, and economics. The knowledge students gain in this unit about territorial expansion and its effects will lead into their second quarter study of wars and their impact on the United States.
Earth's Rotation
5th grade students may still be finishing Unit 1: Life Science, which included Energy Transfer/Matter and Energy in Plants, Food Webs/Ecosystems, and Body Systems (not found in Stemscopes but detailed in the curriculum document). As students begin Unit 2: Earth and Space Science, Part 1 their first topic is Earth's Rotation. Students investigate the question: What patterns does Earth’s movement cause? In this topic, students will construct a sundial using a paper plate, pencil, and modeling clay.