Science Academic Standards Summary List 

The following list of science expectations for students provides a summary of what a student should know and be able to do by the end of a grade level. This “short list” is adapted from the science curriculum guidelines developed for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison. 

Kindergarten

Using topics such as senses, plants, animals, earth, and weather, students will:

• pose and predict solutions to problem
• collect, organize, sort, and record data by using graphs ad drawing pictures
• use scientific equipment including magnets , magnifiers  scales, and weather instruments
• observe changes in life forms and their natural environment
• observe temperature and weather changes
• recognize and observe changes in our environment
• observe plants and animals
• make predictions about an experiment
• observe and identify the relationships among the five senses

Grade 1 

Using topics such as color, water, air, plants, animals, and weather, students will:

• pose and solve problems
• observe, collect, organize, and interpret data
• use scientific equipment including magnifiers, scales, rulers etc.
• predict outcomes
• observe changes in the environment, including clouds and the effect wind has on weather
• observe the water cycle, including evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
• recognize that some plants and animals only live in certain environments
• describe the habitats of animals
• various stages in life cycles of plants and animals
• apply their scientific knowledge in everyday life
• observe changes in color, water, and air
• construct models relating to color and life cycles

Grade 2 

Using topics such as water surface, minerals, nutrients, simple machines, and solar system, students will:

• pose and solve problems; predict solutions
• and organize data
• understand that many people have worked in scientific fields for many years
• use scientific equipment (magnifiers, balance scales, magnets)
• compare and classify
• conduct simple experiments and explain outcomes
• identify scientists and their inventions
• relate scientific knowledge to environment and people’s lives

Grade 3 

Using topics such as water surface, minerals, nutrients, simple machines, solar system, and the human body, students will:

• pose and solve problems; predict solutions
• collect, organize, and interpret data
• define and use scientific vocabulary
• construct, conduct, and experiment to answer scientific questions
• use a variety of resources to solve scientific problems
• use variety of ways to display data
• show how technology and science continue to affect people’s lives
• explain how technology and science is used to solve problems

Grade 4 

Using topics such as: plants animals, insects, rocks, minerals, air atmosphere, and matter, students will:

• pose and solve problems; predict solutions
• collect, organize, and interpret data
• have some knowledge of the history of science
• recognize that scientists use a variety of resources
• conduct a valid experiment
• construct models to explain science topics
• use scientific vocabulary correctly
• understand how science and technology have affected our environment and our lives

General Science Curriculum for Grades 5-8 

Within the 5-8 science curriculum students will:

1.     Understand and use terms relevant to various science concepts.

2.     Use the basic measurement of science (length, mass, volume, and temperature).

3.     Analyze and draw conclusions from data graphing, charting, and calculating.

4.     Use science equipment at appropriate level (microscope, Bunsen burner, balance, etc.).

5.     Understand that the cell is a basic unit of life.

6.     Classify and identify living organisms using their characteristics.

7.     Describe food chains and human effect on them.

8.     Describe the processes that all living things share.

9.     Explain the interrelationship between living things and their environment.

10.   Describe the functions of human body and how they depend on one another.

11.   Describe the basic concepts of genetics.

12.   Describe how genetics affect the lives of humans.

13.   Explain the relationship between various bodies in the universe.

14.   Explain how the earth relates to the rest of the universe.

15.   Tell about the uniqueness of the earth and its ongoing processes of development.

16.   Describe the classifications and concepts of the earth’s biomes.

17.   Use the physical properties and chemical composition to classify rocks and minerals.

18.   Describe the importance of oceans and water to our planet.

19.   Relate the various forms of energy (fossil, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal).

20.   Explain the factors of weather and the importance of weather to life.

21.   Describe the building blocks of matter (atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds).

22.   Describe composition and reactions of matter.

23.   Explain the relationship between matter, energy, and motion.

24.   Describe the properties of and uses for heat, light, nuclear energy, and sound.

25.   Describe magnetism and electricity.

26.   Explain the relationship between work, machines, and power.

27.   Explain the concepts of force and motion.

28.   Project scientific concepts in the future.