Rockingham County Public Schools
Fifth Grade Science Benchmarks
A Guide for Parent Involvement
1st Nine Weeks
Review scientific method
Plan and conduct investigations (5.1)
Rocks, minerals, and organisms are identified using a
classification key
Estimations of length, mass, and volume
Appropriate instruments are selected and
used for length, mass, volume, and elapsed time
(thermometer, meter, stick, balance, graduated cylinder)
Collect, record, and report data using graphs, charts,
and diagrams
Predictions are made using patterns, and simple
graphical data are extrapolated
Independent and dependent variables are identified
Earth patterns, cycles, and changes (5.7)
The rock cycle (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)
Earth history and fossils
Structure of the earth’s interior (crust, mantle, core)
Plate tectonics (faults, plates, earthquakes, volcanoes)
Weathering and erosion
Human impact deposition
Earth/ocean systems (5.6)
Geological characteristics of oceans (continental shelf,
slope, rise)
Physical characteristics (depth, salinity, major currents)
Biological characteristics (ecosystems)
Review related 4th grade SOLs:
Earth/space systems; 4.7
Motions of Earth, moon, and sun (rotation and
revolution)
Causes for Earth’s seasons
Phases of the moon
Earth, moon, and sun (relative size, position, age, and
makeup)
Historical contributions in understanding Earth-moonsun system
Virginia Natural Resources; 4.8
Water resources and watersheds
Animals and plants
Minerals, rocks, ores, energy sources
Forests, soil, land
2nd Nine Weeks
Plan and conduct investigations (5.1)
Use appropriate tools for experiments
Collect and record data
Earth/ocean systems (5.6)
Geological characteristics of oceans (continental shelf,
slope, rise)
Physical characteristics (depth, salinity, major currents)
Biological characteristics (ecosystems)
Matter (5.4)
Atoms, Elements, Molecules, Compounds
Mixtures including solutions
Effect of heat on the states of matter
Living systems (5.5)
Basic cell structures and functions
Kingdoms of living things
Vascular and nonvascular plants
Vertebrates and invertebrates
Earth patterns, cycles, and changes (5.7)
The rock cycle (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)
Earth history and fossils
Structure of the earth’s interior (crust, mantle, core)
Plate tectonics (faults, plates, earthquakes, volcanoes)
Weathering and erosion
Human impact
Review related 4th grade SOLs:
Ecosystems; 4.5
Behavioral and structural adaptations
Organization of communities
Flows of energy - food webs
Habitats and niches
Life cycles
Impact of human activity on ecosystems
3rd Nine Weeks
Plan and conduct investigations (5.1)
Use appropriate tools for experiments
Collect and record data
Force, motion, and energy-sound (5.2)
Frequency, waves, wavelength, vibration
Different media transmitting sound (liquid, solids, gases)
Uses and application (Voice, sonar, animal sounds,
musical instruments)
Force, motion, and energy-light (5.3)
Visible spectrum, light waves
Refraction of light through water and prisms
Reflection of light from reflective surfaces (mirrors)
Opaque, transparent, translucent materials
Historical contributions in understanding light
Review related 4th grade SOLs:
Force, motion, and energy; 4.2
Motion described by object’s direction and speed
Forces cause changes in motion
Friction is a force that opposes motion
Moving objects have kinetic energy
Electricity; 4.3
Static electricity
Historical contributions
Electrical energy transformed into heat, light, and
mechanical energy
Conductors and Insulators
Basic Circuits (open/close, parallel/series)
Simple electromagnets and magnetism
SOL Review:
Review past 5th grade science tests
containing SOL related questions
Use commercially and locally produced
science SOL materials to review 4th and 5th grade
science SOL objectives (such as Blast Off, Coach,
locally created questions, etc.)
4th Nine Weeks
Review scientific method
Plan and conduct investigations (5.1)
Rocks, minerals, and organisms are identified using a
classification key
Estimations of length, mass, and volume
Appropriate instruments are selected and used for
length, mass, volume, and elapsed time (thermometer,
meter, stick, balance, graduated cylinder)
Collect, record, and report data using graphs, charts,
and diagrams
Predictions are made using patterns, and simple
graphical data are extrapolated
Manipulated and responding variables are identified
Review ALL 4th grade SOLs:
Plant life processes; 4.4
Plant anatomy (leaves, stems, roots, flowers.
Reproduction processes & structures (pollination,
stamen, pistil, sepal, embryo, spore, seed)
Photosynthesis (sunlight, chlorophyll, water, carbon
dioxide, oxygen, sugar)
Dormancy
Force, motion, and energy; 4.2
Motion described by object’s direction and speed
Forces cause changes in motion
Friction is a force that opposes motion
Moving objects have kinetic energy
Electricity; 4.3
Static electricity
Historical contributions
Electrical energy transformed into heat, light, and
mechanical energy
Conductors and Insulators
Basic Circuits (open/close, parallel/series)
Simple electromagnets and magnetism
SOL Review:
Review past 5th grade science tests containing SOL
related questions
Use commercially and locally produced science SOL
materials to review 4th and 5th grade science SOL
objectives (such as Blast Off, Coach, locally created
questions, etc.)
SOL Test
Review of any previous units, enrichment
activities, investigations and projects based on
interest areas in science.
** The numbers throughout the Benchmarks refer to the
Virginia Science Standards of Learning objectives. For
example, “5.4” refers to Fifth Grade SOL objective number
“4”.
Updated 2012-13