Fifth Grade Science
First Quarter*
5.P.3 Explain how the properties of
some materials change as a result
of heating and cooling.
P.3.1 Explain the effects of transfer
of heat (either by direct contact or at
a distance) that occurs between
objects at different temperatures.
P.3.2 Explain how heating and
cooling affect some materials and
how this relates to their purpose and
practical applications.
5.P.2 Understand the interactions
of matter and energy and the
changes that occur.
P.2.1 Explain how the sun’s energy
impacts the processes of the water
cycle (including evaporation,
transpiration, condensation,
precipitation, and runoff.)
P.2.2 Compare the weight of an
object to the sum of the weight of its
parts before and after an interaction.
P.2.3 Summarize properties of
original materials, and the new
material(s) formed, to demonstrate
that a change has occurred.
Second Quarter*
5.E.1 Understand weather
patterns and phenomena,
making connections to the
weather in a particular place
and time.
E. 1.1 Compare daily and seasonal
changes in weather conditions
(including wind speed and direction,
precipitation, and temperature) and
patterns.
E.1.2 Predict upcoming weather events
from weather data collected through
observation and measurements.
E.1.3 Explain how global patterns such
as the jet stream and water currents
influence local weather in measurable
terms such as temperature, wind
direction and speed, and precipitation.
5.L.2 Understand the
interdependence of plants and
animals with their ecosystem.
L.2.1 Compare the characteristics of
several common ecosystems including
estuaries and salt marshes, oceans,
lakes and ponds, forests, and
grasslands.
L.2.2 Classify the organisms within an
ecosystem according to the function
they serve: producers, consumers,
decomposers (biotic factors)
L.2.3 Infer the effects that may result
from the interconnected relationship of
plants and animals to their ecosystem.
Third Quarter*
Fourth Quarter*
5.L.1 Understand how
structures and systems of
organisms (to include the
human body) perform
functions necessary for life.
L.1.1 Explain why some
organisms are capable of
surviving as a single cell while
others require many cells that are
specialized to survive.
L.1.2 Compare the major
systems of the human body
(digestive, respiratory,
circulatory, muscular, skeletal,
and cardiovascular) in terms of
their functions necessary for life.
5.P.1 Understand
force, motion and the
relationship between
them.
P.1.1 Explain how
factors such as gravity,
friction, and change in
mass affect the motion
of objects.
P.1.2 Infer the motion
of objects in terms of
how far they travel in
a certain amount of
time and the direction
in which they travel.
P.1.3 Illustrate the
motion of an object
using a graph to show
a change in position
over a period of time.
P.1.4 Predict the effect
of a given force or a
change in mass on the
motion of an object.
5.L.3 Understand why
organisms differ from or are
similar to their parents based
on the characteristics
of the organism.
L.3.1 Explain why organisms
differ from or are similar to their
parents based on the
characteristics of the organism.
L.3.2 Give examples of
likenesses that are inherited and
some that are not.
Fifth Grade Science
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Electromagnetic waves
Thermal energy
Convection cell
Evaporation
Transpiration
Condensation
Precipitation
Runoff
Matter
Energy
Precipitation
Evaporation
Condensation
Jet stream
Gulf stream
Air mass
La Nina / El
Nino
Temperature
Air pressure
Humidity
Latitude /
longitude
Hemisphere
Thermometer
Barometer
Anemometer
Wind vane
Rain Gauge
Food chains
Food webs
Energy pyramid
Adaptations
Prey
Predator
Competition
Natural
resources
Life cycles
Population
Communities
Habitat
Terrestrial
Producer
Consumer
Decomposer
After burning for 3 hours, a candle
has lost half of its mass. Write an
essay explaining where the mass
has gone.
There is a need to conserve energy to
make our natural resources last as long
as possible. Some people do this by
lowering their thermostat in the winter
months, and their homes feel a little
cool inside. Often, they have to wear
sweaters indoors to stay warm. Do you
think people should be required to
conserve heat energy this way?
Explain your position.
How has technology changed the
way meteorologists forecast the
weather?
Explain what a food web is.
Draw a visual example of a
food web. Now, describe what
might happen in your food
web should you remove one of
its organisms. Use information
to support your prediction.
Explain how almost all kinds of
animal’s food can be traced back
to plants.
Third Quarter
Organisms
Nervous
system
Unicellular
Multicellular
Transport
Circulatory
System
Heart
Blood
Vessels
Respiratory
System
Nose
Trachea
Lungs
Skeletal
System
Bones
Muscular
System
Muscles
Digestive
System
Mouth
Esophagus
Stomach
Intestines
Trait
Inherit
Species
Population
Community
Culture
Is one of the body systems
more important than the
others? Explain your
reasoning.
Research hereditary
diseases on the internet.
Write a brief description
of one disease that is
caused by heredity.
Fourth Quarter
Gravity
Friction
Mass
Matter
Distance
Time
Graph
Force
Motion
Momentum
Your dad bought a truck
yesterday. He does not
understand why it takes so
long to accelerate
compared to his older,
smaller car. Explain why
this is happening in a letter
to your Dad using your
knowledge about force and
motion.
You are riding on a
skateboard. If you are on
a rough asphalt road and
Fifth Grade Science
you push off as hard as
you can one time, you will
coast for 20 feet before
you stop. If you are on a
smooth concrete sidewalk
and you push off as hard
as you can, you will coast
for 30 feet before you
stop. Why are you able to
coast farther on one
surface than the other?