New Mexico Science<br>Teachers Association
 

K-4 Lesson Plans

Lesson plans for the K-4 learners organized by state science strand,  standard and benchmark.


Feel free to contribute lesson plans to this page-- it is designed as a place for NM science teachers to help and support each other with respect to science curriculum.  
To share a plan,  send your documents (in an editable form like Word or Pages) to webmaster@nmsta.org.

Also, collaborate and connect with other teachers at your grade level via our Elementary Curriculum Discussion Room. Using the forum you can connect, post questions or comments and seek/offer help and support to other middle school teachers that are members of NMSTA. 

Content of Science



Standard #1:

Students will understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy and the interactions between matter and energy. 

That means students...
1. Recognize that matter has different forms and properties.

2. Know that energy is needed to get things done and that energy has different forms.

3. Identify forces and describe the motion of objects.

Standard #2:

Students will understand the properties, structures and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments. 

That means students...

1. Know that living things have diverse forms, structures, functions and habitats.

2. Know that living things have similarities and differences, and that living things change over time.

3. Know the parts of the human body and their functions.


Standard #3:

Students will understand the structure of earth, the solar system and the universe, the interconnections among them and the processes and interactions of earth's systems. 

That means that students..

1. Know the structure of the solar system and the objects in the universe.

2. Know the structure and formation of earth and its atmosphere and the processes that shape them.


Science and Society



Standard #1:

Students will understand how scientific discoveries, inventions, practices and knowledge influence and are influenced by individuals and societies.

That means students...
1. explain how scientific discoveries and inventions have changed individuals and societies

    • describe ways to prevent the spread of germs.
    • know that science has ways to help living things avoid sickness or recover from sickness and explain why adult supervision is needed to administer them.
    • know that some materials are better than others for making particular things.
    • understand that everybody can do science, invent thi
    In 3rd grade, they can
      • describe how food packaging and preparation  extend food life and the safety of foods 
      • know that science produces information for the manufacture and recycling of materials (e.g., materials that can be recycled - aluminum, paper, plastic - and others that cannot be recycled - gasoline).
      • know that naturally-occurring materials (e.g., wood, clay, cotton, animal skins) may be processed or combined with other materials to change their properties.
      • know that using poisons can reduce the damage to crops caused by rodents, weeds and insects, but their use may also harm other plants, animals or the environment.
      In 4th Grade, they can
      • know that science has identified substances called pollutants that get into the environment and can be harmful to living things.
      • know that, through science and technology, a wide variety of materials not appearing in nature have become available (e.g., steel, plastic, nylon, fiber optics).
      • know that science has created ways to store and retrieve information (e.g., paper and ink, printing press, computers, CD-ROMs) but that these are not perfect (e.g., faulty programming, defective hardware).
      • know that both men and women of all races and social backgrounds choose science as a career.

      Scientific Thinking & Practices


      Standard #1:

      Students will understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting and validating in order to think critically. 

      That means students...
      1.  Use scientific methods to observe, collect, record, analyze, predict, interpret and determine reasonableness of data.
      GR K-2


      2. Use scientific thinking and knowledge and communicate findings.

      3. Use mathematical skills and vocabulary to analyze data, describe patterns and relationships and communicate findings.

      Feel free to contribute lesson plans to this page-- it is designed as a place for NM science teachers to help and support each other with respect to science curriculum.  
      To share a plan,  send your documents (in an editable form like Word or Pages) to webmaster@nmsta.org.

      Also, collaborate and connect with other teachers at your grade level via our Elementary Curriculum Discussion Room. Using the forum you can connect, post questions or comments and seek/offer help and support to other middle school teachers that are members of NMSTA. 

       
       


      New Mexico Science Teachers Association (NMSTA)


      We are dedicated to providing a network for educators throughout New Mexico to work collaboratively towards improving science education from pre-K through college.

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