Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences

Science Course Descriptions

Grades K - 8

Kindergarten Science
Kindergarten students design and conduct their own investigations and create models to
explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in life, physical,
and earth and space sciences. They apply science content to engineering/design challenges
and develop skill in scientific communication through the use of writing and science
notebooks. Students begin by developing observational skills using the five senses. In
physical science they explore how forces affect motion. In life science they explore the basic
needs of living things and report their findings in an All About Book. The earth science
unit has students develop and apply an understanding of earth materials to building
challenges. They contrast the nature of living and non-living things which are the subjects
of scientific study.

First Grade Science

First grade students design and conduct their own investigations and create models to
explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in life, physical,
and earth and space sciences. They apply science content to engineering/design challenges
and develop skill in scientific communication through the use of writing and science
notebooks and other products. In physical science they explore the physical properties of
matter with a special emphasis on water and apply their understanding to a design

challenge. In the first of two earth science units, students monitor weather patterns on
various time scales using tools they design. They relate such evidence to severe weather
and make safety recommendations. In the second earth science unit, students relate
weather patterns from unit 3 to the dynamics of the sun. They apply their understanding of
the dynamics to the design and use of a solar oven. Further, they study the patterns of day
and night using a solar clock which they design. In the life science unit students study the
relationships between living organisms and their environments by developing a pop bottle
ecosystem. They consider challenges to survival over geologic time and in response to
human activity.

Second Grade Science

Second grade students design and conduct their own investigations and create models to
explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in life, physical,
and earth and space sciences. They apply science content to engineering/design challenges
and develop skill in scientific communication through the use of writing and science
notebooks. In physical science students develop an understanding of physical proportions
of materials and mixtures which they apply to choices that optimize engineering
challenges. Students focus on water in the earth science unit. They explore water's
properties in various states, the natural forms of water on earth's surface and in the
atmosphere and how humans use water and impact natural resources. After producing an
argument in support of water conservation students turn their attention to landforms.
They study various representations of the Earth's surface and processes that create
landforms. They create a book for kindergarten students and a model community focusing

on natural features of the land. In life science, students explore the life cycle and heredity of
plants.

Third Grade Science

Third grade students design and conduct their own investigations and create models to
explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in life, physical,
and earth and space sciences. They apply science content to engineering/design challenges
and develop skill in scientific communication through the use of writing and science
notebooks. In physical science students explore the relationships between balanced and
unbalanced forces and the impact on the motion of objects. They apply these concepts to an
engineering design challenge. Students also study light and sound, applying concepts to the
design of a mobile with visual effects and musical instruments that control pitch. In life
science students relate structures in plants and animals to functions that support survival.
In earth science students develop an understanding of fundamental earth materials and
how humans depend on these for energy and other resources. They also explore surface
processes and the human impact of resource extraction.

Fourth Grade Science

Fourth grade students design and conduct their own investigations and create models to
explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in life, physical,
and earth and space sciences. They apply science content to engineering/design challenges
and develop skill in scientific communication through the use of writing and science
notebooks. In fourth grade students deepen their inquiry skills by practicing using

evidence to formulate explanations about life, physical, and earth and space sciences. In life
science students learn about natural relationships within the environment and how this
order can be interrupted or changed by environmental conditions. They explore plants and
animals through the study of patterns of interdependence, food chains, and food webs.
Students use information found in the fossil record to compare organisms that exist today
to those of the past. In physical science students examine the properties of heat, electricity,
and magnetism and how energy can change or transfer and they explore the conditions
that lead to energy transfer. Students observe changes in states of matter and learn to
measure these changes/interactions. In earth and space science students explore the role
of gravity and understand how the motion of objects in the sky move in predictable cycles
and explain the concepts of day and year. Students make the connection that all life on
earth is dependent on the sun for light and heat energy.

Fifth Grade Science

Fifth grade students design and conduct their own investigations and create models to
explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in life, physical,
and earth and space sciences. They apply science content to engineering/design challenges
and develop skill in scientific communication through the use of writing and science
notebooks. In fifth grade students design and conduct their own investigations and create
models to explain phenomenon as well as engage in scientific collaborative discourse in
life, physical, and earth and space sciences. In life science students examine the traits of
living organisms and specialized animal systems. The concept of adaptation is made
concrete through the study of the effects of heredity and environment on the evolution of

organisms. Students study fossils in order to compare ancient life forms with current life
forms and provide evidence of how environmental conditions have changed over time. In
physical science students explore forces in depth and understand how forces affect motion
and speed of an object. They then use this knowledge to demonstrate the affects of force
and motion in everyday experiences. In earth and space science students learn about the
universe beyond earth and how position and motion explains seasons, day and night, and
year.
Sixth Grade Science
In sixth grade students gain a greater understanding of the nature and structure of
scientific knowledge and learn to recognize evidence and ways to think about designing
solutions to problems. In life science students explore the variation of ecosystems as they
gain in-depth knowledge of the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the balance of an
ecosystem. They describe the relationships and interactions within ecosystems including
those that cause ecosystems to change. In physical science students deepen their
understanding of energy through investigations demonstrating the transformation of
kinetic energy and energy transfer by radiation, conduction, or convection. In earth science
students extend their knowledge of earth processes related to rock and soil formation and
surface features. They analyze evidence for plate tectonics and apply an understanding of
fossils and rock formations to questions about geologic history.

Seventh Grade Science

In seventh grade students gain a greater understanding of the nature and structure of
scientific knowledge and learn to recognize evidence and ways to think about designing

solutions to problems. In physical science students deepen their understanding of energy

through investigations of waves, light and sound. This is followed by another physical
science unit which introduces the fundamentals of chemistry. In life science students
explore cells and cell development. In earth science students focus on the hydrosphere.
They study weather and climate with a special focus on energy as a driver of change in
earth systems, as well the nature and quality of surface and ground water.

Eighth Grade Science

In eighth grade students gain a greater understanding of the nature and structure of
scientific knowledge and learn to recognize evidence and ways to think about designing
solutions to problems. The curriculum is devoted to help students enhance knowledge and
develop science skills with an emphasis on biological and environmental science, and has
been designed to include these elements from the Michigan Science High School Content
Expectations. The course will focus on prerequisites for high school Biology, with
exploration topics on the issue of sustainability and the ways human society uses natural
resources to meet our needs. As a culmination to this course, students are expected to
participate in the Rouge River project.