5th grade Science Kits: Resources for Implementation and Enrichment

Unit: Ecosystems/Fossils
Books to explore
Ask your librarian for help finding
current and interesting books. Here
are some examples:

Web Resources
http://www.epa.gov/students/teachers.htm
l#epaecosystems
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm#

Exploring Ecosystems with Max

Axiom, Super Scientist
Ecosystems Series
Freshwaters
Boreal Forests
Rainforests
Deserts
Wetlands
Caves
Deciduous Forests
Mountains
Oceans
Chaparrals
Tundras
Grasslands
The Omnivores Dilemma: Young
Readers Edition
Fossil by Bill Thomson (wordless
picture book)
Einstein Project Book List
http://www.einsteinproject.org/medi
a/56093/ecosystems.pdf

Idea Sparkler(s)

Ecosystem flipbook or foldable

I Have, Who Has with
Ecosystems

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource
/lsps07.sci.life.eco.lpexpecosystems/explori
ng-the-systems-in-ecosystems/
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activit
y/ecosystems-11-studyjams-interactivescience-activities
http://ecosystems.psu.edu/youth/sftrc/envi
ron-series
http://www.epa.gov/students/teachers.htm
l
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource
/ess05.sci.ess.earthsys.lp_funfossils/funwith-fossils/

Create a Giant Food Web

After researching
animals and ecosystems,
students create animal
and food cards
Hang them and identify
connections with yarn or
rubber bands and thumb
tacks
Collaborate with your librarian
to design a research project that
results in an ecosystem gallery
walk/museum.
Student groups research
different ecosystems
Students build
ecosystem displays with
visuals and artifacts

The Mystery Fossil Bones Activity

http://mjksciteachingideas.com/pdf/Myster
yBones.pdf

http://eschooltoday.com/ecosystems/whatis-an-ecosystem.html
http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Life-inthe-Sea/Sci-Media/Animations-andInteractives/Marine-ecosystem

The resources above are to be used as supplemental resources to the MNPS Science Kits. This list is not extensive and
should be used to meet the needs of the students.

Unit: Understanding Cells and DNA

Books to explore

Ask your librarian for help finding

current and interesting books. Here
are some examples:

Web Resources

Database: Student Resources in Context

(from TEL); Search: DNA
http://www.genome.gov/20519692

Cells by Richard Spilsbury

Heinemann Infosearch: Essential Life
Science Series

http://www.dnai.org/timeline/index.html
http://www.dnai.org/c/index.html

Cells and Life Processes by Denise

Walker
The Basics of Cell Biology
Core Concepts Series (Rosen
Publishing Group)
Decoding Our DNA: Craig Venter vs.
Human Genome Project by Karen
Gunnison Ballen
Who Am I? The Amazing Science of
Existence by Richard Walker

Interactive Cells
http://www.cellsalive.com/index.htm

Idea Sparkler(s)

Use articles from databases such

as SIRS or Opposing Viewpoints
in Context to spark
debates/research on these
topics (as appropriate for age
level):
Genetic Engineering
GMOs
DNA use in Criminal
Justice and Crime
Investigation
Genetic Testing

http://interactivesites.weebly.com/cells.htm
l
Edible Cells Lesson
Use candy and food to
create cell models
https://www.teachingchannel.or
g/videos/sixth-grade-biologylesson

The Basics of Genetics

Core Concepts Series (Rosen
Publishing Group)

The resources above are to be used as supplemental resources to the MNPS Science Kits. This list is not extensive and
should be used to meet the needs of the students.

Unit: Motion and Design

Books to explore

Ask your librarian for help finding

current and interesting books. Here
are some examples:

Forces and Motion by Angela Royston

Forces and Motion in the Read World
by Kathleen Muldoon
Forces and Motion: Investigating a
Car Crash by Ian Graham
The Powerful World of Energy with
Max Axiom, Super Scientist

Web Resources

Idea Sparkler(s)

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activit
y/force-and-motion-6-studyjamsinteractive-science-activities

Design a biography study during

which students study famous
and important physicists and
their theories.

http://www.einsteinproject.org/media/6473
0/motion-and-design12112014.pdf
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/8t
h-grade-science-motion

Students make vocabulary

videos to demonstrate the
meanings of vocabulary terms:
force, motion, mass, etc.

http://positivelyaging.uthscsa.edu/curriculu
m/mobility/mob04b-grannyrampMS.asp

Motion and Forces by Tamra Orr

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teache
rs/free-lesson-plans/gravity-gets-youdown.cfm

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

(Young Readers Edition available)

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/yss/display.cf
m?ThemeID=28&Tab=Classrooms

Einstein Project Book List

http://www.einsteinproject.org/medi
a/56327/motion%20and%20design.p
df

The resources above are to be used as supplemental resources to the MNPS Science Kits. This list is not extensive and
should be used to meet the needs of the students.

Unit: The Universe

Books to explore

Web Resources

Ask your librarian for help finding

current and interesting books. Here
are some examples:

The Scale of the Universe Interactive

Graphic
http://htwins.net/scale2/

The Universe by Helen Whittaker

http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/forteachers/

Black Holes by Jim Whiting

The Universe by Discovery Kids
Stars and the Stuff that Made Us by
Raman Prinja
Seven Wonders Beyond the Solar
System by Ron Miller
The Universe: From the Big Bang to
Deep Space by Mary Kay Carson

http://www.nsf.gov/news/classroom/astron
omy.jsp

Idea Sparkler(s)

Field Trip to the Space and

Rocket Center in Alabama
http://rocketcenter.com/groups
Field Trip to the Adventure
Science Center to view Space
Chase and Planetarium
http://www.adventuresci.org/sp
ace-chase/
http://www.sudekumplanetariu
m.com/

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducator
s/
How the Universe Works Videos
from the Science Channel
http://www.sciencechannel.com
/tv-shows/how-the-universeworks/

Student can keep star journals to

track constellations they see in
the night sky and study star
patterns.

The resources above are to be used as supplemental resources to the MNPS Science Kits. This list is not extensive and
should be used to meet the needs of the students.