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Thematic Unit for Fifth Grade

Written By: Ann and Julie in the Fall of 2004

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South Dakota DECA Content Standards
 South Dakota DECA Science Standards Online

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You will notice here that we have listed the fifth grade Earth/ Space Science standards as defined by the South Dakota Department of Education Content Standards.  There are other fifth grade science standards that could be used in a space thematic unit. This would also be a great unit to meet math standards!
 

FIFTH GRADE EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE STANDARDS

STUDENTS WILL:

  1. describe the basic structure of Earth’s interior.
  2. describe geological features of Earth. (example: ice caps, folds, faults)
  3. investigate and describe how Earth’s surface is constantly changing.
  4. relate natural forces to fast and slow changes in Earth’s surface. [example: effects of plate tectonics (earthquakes and volcanoes), weathering and erosion]
  5. differentiate between weather and climate.
  6. examine topographical maps and explain how they represent landforms.
  7. understand the transfer of solar energy and how it is used.
  8. describe the variety of components of the solar system.
  9. explain how patterns of stars remain the same even though patterns appear to move across the sky.
  10. understand that the apparent size of a light source is related to the distance from the source.
  11. describe the relative scale of Earth to the sun, planets, and moon.
  12. investigate historical contributions in understanding Earth-moon-sun system

 

Informational Background Sites

Ø      Space.com; http://www.space.com/

o   Has recent stories about space.

o   Space IQ

o   Talks about all aspects of space; technology, science, entertainment.

Ø      CNN.com; http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/

o       Very informational

o       Students would get lost

Ø      Space Kids; http://spacekids.hq.nasa.gov/osskids/education.htm

o       Has great sites for teachers to get ideas from

 

Three Lesson Plan Sites
 

Ø      Exploring; http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/index.html

o       Lesson plans

Ø      Lesson Plan Central; http://lessonplancentral.com/lessons/Space/

o       Has a ba-zillion lesson plans on space stuff

Ø      A to Z Teacher Stuff; http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Space/

o       Tons of lesson plans on space stuff

Ø      Amazing Space; http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/

o       Has a little information for children and also homework help

 

Four Student Sites
 

Ø      First Gov For Kids; http://www.kids.gov/k_space.htm

o       Has lots of other really good sites to go to

Ø      NASA.gov; http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/Vision/index.html

o       Very informative

o       Has lots of action

Ø      NASA Kids; http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/

Ø      Astronomy Pictures; http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

 

One Thematic Unit Site
 

Ø      Space Tooters 4 Kids; http://www.tooter4kids.com/Space/Spaceindex.htm

o       Has a lot of information

o       Probably better for teachers than students

§         Has unit plan – doesn’t work but the rest of the site is really good for students and teacher ideas

§         Vocabulary

§         Worksheets

 

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