Prince George’s County Public Schools
Summer Science Calendar
Grades 3-5
Science Office
Summer 2017
™
The ‘GREAT BY CHOICE’ trademark is owned by The Good to Great Project LLC and Morten T. Hansen. Used under license.
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Note To The Student
Expectations for students in Grades 3-5:
Gather data from many different forms of scientific investigations.
Identify and compare properties, location and movement of celestial objects in our solar system.
Provide evidence to support the fact that matter has observable and measurable properties.
Identify and describe ways in which heat can be produced.
Provide evidence from investigations to identify processes that can be used to change physical properties of materials.
Explain that the changes in the motion of objects are determined by the mass of an object and the amount of the force applied.
You will need a science journal to record your responses. The science journal will be used to record exploration ideas, data, labeled graphs,
newspaper clippings, and persuasive/writings and stories. Students can use a composition book or create their own journal by using the materials
and directions below.
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Use the following materials to create your journal:
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construction paper
magazines (collage material)
notebook paper (3-hole)
scissors
single or 3-hole punch
fasteners (yarn, ribbon, brads, rings)
ruler
tape
Follow the procedures the to create your journal:
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Use construction paper to make a front and back cover for your journal. Cut the paper 23 cm wide by 30 cm long.
Place a piece of 3-hole notebook paper over the front and back covers and trace the three holes with a pencil.
Use a hole puncher to punch out the holes you traced.
Sandwich a stack of 3-hole notebook paper between the front and back covers of the journal and fasten the papers together.
Create the front and back cover of your science journal. Use your creative skills to draw a picture or create a collage of things that
relate to science.
June 2017
Monday – Friday
Grades 3-5 Science Calendar
Physical Science: This month you will focus on the different states of matter.
Monday
19
Start of Summer Break Activity
Calendar
Tuesday
Wednesday
20
Visit your local library and check out
a book to read about the states of
matter
21
Visit the link below and watch the Magic
School Bus show about Matter:
http://tinyurl.com/magicschoolbus-matter
Visit your local library to check out
a book to read about the states of
matter.
26 - 27
Find out what properties cause liquids to form layers.
Materials: corn syrup, dishwashing liquid, water, red food coloring, corn oil,
cup, small paper clip, tiny piece of Styrofoam, and a piece of rubber band.
What to do: Pour in each liquid in the order they are listed in the materials.
Observe that the liquids form layers. Gently drop in a small paper clip.
Watch until it stops sinking. Next, drop in a piece of Styrofoam. Wait until it
stops. Then drop in the rubber band.
Answer the following questions in your journal.
Based on your observations, which liquid has the highest density? The
lowest density? How do you know? Provide an explanation.
28
With a parent/guardian, you will need a
large container. Rub your hands together
and feel the heat of their palms. Get an ice
cube to hold in your hands and hold your
hands over the container. Once all the ice
cubes have melted from the heat of your
hands.
In your journal, answer the following
questions:
1.
2.
Thursday
23
Matter is all around us. Use the
link below to learn about matter.
Don’t forget to click on the links
and take the quiz.
http://bit.ly/q5Wl5
29
Complete the activity by visiting
the link below:
http://www.abcya.com/states_of_m
atter.htm
What happened to ice cubes?
Why did the ice cubes melt?
Wednesday, September 6, 2017: All Students return to school
Friday
23
Matter exists in more than one state.
Review the states of matter by using the
link below. Remember to take the quiz at
the end of the activity.
http://bit.ly/4RHo3w
For a sweet summer treat, click on the link
below and complete the activity titled Solid
to Liquid to Solid.
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/scienceprojects-for-kids-states-of-matter1.htm
30
The physics of motion are all about forces.
Learn about forces and motion using the
following link http://bit.ly/cAqyPe .
Remember to take the quiz at the end and
motion in action.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/
ages/6_7/forces_movement_whatnext.shtm
l
July 2017
Monday – Friday
Grades 3-5 Science Calendar
Physical Science and Life Science: This month you will focus on forces, motion, energy, and plants.
Monday
3
In your journal, write a poem about
forces and motion.
Tuesday
4
Gravity is a force. Learn about gravity
with Tim and Moby. http://bit.ly/l3X4yp
Wednesday
10 -11
Simple machines make work easier for us by allowing us to push or pull
over increased distances. Review the six types of simple machines by
clicking on the name then complete each activity. Use the following link:
http://bit.ly/11FE75.
12
Use this link, http://bit.ly/1MPlI3, to
learn more about simple machines.
17- 18
Plants are important to our lives.
Watch the videos about plants:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6TLFZUC9gI
19
Watch the video learn about
photosynthesis and pollination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3St51F4kE8
In your journal, draw a plant. Label and explain each part of the plant.
Planting Bean Seeds
-12-ounce clear plastic cups (with hole poked in bottom for water drainage)
-plastic plate to rest the cups on
-potting soil, without added fertilizer
-dry kidney or lima beans (NOTE: these must first be soaked overnight)
-water spray bottle
Directions:
-Fill a plastic cup most of the way with potting soil and plant 4-7 beans. Cover the seeds gently with soil.
-Lightly water the soil, using the water spray bottle.
-In your journal, draw how your cup looks after you added the soil and
seed.
Thursday
5-6
Use what you know about the physics of motion to design a roller coaster. Draw
your design in your science journal.
Also check out http://kids.discovery.com/games/build-play/build-a-coaster and
build a virtual roller coaster.
Compare your designs.
Draw a picture in your journal
showing how a simple machine
makes work easier. Explain your
illustration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=3pD68uxRLkM
13
Answer the following questions in your
science journal. If two pulling forces
applied to an object are in the same
direction, would the forces be added
together or subtracted? Explain.
20
Observe the seeds you planted in the
plastic cup. Explain in your journal what
you see.
This a good time to lightly water your
seeds in the soil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=6CxCTyxRFh0
Write an explanation in your
journal about the importance of
photosynthesis and pollination.
Take the pollination quiz:
http://easyscienceforkids.com/funpollination-quiz-free-online-sciencequizzes-for-children/
Friday
7
Take a trip with your family to
Six Flags America
13710 Central Avenue
Mitchellville, MD 20721
301-249-1500
http://www.sixflags.com/america/index.aspx
15
Suggested field trip:
Visit Koshland Science Museum
525 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Adults - $5
Active Duty Military - $3
Students - $3
They do not accept cash.
Last Admission: 5 pm
https://www.koshland-science-museum.org/
21
Suggested field trip:
Visit Port Discovery Children’s Museum located
at 35 Market Place, Inner Harbor
For more information and admission prices, click
below:
http://www.portdiscovery.org/generalinfo
24
Click the link below to learn
about different types of energy.
http://www.enwin.com/kids/electr
icity/types_of_energy.cfm
25
Observe the seeds you planted in the
plastic cup. Explain in your journal
what you see.
This a good time to lightly water your
seeds in the soil.
26
In your journal write answers to the questions
below:
27
Select 5 activities to complete online about
plants.:
Which of the following is NOT an example of
how flowers pollinate?
a.
Butterflies
b.
Bees
c.
Wind
d.
Sun
http://interactivesites.weebly.com/plants.html
After you have completed your 5 activities, write
a summary in your journal explaining what you
learned about planets.
A little boy plants a carrot seed. Despite being
told by his entire family that the seed won't
grow, the boy perseveres. Every day, he
carefully weeds and waters the area where he
planted the seed. A plant grows, and one day,
the boy is rewarded with a big orange carrot.
What caused the boy's carrot to grow so large?
a.
Gravity
b.
Water
c.
Light
d.
all of the above
Which is NOT a function of roots in a plant?
a.
anchors the plant
b.
absorbs water from the soil
c.
absorbs nutrients from the soil
d.
makes food for the plant
The bark protects the stem of a tree. Which
human body organ has the same job as the
bark of a tree?
a.
Skin
b.
Heart
c.
Lungs
d.
stomach
31
Last Observation: Observe the seeds you planted in the plastic cup. Explain in your journal what you see.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017: All Students return to school
29
Suggested field trips:
Visit The United States Botanic
Garden
100 Maryland Ave SW,
Washington, DC 20001
For museum hours:
https://www.usbg.gov/
Visit National Museum of
American History
10th St. & Constitution Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20560 /
202-633-1000
Free Admission
For museum hours:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/
August 2017
Monday – Friday
Grades 3-5 Science Calendar
Earth and Space Science: This month you will focus on stars, planets, and solar system.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Astronomy is the study of space.
As a junior astronomer, learn
about this exciting field using this
link http://bit.ly/j0Kahw.
7
Review what makes up a
Galaxy by going to link below
to guide you:
http://bit.ly/kp0uxm.
In your journal, write down five
interesting facts about the link
you observed above.
2
Everything in the solar system rotates
around the sun. Review the solar system
using the following link. Remember to take
the quiz at the end. http://bit.ly/9tbfzh
8-9
Watch a video about day and night:
http://www.makemegenius.com/science-videos/grade_1/day-and-nightexplanation-for-kids
Part I:
Draw a picture of the daytime sky.
Thursday
Friday
3
Everything in the solar system rotates
around the sun. Review the solar
system using the following link.
Remember to take the quiz at the end.
http://bit.ly/9tbfzh
4
How could you show that the moon can
sometimes be seen in the day sky?
Investigate to find out. Record your research
and explanation in your journal.
10
As earth spins, sunrise occurs
gradually across the United States
11
Suggested field trip:
Find out how this natural event
influenced the invention of different
time zones. Record your research in
your journal.
Part II:
Draw a picture of the night sky. Use chalk or a silver market and black
construction paper.
In your journal, write summary to explain your drawings.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017: All Students return to school
Visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space
Museum National Mall Building located at
Independence Ave at
6th Street SW
Washington, DC 20560
202-633-2214
Free Admission