A Blueprint for Learning

 

Dynamic Science Curriculum

 

Format Code Explained

v      Grade K

v      Grade 1

v      Grade 2

v      Grade 3

v      Grade 4

v      Grade 5

v      Grade 6

 

 

 

A Blueprint for Learning

 

The Blueprint for Learning is a companion document for the Tennessee Curriculum Standards which are located at www.tennessee.gov/education.  Although the curriculum adopted by the State Board of Education in its entirety remains on the web for additional reference, this reformatted version makes the curriculum more accessible to classroom teachers.

 

Key features of the reformatted version are:

  • All grades for each content area are provided in the same manual.
  • The skills within each grade are identified as to whether they are introduced, developed, or have been mastered and are now being maintained at that level.
  • The skills correlating with the state criterion referenced test (CRT) are also identified for classroom instruction.
  • In the Language Arts section, the assessed skills (performance indicators) are identified not only for the state’s CRT in grades 3-8 but also for the writing assessment in grades 5 and 8.
  • This guide makes the planning of instruction for students with varying abilities easier to accomplish.
  • Teachers can plan and work together to improve school wide student achievement through curriculum integration across content areas and grade levels.
  • Teachers can identify current grade level skills as well as those needed to prepare students for the next year.

 

Skills are coded and identified as Introduced (I), Developing (D), State CRT and Writing Assessed (A), and Mastered and Maintained (M).

 

  • Introduced (I) skills are new skills presented at that grade level. Even though a skill is considered introduced at a grade level, some development would also occur.
  • Developing (D) skills are skills that have been introduced at a previous grade level.  At this stage of development the skills are being refined and expanded.
  • Assessed (A) skills are those skills that are correlated to the state performance indicators for the CRT portion of the achievement test (grades 3-8) and the writing assessment (grades 5 and 8).  The identified skills are formally assessed through the CRT; however, all skills are informally assessed in the classroom.

    • For the purpose of data reporting, assessed (A) skills are grouped into categories indicating related skills and knowledge.  For example, grammar, mechanics, and usage are grouped together under the grammar (G) category.  Each state assessed indicator included on the Blueprint carries a legend showing that it is assessed and indicating the category in which it will be reported (e.g., Assessed/Grammar=A/G).

  • Mastered and Maintained (M) indicates a skill that has been introduced, developed, and assessed.  Even though a skill may be formally assessed, the development and expansion of the skill still continues.

 

SCIENCE

Kindergarten

 

 

Life Science Standards

 

Cell Structure and Function

 

The student will investigate the structure and function of plant and animal cells.

 

Key

Reporting

Category

 

I

 

Assemble and take apart objects to determine that most things are made up of parts.

I

 

Observe and describe what happens when an object is missing a part.

 

Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment

 

The student will investigate how living things interact with one another and with nonliving elements of their environment.

 

I

 

Recognize that humans have five senses and be able to discriminate among these.

 

Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things

 

The student will understand that living things have characteristics that enable them to survive in their environment.

 

I

 

Know that different organisms tend to be found in different environments.

 

EARTH SCIENCE STANDARDS

 

Earth and Its Place in the Universe

 

The student will investigate the structure of the universe.

 

I

 

Identify objects that appear in the day and nighttime sky.

I

 

Classify pictures as representative of day or night.

 

Atmospheric Cycles

 

The student will investigate the relationships among atmospheric conditions, weather, and climate.

 

I

 

Identify daily weather conditions (e.g., hot, cool, sunny, snowy, and rainy).

I

 

Associate clothing and activity choices with various types of weather.

 

Earth Resources

 

The student will investigate the properties, uses, and conservation of earth’s resources.

 

I

 

Recognize a variety of earth materials (e.g., rocks, pebbles, and sand).

I

 

Classify objects as natural or manmade.

 

PHYSICAL SCIENCE STANDARDS

 

Forces and Motion

 

The student will investigate the effects of force on the movement of objects.

 

I

 

Recognize that objects can move in different directions and at different speeds.

 

Structure and Properties of Matter

 

The student will investigate the characteristic properties of matter.

 

I

 

Describe an object according to its simple properties.

 

Energy

 

The student will investigate energy and its uses.

 

I

 

Identify the sun as the source of earth’s heat and light energy.

I

 

Identify different sounds and their sources.

 

 

SCIENCE

First Grade

 

 

LIFE SCIENCE STANDARDS

 

Cell Structure and Function

 

The student will investigate the structure and function of plant and animal cells.

 

Key

Reporting

Category

 

I

 

Use magnifiers to observe smaller parts of larger objects.

http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=Science%20Lab – Science Lab (Interactive cell identification tool and microscope)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/life_cycles.shtml - Science: Living Things – Life Cycles (Interactive site that has games and quiz to identify the parts of a flower or plant)

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case1/c1m1app.html - The Great Plant Escape (Interactive plant site with activities)

http://www.jmu.edu/biology/k12/garden/parts.htm - Part One-The Parts We Eat (A site that has real life pictures and explanations of the plant parts and how each is used differently)

 

D

 

Observe and describe what happens when an object loses a part.

 

 

Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment

 

The student will investigate how living things interact with one another and with nonliving elements of their environment.

 

D

 

Use the senses to explore the environment.

I

 

Collect information about organisms that occupy specific environments.

I

 

Provide examples of pollutants in a specific environment.

 

Food Production and Energy for Life

 

The student will study the basic parts of plants, investigate how plants produce food, and discover that plants and animals use food to sustain life.

 

I

 

Recognize the basic needs of living things (e.g., food, water, sunlight, and air).

 

Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things

 

The student will understand that living things have characteristics that enable them to survive in their environment.

 

I

 

Observe and note differences among plants and animals of the same kind.

D

 

Recognize the environment in which an organism is typically found.

 

Earth and Its Place in the Universe

 

The student will investigate the structure of the universe.

 

D

 

Distinguish between objects that appear in the day and nighttime sky.

I

 

Recognize that the moon is the closest object in the sky.

I

 

Recognize that there are tools for observing objects in the day and nighttime sky.

D

 

Observe and illustrate the position of the sun at different times of the day.

I

 

Recognize that shadows change length and position during the course of a day.

 

Atmospheric Cycles

 

The student will investigate the relationships among atmospheric conditions, weather, and climate.

 

D

 

Recognize that weather conditions are constantly changing.

I

 

Describe weather patterns associated with the seasons.

D

 

Associate temperature, precipitation, and wind conditions with various types of weather.

I

 

Identify the appropriate tool for measuring temperature, precipitation, and wind speed/direction.

 

Earth Features

 

The student will understand that the earth has many geological features that are constantly changing.

 

I

 

Distinguish between land and water environments.

 

Earth Resources

 

The student will investigate the properties, uses, and conservation of earth’s resources.

 

D

 

Use observable properties to distinguish among a variety of earth materials.

Camp Explore

http://www.clydeaustin4hcenter.com/CampExplore/default.htm

This is a website that students can go to and sign up to go to Camp Explore. This is a camp hosted by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The camp is full of activities for students to learn about Earth Resources  Enrichment

D

 

Identify ways that earth resources benefit man.

 

PHYSICAL SCIENCE STANDARDS

 

Forces and Motion

 

The student will investigate the effects of force on the movement of objects.