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  • 5th Grade

    Matter and Its Interactions

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

  1. Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. 5-PS1-4

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

A Peformance Expectation (PE) is what a student should be able to do to show mastery of a concept. Some PEs include a Clarification Statement and/or an Assessment Boundary. These can be found by clicking the PE for "More Info." By hovering over a PE, its corresponding pieces from the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts will be highlighted.

Science and Engineering Practices

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

By clicking on a specific Science and Engineering Practice, Disciplinary Core Idea, or Crosscutting Concept, you can find out more information on it. By hovering over one you can find its corresponding elements in the PEs.

Planning Curriculum

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

  • W.5.7 - Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic. (5-PS1-4)
  • W.5.8 - Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources. (5-PS1-4)
  • W.5.9 - Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. (5-PS1-4)

Model Course Mapping

First Time Visitors

Resources & Lesson Plans

  • More resources added each week!
    A team of teacher curators is working to find, review, and vet online resources that support the standards. Check back often, as NSTA continues to add more targeted resources.
  • Composites Engineering Design Challenge Part 2

    This is a two part review of a 10-day module in which students work on several mini-design challenges that culminate in a multi-day engineering design challenge. In the first 6 modules, students focus on Structure and Properties of Matter t ...

  • Chemical Reaction Vehicles

    In this engineering design challenge, students use their knowledge of science to help design and build a vehicle that is powered solely by a chemical reaction. First, they figure out the most effective combination of substances and water to create a ...

  • The Amazing Elephant Toothpaste

    Students observe the mixture of yeast, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide, creating a irreversible chemical change known as “elephant toothpaste.” Students then plan and conduct an investigation to determine how changes to the mixture ...

  • The Cookie Dilemma Chapter 21 Everyday Physical Science Mysteries

    This lesson invites students to plan an investigation and use their collective knowledge to identify individual substances in a “mystery mix.” The resource includes a story that provides context and relevance for st ...

  • Changes : Addressing Students Misconceptions about Physical and Chemical Changes

    Students investigate and describe multiple indicators of both physical and chemical changes over a 10 day unit. The learning opportunities students were provided specifically addressed misconceptions about the reversibility of changes and the co ...

  • Chemical Cafe

    In this set of learning experiences arranged in a the linear 5 E lesson format, students will perform a series of investigations to further their understanding of the structures and properties of matter;and more specifically, what happens to matter w ...

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  •  Whipping Butter into Shape

    Students will investigate the physical change that occurs as milk is turned into butter.

  •  Colorful Chemistry A STEAM Lesson.pdf

    This is the original article from Science and Children April/May 2017 Vol. 54 No. 8.

  •  Aqua-Thrusters!

    From TeachEngineering - Students construct small-sized model rocket-powered boats—"aqua-thrusters"—that are made from film canisters propelled by carbon dioxide gas produced from a chemical reaction between antacid tablets and water. They make predic...

  •  USI in Primary Sci Probe 13

    Back and Forth

  •  Chemical vs. Physical Changes Lesson Plan

    Grade: 5th. Duration: Two 45 minute class periods. I love that in this lesson you get to demonstrate the chemical reaction, but then ask the students "What do you think is going on here?" so that they can observe, predict, ask questions, etc.

  •  Properties of Matter Lesson Plan & Resources

    Grade: 5th. Duration: One to Two 45 minute class periods. What I love about this lesson is that students get to rotate through stations to observe and identify different materials.

Planning Curriculum gives connections to other areas of study for easier curriculum creation.