Grade 5 Science Connecticut standards Standards

Relate the moon phases to changes in the moon's position relative to the Earth and sun during its 29-day revolution around the Earth.

Observe and record the moon's appearance over time and analyze findings to describe the cyclical changes in its appearance from Earth (moon phases).

Distinguish between the sun as a source of light and the moon as a reflection of that light.

Construct models demonstrating Earth's rotation on its axis, the moon's revolution around the Earth, and the Earth and moon revolving around the sun.

Explain the motion of the Earth relative to the sun that causes Earth to experience cycles of day and night.

Earth in the Solar System

Design and conduct light absorption experiments that vary the size, length, direction and clarity of a shadow by changing the position of the light-blocking object or the light source.

Determine whether a material is opaque, transparent or translucent based on how light passes through it.

Measure angles to predict the path of light reflected by a mirror.

Contrast the way light is reflected by smooth, shiny objects (e.g., mirror or pool of water) and how it is reflected by other objects.

Explain that all visible objects are reflecting some light to the human eye.

Demonstrate that white light is composed of many colors.

Investigate how light is refracted as it passes through a lens or through one transparent material to another.

Provide evidence that light travels in straight lines away from a source in all directions.

Construct simple musical instruments (e.g., rubber band guitars, drums, etc.) that produce sounds with various pitches, volume and timbres.

Describe the properties of materials that reflect or absorb sound.

Design and conduct investigations to determine factors that affect pitch.

Demonstrate how the loudness, pitch and quality/timbre of sound can be varied.

Generalize that vibrating objects produce sound if the vibrations are transferred from the object through another material (e.g., air, a solid, or a liquid).

Energy Transfer and Transformations

Describe the properties of different materials and the structures in the human eye that enable humans to perceive color.

Draw diagrams showing the straight path of light rays from a source to a reflecting object to the eye, allowing objects to be seen.

Identify the major structures of the human eye, ear, nose, skin and tongue, and explain their functions.

Summarize nonfiction text to explain the role of the brain and spinal cord in responding to information received from the sense organs.

Conduct simple tests to explore the capabilities of the human senses.

Pose testable questions and design experiments to explore factors that affect human reaction time.

Explain the role of sensory organs in perceiving stimuli (e.g., light/dark, heat/cold, flavors, pain, etc.) and sending signals to the brain.

Structure and Function

Analyze the similarities and differences between structures of the human eye and those of a simple camera.<table border="1"><tr><td>HUMAN EYE</td><td>CAMERA</td><td>FUNCTION</td></tr><tr><td>Eyelid</td><td>Lens cap</td><td>Protect interior parts</td></tr><tr><td>Pupil</td><td>Lens opening (aperture)</td><td>Allow light to enter</td></tr><tr><td>Cornea, lens</td><td>Lens</td><td>Focus light rays on a point</td></tr><tr><td>Retina</td><td>Film (or digital medium)</td><td>Respond to light resulting in an image</td></tr></table>

Explain how eyeglasses or contact lenses improve vision by changing the path of light to the retina.

Design and conduct simple investigations to determine how the shape of a lens or mirror (concave, convex, flat) affects the direction in which light rays travel.

Evaluate the best optical instrument to perform a given task.

Construct simple periscopes and telescopes, and analyze how the placement of their lenses and mirrors affects the quality of the image formed.

Generalize that optical tools, such as binoculars, telescopes, eyeglasses or periscopes, change the path of light by reflecting or refracting it.

Science and Technology in Society

Sound and light are forms of energy.

Perceiving and responding to information about the environment is critical to the survival of organisms.

Most objects in the solar system are in a regular and predictable motion.

Humans have the capacity to build and use tools to advance the quality of their lives.<br /> This content standard is an application of the concepts in content standard 5.1 and should be integrated into the same unit.