Grade 1 Science Curriculum (U.S.) – Detailed Overview
Grade 1 science serves as the foundation for scientific thinking and exploration. The emphasis is on hands-on discovery, observational skills, and understanding patterns in nature. Students are introduced to the process of inquiry, using their senses and simple tools to observe, describe, and ask questions about the world around them.
Key Focus: Sound, Light, and Properties of Materials
Sound:
Sound is caused by vibrations.
Sounds can vary in pitch and volume.
Students explore how sound travels (e.g., through solids, liquids, and air).
Activities may include using tuning forks, rubber bands, or simple drums.
Light:
Light helps us see and can come from different sources (e.g., sun, flashlight).
Light travels in a straight line.
Objects can block light, creating shadows.
Transparent, translucent, and opaque materials are introduced.
Properties of Materials:
Students learn to identify and classify materials based on observable properties such as texture, color, flexibility, hardness, and magnetism.
They test materials for use in different purposes (e.g., what makes a good roof, bridge, or container).
Introduces simple states of matter: solid and liquid.
Key Focus: Living Things, Their Needs, and Their Environments
Characteristics of Living Things:
What makes something alive?
Basic needs: air, water, food, shelter.
Growth, movement, and response to the environment.
Animal and Plant Needs:
Animals need food from plants or other animals.
Plants need sunlight, water, air, and nutrients.
Students observe how different animals and plants survive in different environments.
Life Cycles:
Introduction to the idea that living things grow and change.
Observing the life cycle of a butterfly, frog, or plant.
Comparing young and adult organisms.
Habitats and Adaptations:
Explore different environments: forest, desert, ocean, etc.
How living things are suited to their habitats.
Key Focus: Patterns in the Sky and Weather
Sun and Moon:
Observing that the sun is visible during the day, the moon at night.
Sunlight helps warm the Earth and supports life.
Patterns in the Sky:
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Phases of the moon (introduction through observation).
Stars appear at night and seem to move slowly across the sky.
Weather and Seasons:
Identify different types of weather: sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy.
Use tools like thermometers, windsocks, and rain gauges to measure weather.
Understand how weather affects daily life (clothing, activities).
Recognize seasonal changes in plants and animals.
Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) introduced in Grade 1 include:
Asking scientific questions based on observations
Planning and conducting simple investigations
Using data to construct explanations
Creating and testing simple designs (e.g., building a boat that floats)
Communicating ideas through drawings, writing, and presentations
Students learn to approach problems the way scientists and engineers do: observe → ask → investigate → analyze → explain → improve.
Instructional Methods
Hands-on experiments (planting seeds, sorting materials, sound exploration)
Science journals to record observations and reflections
Use of models (e.g., globe, sun-moon models, life cycle diagrams)
Classroom discussions and storytelling to reinforce concepts
Use of multimedia: educational videos, simulations, and interactive games
Common Projects and Activities in Grade 1
Grow and observe a plant from seed.
Build a model habitat for an animal.
Investigate which materials block light.
Test different materials for waterproofing.
Observe shadows at different times of day.
Create a simple weather chart and track patterns.
Conduct a sound experiment using household items.
Skills Developed in Grade 1 Science
By the end of the year, students should be able to:
Distinguish between living and nonliving things.
Describe the basic needs of plants and animals.
Identify and describe the properties of materials.
Recognize patterns in weather and daily sky observations.
Use simple tools to observe, record, and compare.
Ask scientific questions and explain their findings.
Begin constructing explanations and solving design problems.
Assessment Methods
Performance tasks: e.g., design a shade structure or test materials.
Observation checklists: teacher assesses participation and process.
Drawings/diagrams: to show understanding of life cycles or systems.
Oral responses and classroom discussions.
Short quizzes or matching activities (age-appropriate).
Connection to Real Life
Grade 1 science connects directly to children’s daily experiences — like seeing plants grow, experiencing rain, watching the moon, or playing with toys that make sound. The focus is on wonder, exploration, and asking questions — all while building a sense of environmental and scientific awareness early on.
