Elementary

Physical

Life

Earth and Space

Matter and Its Interactions

Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Energy

From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Earth's Place in the Universe

Earth's Systems

Earth and Human Activity

Structure and Properties of Matter 

Types of Interactions

Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life

Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

Earth and the Solar System

Earth Materials and Systems

Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Target Level: Measure and compare weights of substances before and after heating, cooling, or mixing substances to show that weight of matter is conserved.

Precursor Level: Compare the weight of an object before and after it changes from a liquid to a solid and from a solid to a liquid. 

Initial Level: Recognize the change in state from liquid to solid or from solid to liquid of the same material.

Target Level: Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties (e.g., weight, shape, texture, buoyancy, color, or magnetism).

Precursor Level: Classify materials by physical properties. (e.g., weight, shape, texture, buoyancy, color, or magnetism).

Initial Level: Match materials with similar physical properties.

Target Level: Demonstrate that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.

Predict the direction an object will go when dropped. 

Initial Level: Recognize the direction an object will go when dropped.

Target Level: Create a model to describe that energy in animals' food was once energy from the Sun. 

Precursor Level: Use models to describe that plants capture energy from sunlight.

Initial Level: Identify simple models that show that plants need sunlight to grow. 

Target Level: Provide evidence that plants need air and water to grow.  

Precursor Level: Provide evidence that plants grow.

Initial Level: Distinguish things that grow from things that don’t grow.

Target Level: Create a model that shows the movement of matter (e.g., plant growth, eating, composting) through living things.

Precursor Level: Identify a model that shows the movement of matter from plants to animals (e.g. food chain/food web).

Initial Level: Identify common human foods.

Target Level: Represent and interpret data on a picture, line, or bar graph to show seasonal patterns in the length of daylight hours.

Recognize patterns about length of daylight hours over time (e.g., week to week, month to month).  

Order events in daily routine including sunrise and sunset. 

Target Level: Develop a model showing how water (hydrosphere) affects the living things (biosphere) found in a region.

Recognize how water (hydrosphere) affects people in a region (e.g., floods, droughts, mudslide, tourism, and recreation). 

Anticipates routine (e.g., clothes to wear, activities to do) to follow when it is raining.

Target Level: Use information to describe how people can help protect the Earth's resources and how that affects the environment.

Precursor Level: Compare two methods people can use to help protect the Earth's resources.  

Initial Level: Identify one way to protect a resource of Earth (e.g., put paper in the recycling bin).