California Science — Grade 5
Comprehensive Course Syllabus
Course Overview
California Grade 5 Science introduces students to important ideas in physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering. Students investigate matter and its interactions, energy and ecosystems, Earth’s systems, the Sun and stars, and how scientific evidence can be used to explain and solve problems. The syllabus is aligned with the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) for Grade 5.
Matter & Its Properties
Matter Is Made of Tiny Particles
Students develop models to understand that all matter is made of particles too small to see directly.
Properties of Matter
Students investigate measurable properties such as mass, volume, color, hardness, and other characteristics of materials.
Measuring Matter
Students measure and compare the weight and volume of different materials and use data to describe their properties.
Changes in Matter
Students explore how heating, cooling, dissolving, and mixing can change materials while matter itself is conserved.
Identifying Materials by Their Properties
Students use observations and measurements to identify and compare different substances.
California Grade 5 CA NGSS includes developing models of particles too small to see and using measurements to investigate the conservation of matter during physical and chemical changes.
Chemical Reactions & Matter Interactions
Physical Changes
Students distinguish changes in the form or state of a material from changes that create new substances.
Chemical Changes
Students investigate evidence that can indicate when substances interact and form new materials.
Conservation of Matter
Students learn that matter is conserved even when materials change form or undergo a reaction.
Measuring Changes
Students collect and graph measurements before and after changes to identify patterns and support scientific explanations.
Evidence of Chemical Reactions
Students examine observations such as temperature changes, gas formation, or changes in properties as evidence of interactions between substances.
Energy, Motion & Everyday Systems
Forms of Energy
Students explore different forms of energy and how energy is present in everyday systems.
Energy in Motion
Students investigate how moving objects can transfer energy and how motion changes through interactions.
Energy Transfer
Students explore how energy can move from one object or system to another.
Energy in Everyday Life
Students identify examples of energy transfer and transformation in familiar devices, activities, and natural systems.
Modeling Energy Systems
Students use diagrams and simple models to explain how energy moves through a system.
Plants, Matter & Ecosystems
How Plants Get Materials for Growth
Students investigate the idea that plants obtain most of the material needed for growth from air and water rather than primarily from soil.
Plant Growth & Matter
Students explore how matter moves into plants and becomes part of plant growth.
Energy in Living Systems
Students investigate how plants and other organisms depend on energy and matter to survive and grow.
Food Chains & Food Webs
Students explore how energy and matter move between plants, animals, and other organisms in ecosystems.
Interdependence in Ecosystems
Students examine how organisms depend on one another and on their environment.
California’s Grade 5 standards specifically require students to support an evidence-based argument that plants obtain the materials needed for growth chiefly from air and water.
Earth’s Systems & Water
Earth’s Major Systems
Students explore the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere and how these systems interact.
Water on Earth
Students investigate where Earth’s water is found and how water moves through different parts of the planet.
The Water Cycle
Students explore evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, and the continuous movement of water.
Interactions Between Earth’s Systems
Students investigate how changes in one Earth system can affect other systems.
Human Impact on Earth Systems
Students examine how human activities can influence Earth’s resources and natural systems.
Space, Sun & Stars
The Sun as a Star
Students learn that the Sun is a star and explore its importance as a source of light and energy for Earth.
Patterns of the Night Sky
Students observe patterns in the positions and apparent movement of stars and other objects in the sky.
Stars & Their Properties
Students use observations and data to compare stars and identify patterns in their brightness and apparent characteristics.
Earth’s Place in Space
Students develop an understanding of Earth’s position within the larger solar system and universe.
Using Models to Understand Space
Students use models and observations to represent relationships between Earth, the Sun, stars, and other celestial objects.
Scientific Investigation & Engineering Design
Asking Scientific Questions
Students learn how to develop questions that can be investigated through observations, measurements, and evidence.
Planning Investigations
Students plan fair tests, identify variables, collect data, and use appropriate tools for scientific investigations.
Analyzing Data & Evidence
Students organize and interpret observations, measurements, tables, and graphs to identify patterns and support explanations.
Building Scientific Models
Students create and use models to explain matter, energy, living systems, and Earth’s processes.
Engineering Problems & Solutions
Students define problems, identify criteria and constraints, develop possible solutions, test ideas, and improve their designs.
Communicating Scientific Ideas
Students use evidence, models, diagrams, and clear explanations to communicate scientific findings and solutions.
Teaching Methodology
Our Grade 5 Science classes build scientific thinking through investigation, evidence, and design.
Students learn through:
Learning Outcomes
By the end of Grade 5 Science, students should be able to:
Assessment & Progress Tracking
Student progress is evaluated through: