Department of Defense Education Activity Curriculum
go to Prekindergarten Page go to Kindergarten page go to grade one page go to grade three page go to grade four page go to grade five page go to grade six page
kindergarten page
Science
| Inquiry Skills

Children learn to investigate the world around them by using the processes of scientific inquiry.

Children are naturally curious and will want to explore their world. Their questions can become the basis for conducting simple investigations.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Ask questions about his world.
  |   Use tools to make observations (e.g., a magnifying glass, a ruler).
  |   Place objects and living organisms into different groups (e.g., mammals include cats, dogs, monkeys, and human beings).
  |   Make interpretations about his observations.
  |   Summarize and share what he has observed (e.g., have him draw pictures to describe what he observed on a nature walk).


  Physical Science

Children investigate the properties of objects and materials.

Children will notice that the natural world continually changes, and they will learn the vocabulary to describe these changes.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Use his senses (e.g., touch, hearing) to identify objects.
  |   Describe objects using physical characteristics such as size, shape, color, and texture (e.g., help your child plant bulbs and seeds in the garden and describe the different stages of growth).
  |   Use descriptive words to explain the movement of objects in relationship to their surroundings (e.g., fast and slow).


  Life Science

Children study the characteristics of living things.

Children will naturally be interested in other living organisms and ponder questions such as what might happen if certain living things-for example, butterflies, moths, crickets, and worms-no longer existed. They will study how living organisms grow, change, and survive in their own environments.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Compare characteristics of living organisms (e.g., size, color, coverings, movements).
  |   Describe ways that animals satisfy their needs for food, water, and shelter (e.g., some birds hunt worms to feed their babies).
  |   Recognize that all living organisms grow, change, and eventually die.
  |   Describe changes of living organisms during a life cycle.
  |   Tell how the environment changes during the year and how it affects plants and animals (e.g., cold weather results in some birds flying south and some bears sleeping).


  Earth and Space Science

Children identify the properties of Earth's materials.

Children wonder about such things as why the sky is blue, why things fall to the ground, where mountains come from, and how far away stars are in the night sky. They will explore the physical world around them and how it changes over time.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Describe and name objects in the sky (e.g., the moon, stars, the sun, planets).
  |   Visit a planetarium (they have lots of exhibits and activities for children).
  |   Compare characteristics of day and night.
  |   Explore properties of Earth's materials such as water and soil (e.g., liquid/water vs. solid/ice).
  |   Note changes in the weather over time (e.g., fall, winter, spring, summer).
  |   Tell how the changes in the environment affect his daily life (e.g., when it's cold outside, he has to wear a coat).


  Science and Technology

Children identify simple tools of technology and how to use them in their daily lives.

Children will be interested in the ways that technology affects their lives, such as how buildings are built and how computers work.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Identify technological tools (e.g., computers, telephones, VCRs).
  |   Tell how technological tools can help people do work and solve problems.
  |   Design and build structures using blocks, sand, and other materials.


  Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

Children learn how a population or environment can change and ways to protect the environment and conserve resources.

Children will learn that observing objects carefully will help with the understanding of their world. They will be able to describe their observations and tell how they can make changes.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Identify different populations within the school setting and tell how a member can belong to more than one group (e.g., kindergarten, the school chorus, a soccer team).
  |   Tell how he can share supplies and reduce waste in his school and community.
  |   Practice conservation at school and at home (e.g., turn off lights and water faucets).
  |   Observe changes in the environment and tell how he can help/improve the environment (e.g., not litter, protect wild animals and their homes, save things that can be used over again).


  History and Nature of Science

Children learn that science is a human effort.

Children will explore how science and technology are used in daily life.

 
You can help by having your child
| | | Identify ways that parents and neighbors use science and technology every day (e.g., if you have a science-related job or hobby such as repairing cars, birdwatching, or growing a vegetable garden, share your enthusiasm with your child).