Grade Five Science
Students will develop an understanding of five general units: Electricity and Magnetism, Mechanisms using Electricity, Classroom Chemistry, Weather Watch, and Wetlands and Ecosystems.
Children’s early experiences shape what they imagine to be possible. Study after study has shown the value of exposing children with positive role models. Representation, including in the hours spent consuming media within the classroom, shape what they imagine to be possible for people who look like them, live where they live, or come from where they came from. Simply put, kids determine what they can be based on the examples around them. Therefore, we highly recommend you take 2-5 minutes everyday in your science class to introduce scientists of colour. We've made this easy for you by creating a presentation that you can use with a slide a day to showcase a new scientist of diverse background. You could do this on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or during a certain month. You could also make your own presentation and encourage this representation.
K-6 Scientists of Colour by Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation
Classroom Chemistry
Alice Ball
Biography of the African-American chemist Alice Ball. Ball was a master's student at the University of Hawaii, and in her research discovered a cure for leprosy. Ball's research was revolutionary in the treatment of the disease, but she only got credit for her research very recently.
Alice Ball
Biography of the African-American chemist Alice Ball. Ball was a master's student at the University of Hawaii, and in her research discovered a cure for leprosy. Ball's research was revolutionary in the treatment of the disease, but she only got credit for her research very recently.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.11 Changes can impact the entire system - Suggested use:
- Prior to video, discuss famous chemists that the class is familiar with. Are they women? Are they women of colour? Why do you think there are few female chemists?
- Discuss the characteristics of a successful chemist: Are these gender-specific?
- Research project on Alice Ball
- Compare Alice Ball to another important figure in chemistry
- Discuss and investigate the work that goes into finding cures for disease - Accessibility:
- Auto-generated captions
Wetlands and Ecosystems
George Washington Carver
Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a foremost botanist, inventor and teacher. He invented over 300 uses for the peanut and developed methods to prevent soil depletion. He was made a member British Royal Society of Arts — a rare honor for an American – and advised prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and President Teddy Roosevelt on agriculture and nutrition.
George Washington Carver
Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a foremost botanist, inventor and teacher. He invented over 300 uses for the peanut and developed methods to prevent soil depletion. He was made a member British Royal Society of Arts — a rare honor for an American – and advised prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and President Teddy Roosevelt on agriculture and nutrition.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.4 Animal/Plant Adaptations needed for wetland survival - Suggested use:
- Research project on George Washington Carver and how his findings contribute to what we know about wetlands/ecosystems today
- Students invent their own device that would preserve the wetlands based on what they know and what they've learned
- Compare George Washington Carver to another important figure that helped preserve the wetlands - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Additional accommodations required for visually impaired students
The Story of George Washington Carver
A 5-minute video on George Washington Carver's life, and his contributions to the study of plants.
A 5-minute video on George Washington Carver's life, and his contributions to the study of plants.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.3: Classify common plants. - Suggested use:
- Use for further teaching on George Washington Carver - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing
- Closed captioning available on video
- Additional accommodations required for visually impaired students
Weather Watch
The Learning Circle
Produced to help meet Canadian educators growing need for elementary-level learning exercises on the indigenous population in Canada. Composed of six themes, each unit containing its own activities.
Produced to help meet Canadian educators growing need for elementary-level learning exercises on the indigenous population in Canada. Composed of six themes, each unit containing its own activities.
- Curriculum connection:
- 4.12: Human actions can affect climate and identify human actions that have been linked to the greenhouse effect - Suggested use:
- Variety of lessons to look at/perceive the outside world through an Indigenous lens through the "First Nations and the Environment unit" - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal (accommodations required for discussions)
- Visually impaired students may benefit from a read aloud that includes descriptions of visual components of the story
- Additional accommodations required for hard of hearing students
Wetlands and Ecosystems
Earth Day 2018
Celebrate Earth Day like a birthday on April 22nd! This anthem shows ways you can help save the Earth.
Earth Day 2018
Celebrate Earth Day like a birthday on April 22nd! This anthem shows ways you can help save the Earth.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.10: Preventative actions on group and individual basis - Suggested use:
- Students create their own song and film a music video on why it is important to take care of the environment/wetlands - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing. Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students
Aboriginal Science Education
The following resources were developed by student teachers in the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) at the University of Alberta. This was part of an EDEL 330 assignment to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives. They represent sample student lesson plans which utilize an Aboriginal science point of view.
The following resources were developed by student teachers in the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) at the University of Alberta. This was part of an EDEL 330 assignment to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives. They represent sample student lesson plans which utilize an Aboriginal science point of view.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.2: Understand that a wetland ecosystem involves interactions between living and nonliving things; both in and around the water
- 5.3: Plants and Animals found in wetlands (life cycles) - Suggested use:
- Two lesson plans to use and adapt in the classroom: "Human activity and wetland ecosystems" and "Let's approach science from an Aboriginal perspective"
- Provides a list of further resources/websites for teachers to explore science links and Indigenous perspectives in science - Accessibility:
- Accessible for nonverbal and hard of hearing. Additional accommodations may be required for visually impaired students
Water the Sacred Relationship
Lesson plans and videos examining Western and Indigenous world views on wetlands and ecosystems, and interactions between human and animals on the wetland.
Lesson plans and videos examining Western and Indigenous world views on wetlands and ecosystems, and interactions between human and animals on the wetland.
- Curriculum connection:
- 5.2: Understand that a wetland ecosystem involves interactions between living and nonliving things; both in and around the water
- 5.3: Plants and Animals found in wetlands (life cycles) - Suggested use:
- Provides two lesson plans with video and worksheet to use and adapt in the classroom
- Water investigation on the rights of water and the accessibility of water in Canada - Accessibility:
- Autogenerated captions available on video
Miscellaneous
Multicultural Science and Math Connections: Middle School Projects and Activities
Make your curriculum multicultural with this far-reaching book. Part I features the contributions of more than a dozen cultures from Africa to the Arctic, which students can explore through hands-on activities for individuals and groups. Part II focuses on the findings of Hypatia, George Washington Carver, Mae Jemison, and seven other accomplished but sometimes little-known scientists and mathematicians.
Multicultural Science and Math Connections: Middle School Projects and Activities
Make your curriculum multicultural with this far-reaching book. Part I features the contributions of more than a dozen cultures from Africa to the Arctic, which students can explore through hands-on activities for individuals and groups. Part II focuses on the findings of Hypatia, George Washington Carver, Mae Jemison, and seven other accomplished but sometimes little-known scientists and mathematicians.
- Curriculum connection:
- Covers various outcomes across all five Science units - Suggested use:
- Use to implement meaningful science lessons and activities - Accessibility:
- Accommodations required for nonverbal, hard of hearing, and visually impaired dependent on student activity
Implementing meaningful STEM Education with Indigenous Students & Families
There are a set of strategies teachers can use to intentionally incorporate indigenous ways of knowing into STEM learning environments—both in and out of school and in relation to family and community.
There are a set of strategies teachers can use to intentionally incorporate indigenous ways of knowing into STEM learning environments—both in and out of school and in relation to family and community.
- Suggested use:
- Use this document along with the Alberta Science Program of Study to create meaningful lessons
Steps to create an Anti-Racist Science Lesson
Choosing a meaningful and culturally responsive phenomenon is the cornerstone to teaching an equitable, anti-racist science lesson.
Choosing a meaningful and culturally responsive phenomenon is the cornerstone to teaching an equitable, anti-racist science lesson.
- Suggested use:
- Use this document along with the Alberta Science Program of Study to create meaningful lessons
