Utah State Science Home Page

Welcome to the First Grade Science Internet Resources Page! Listed Internet sites have been reviewed and correlated to the core curriculum.

If you have comments on any of the sites or a site that you think should be included in the list, please email Elasha Morgan.

TOPIC: Air

STANDARD 3010-01: Students will describe the characteristics and uses of air.

OBJECTIVES:

3010-0101: Observe and measure the characteristics of air.
- Measure the temperature of air.
- Determine, through observation, that air takes up space.
- Describe air in their own words.
EcoKids: Measuring Air Temperature - Sample daily temperature chart
Measuring Air Temperature - For teachers; thermometer information and methods for taking measurements
Air: You Can't See It, But It's There! - Lesson plan

3010-0102: Demonstrate the effects of air on plants and animals.
- Provide evidence that people need air.
- Predict what will happen to plants if air is too cold or too hot.
- Compare how different animals get air.
- Explain in their own words that plants and animals need air to live.
Inside the Human Body: The Respiratory System - Lung info and activities

3010-0103: Explain the effects and uses of wind on people.
- Explain in their own words that wind is moving air.
- Provide examples of the destructive effects of wind on structures.
- Construct a device that uses moving air (wind) to function.
- Give examples of the ways people use wind.
The Air Out There - Lesson plan
Making a Wind Vane - Activity

TOPIC: Water

STANDARD 3010-02: Students will describe the characteristics and uses of water.

OBJECTIVES:

3010-0201: Observe and measure the characteristics of water.
- Compare temperatures of water.
- Demonstrate in some way that water has weight.
- Use senses and then describe in their own words how water feels, looks, or tastes.
Molecules and Temperature - Lesson plan

3010-0202: Demonstrate the effects of water on plants, animals, and people.
- Plan an experiment to show that plants need water.
- Provide evidence that animals need water.
- Give examples of ways people use or need water.
- Provide examples of destructive effects of water.
Do plants have to be watered with water to grow? - Experiment

STANDARD 3010-03: Students will compare the liquid, solid, and gas states of water.

OBJECTIVES:

3010-0301: Compare the physical properties of ice, liquid water, and water vapor.
- Describe in their own words the similarities and differences between ice, liquid water, and water vapor.
- Describe different ways that water, in all three states, is present or is used in the natural and designed world.
- Contrast the behavior of ice with the behavior of water when placed in containers of various shapes.
Water - Online unit exploring the properties of water
Solid, Liquid, Gas Demo - Illustrates the differences in molecular movement

OBJECTIVES:

3010-0302: Describe the relationships between the three states of water.
- Predict changes that will occur when ice or liquid water is heated or cooled, or when water vapor is cooled.
- Determine the freezing point of water.
Water Magic A lesson plan that teaches about the states of water--preparatory to learning about the water cycle

TOPIC: Plants

STANDARD 3010-04: Students will observe and categorize plants and plant parts according to similarities and differences.

OBJECTIVES:

3010-0401: Investigate and report conditions that affect plant growth.
- Experiment to identify conditions that influence plant growth (e.g., amount of water, light, temperature, and soil type).
- Draw a picture that reflects conditions for plant growth.
Will beans grow without soil? - Experiment
Will it grow? - Experiment

3010-0402: Observe and describe basic functions of plant parts in relation to the needs of the plant.
- Draw a plant.
- Explain the function of plant parts (i.e., stem, roots, leaf, flower, seed) in their own words.
- Describe how seeds change as they germinate.
The Great Plant Escape - "In search of green life" - Review of plant parts
Inside a Seed - Lesson plan exploring how plants grow
Plant Parts Webquest - Unit on plant parts
Plants and Seeds - Activity

3010-0403: Categorize leaves, flowers, or seeds from a variety of plants and compare their characteristics.
- Develop and use ways of grouping leaves, flowers, or seeds.
- Justify choices for grouping.
- Add a new leaf, flower, or seed to an existing group.
- Compare and record different ways to group plants.
Explorer: Natural Explorer Outline Structure See the units on General Plants, Classification of Plants, Life Cycles of Plants, Obtain and Use Energy-Plants, and Structure-Function Plants
Plants and Seeds This lesson plan compares seeds from different plants

3010-0404: Compare plants according to different ways they are used at home and at school.
- Observe and describe common uses of plants.
- Group several plants according to how people use them.
- Compare and record different ways to classify plants.
Cool Science For Curious Kids - Howard Hughes Institute; check out the "Plant Parts Salad"

TOPIC: Weather

STANDARD 3010-05: Students will observe and describe the basic components of weather as related to the activities of plants, animals, and people.

OBJECTIVES:

3010-0501: Observe and record daily changes and seasonal patterns in the weather.
- Observe and describe the basic components of weather.
- Record characteristics of weather observed.
- Graph daily differences in weather conditions.
The Weather Forecast - Predicting the weather is harder than it seems!

3010-0502: Investigate the effect of weather on the daily lives of plants, animals, and people.
- Describe changes in appearance and behavior of plants and animals as the weather changes.
- Compare and contrast activities of people and animals in your community during different weather conditions.
- Show how people and animals adapt to changes in the weather (e.g., draw a picture, write a report, make a collage, etc.).
The Lesson Plan Library (Discover.com) Lots of lesson plans, plus ideas for adapting them to different grade levels
Background Information on Weather Instruments and Scales From the U. S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau

Core Resources

First Grade Internet Resources

TOPIC: Air

TOPIC: Water

TOPIC: Plants

TOPIC: Weather