Curriculum

Children will explore the Law of Gravity by investigating how objects are pulled toward the ground unless something holds them up. They will observe and conduct simple experiments to see how gravity affects different objects. For example, children will drop various objects to see how they always fall down due to gravity.

Children will be introduced to the basic concept of relativity and learn how it impacts our understanding of the universe. They will explore relativity by discussing how things can look different depending on your perspective or movement. For example, children will observe that objects moving next to them, like cars on the road, seem to move more slowly when they are also moving, compared to when they are standing still.

Children will experience, compare, and use time-related language to develop a basic understanding of the day and night cycle. They will learn to identify different times of the day, such as morning, afternoon, evening, and night, and use these terms to communicate their daily experiences. For example, children will describe activities they do in the morning, such as eating breakfast, and those they do in the afternoon, like playing outside

Children will explore and understand the basic relationships between the sun and Earth. They will learn that the sun rises in the east in the morning and sets in the west in the late afternoon. Children will also understand that the sun provides us with heat and light and how it creates daytime and nighttime. By observing the sky, children will be able to describe and predict the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.

Children will be able to name and identify the basic cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. They will understand what a compass is and how it functions. For example, children will learn that a compass needle always points north and how to use this information to determine other directions.

Children will be able to describe and compare the properties of different types of matter, including solids, liquids, and gases. They will learn that solids have a fixed shape, liquids take the shape of their container but have a fixed volume, and gases spread out to fill their container.

Children will learn to read a thermometer and understand the difference between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit. They will explore how a thermometer measures temperature and use it to measure heat in various objects and environments. For example, they will read temperature measurements in both Celsius and Fahrenheit and compare the two scales.

Children will be introduced to the concept that Earth is one of the many planets in our solar system. They will learn the names of the planets and some distinguishing characteristics of each (e.g., Mars is red, Jupiter is large and has many moons, Saturn has rings). Children will understand that all these planets orbit the sun and that each planet has its unique position in the solar system.

Children will be able to identify vocabulary used to describe the sky and the Earth. They will learn words related to the sky, such as clouds and the moon, and words related to the Earth, such as mountains and rivers.

Children will identify that air is an essential part of the environment. They will recognize that humans, animals, and plants need air to breathe and live. For example, they will learn that people need air to fill their lungs, animals need air to survive, and plants need air to grow and make food.