A Sneak Peek Into OpenSciEd’s New Elementary Units
Exciting news for elementary teachers! Six NEW OpenSciEd Elementary units will be released on February 20th. Designed to inspire curiosity and foster a lifelong love for science, these units focus on hands-on, phenomenon-based learning to make science engaging and relevant for young learners.
Why Choose OpenSciEd Elementary Units?
- Free and Adaptable: Our learning materials are FREE and can be adapted to fit your unique classroom needs.
- Phenomena-Based Instruction: In OpenSciEd classrooms, students understand the world by exploring things they can see, experience, and wonder about daily.
- Collaboration and Curiosity: With our materials, young learners work with their peers to drive learning forward and figure something out.
Learn more about the units being released on February 20th!
Unit K.2: Weather
Unit question: How can we be prepared for the weather?
Students will build their own data collection tools to explore temperature, cloud cover, rain, and wind! Through these observations, they’ll uncover patterns, describe typical weather conditions, and learn how to prepare for severe weather. The unit culminates with them creating Community Service Announcements to share their findings, blending science and civic responsibility.
Unit 1.2: Waves: Sound
Unit question: How can we communicate using objects that make sound?
Through investigations, students discover the connection between vibrations and sound. They’ll apply their learning by engineering their own sound signal devices, planning, building, and testing designs that they can use to communicate good news to all of their classmates.
Unit 2.2: Structure & Properties of Matter
Unit question: How can we design a new toy?
By taking on the role of toy engineers, students will work together to design and build a new toy for their classroom! To inform their toy designs, students conduct investigations to determine the properties of different materials, the purpose of those properties, and how materials can change when disassembling, reassembling, heating, or cooling.
Unit 3.2: Weather and Hazards
Unit question: Why do plants only grow well in certain places, and how can we protect them?
Students analyze precipitation and temperature data in different regions to figure out where fruits grow well and when they are grown during the year. Through further investigations, students research weather-related hazards and engage in engineering design for windbreaks to reduce wind damage to fruit plants.
Unit 4.2: Energy Transfer: Electricity
Unit question: Electricity: How do we power clocks and other devices?
Students develop ideas about energy transfer by electrical currents as they go on school tours, take apart devices, and build simple circuits. With an emphasis on renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, students apply their knowledge to build a Martian space rover!
Unit 5.2: Matter Properties
Unit question: How can we make water healthy for all living things?
Students discover how we can change unhealthy waters for different species’ needs by analyzing water samples from natural systems to determine their health. They’ll apply all of the science and engineering ideas from the unit to address a relevant water challenge in their community.
Each OpenScied Elementary unit is packed with opportunities for students to think like scientists and engineers. By solving meaningful and relevant problems, young learners discover how science connects to their everyday lives.
We can’t wait to see these units come to life in your classrooms! Stay tuned for the official release on February 20th. Together, we can build the next generation of scientists.
