West Chester Area School District
Elementary Science
December 2007

Introduction

The Chester County Science Framework is not a science curriculum. Rather it is a tool that administrators and teachers can use to develop a K-12 science curriculum. The Chester County Science Framework was developed over the course of nine days in the summer and fall of 2007. Click here to read more about the development and background of the Chester County Science Framework.

Additional Resources:

• Possible Ways to Make Use of the Program

• Big Idea Eligible Content Crosswalk

• 4th Grade Knowledge-Skills Eligible Content Crosswalk

BIG IDEAS ALIGNED WITH ELIGIBLE CONTENT

BIOLOGY (B)
ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY (Part of B)

1. The structure and function of an object or organism are related.

2. All systems, regardless of scale, need organization to function; their ability to undergo change determines their viability.

   • S4.B.1.1.1 & S4.B.1.1.2 & S4.B.1.1.3 & S4.B.1.1.4 & S4.B.1.1.5

   • S4.B.2.1.1 & S4.B.2.1.2

3. There are distinct patterns in the organization of nature

4. Evolution is a process of change that explains what we see today, why it differs from what existed in the past, and what might exist in the future.

   • S4.B.2.2.1

5. All systems, regardless of scale, continually change, interact with one another, and need organization to function.

6. Inquiry is a process that uses strategies to solve a problem. The strategies utilized are adapted as the problem changes.

7. Everything can be classified according to its properties.

   • S4.B.3.1.1 & S4.B.3.1.2

   • S4.B.3.2.1 & S4.B.3.2.2 & S4.B.3.2.3

   • S4.B.3.3.1 & S4.B.3.3.2 & S4.3.3.4 & S4.B.3.3.5

   • S4.B.3.3.3
      

CHEMISTRY (C)
PHYSICS (Part of C)

1. Matter is composed of tiny particles in constant motion held together by attractive forces. This can be used to account for observable chemical and physical properties.

2. Everything can be classified according to its properties.

   • S4.C.1.1.1 & S4.C.1.1.2

3. Energy exists in different forms in a system. Energy is conserved, converted, or transferred throughout the system.

   • S4.C.2.1.1 & S4.C.2.1.2 & S4.C.2.1.3 & S4.C.2.1.4

4. All objects obey universal laws relating force and motion.

   • S4.C.3.1.1 & S4.C.3.1.2 & S4.C.3.1.3

EARTH & SPACE (D)

1. Everything can be classified according to its properties.

2. Systems interact with one another, have specific needs, and continually evolve and change.

3. All objects are continuously affected by forces in the universe.

4. Technology has a reciprocal relationship with science and is the application of innovations to solve problems.

5. All systems, regardless of scale, need organization to function; their ability to undergo change determines their viability.

6. Matter is composed of tiny particles in constant motion held together by attractive forces. This can be used to account for observable chemical and physical properties.

7. There are distinct patterns in the organization of nature.

   • S.4.D.1.1.1 & S.4.D.1.1.2

   • S4.D.1.1.3

   • S4.D.1.2.1 & S4.D.1.2.2 & S4.D.1.2.3

   • S4.D.1.3.1 & S4.D.1.3.3 & S4.D.1.3.4

   • S4.D.1.3.2

   • S4.D.2.1.1 & S4.D.2.1.2 & S4.D.2.1.3

   • S4.D.3.1.1 & S4.D.3.1.2 & S4.D.3.1.3