SC.K.N.1.2

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Make observations of the natural world and know that they are descriptors collected using the five senses.
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: K
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Big Idea: The Practice of Science -

A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation.

B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of "the scientific method."

C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge.

D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5020010: Science - Grade K (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7720015: Access Science Grade Kindergarten (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
5020070: STEM Lab Kindergarten (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SC.K.N.1.In.2: Identify information about objects and actions in the natural world through observation.
SC.K.N.1.Su.2: Identify information about objects in the natural world through observation.
SC.K.N.1.Pa.2: Recognize common objects in the natural world through observation.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

WE CAN SEE AND FEEL SOUNDS!:

Students will identify different sound qualities that would happen in the classroom with the understanding of rules and laws in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Kindergarten 5 Senses with Pumpkins:

This unit opens with a field trip to the pumpkin patch. In this project-based learning experience students will use their five senses to discover the world around them. Students will complete a KWL chart, pumpkin chart, and have group discussions. Individually students will use their five senses to describe the taste, touch, smell, look, and sound of different objects. As teams, students will create a poster to present their findings.

Type: Lesson Plan

Have You Ever Met a Tree?:

The students practice making observations of a specific tree and write about it as though they are a scientist.

Type: Lesson Plan

Clown Fish:

Students will compare and contrast traits of real clown fish and Nemo, from the cartoon movie "Finding Nemo".

Type: Lesson Plan

Finding the One!!:

Students will sort and classify rocks by observable properties, such as size, shape, color and texture. (The properties of temperature and weight are not addressed in this lesson).

Type: Lesson Plan

Kindergarten Listening Walk:

Students will record what they hear on a nature walk. They will learn that sounds are all around us and that they are made by vibrations.

Type: Lesson Plan

Butterfly Life Cycle: Biography of a Caterpillar :

Students observe and write about the life cycle of a caterpillar. A K-W-L chart is utilized to begin discussion, as well as Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Type: Lesson Plan

Double Bubble Science:

In this lesson, students will understand how to use the scientific method to find answers to questions. Students will understand how an inventor uses a question to solve a problem. Students will investigate how to make bubbles with household items and identify different steps of the scientific method that help solve a problem.

Type: Lesson Plan

Investigating Local Ecosystems:

This lesson provides students with opportunities to investigate the habitats of local plants and animals and explore some of the ways animals depend on plants and each other.

Type: Lesson Plan

Sorting Junk!:

In this lesson, students will sort junk boxes to help them understand Physical science benchmarks. Students will also access website to reinforce sorting and technology skills.

Type: Lesson Plan

Lesson 1: Making Models to Understand Our Home:

This lesson plan from NASA's Messenger program allows K-2 students to make a model of their home to understand models and scale.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Going On a Science Hunt!:

Make observations using your five senses, sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing with Tallula on her science hunt in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Professional Developments

Science Lessons - What skills do I teach?:

This resource offers basic information for some of the Nature of Science skills students need to learn and what they need to know about Life, Physical, and Earth and Space science in Kindergarten.

Type: Professional Development

Environmental Education for Kids:

Website explaining when and how to start environmental education for kids. There are practical suggestions for teachers to incorporate environmental education into their curriculum.

Type: Professional Development

Student Center Activity

Backyard Science...The Five Senses:

This lesson uses centers to reinforce the five senses incorporating backyard science in the wonderful world of nature.

Type: Student Center Activity

Teaching Ideas

Colorado Fish Jigsaw Puzzles:

This teaching idea describes a project completed by Kindergarten students after studying living things and the physical characteristics that make them special. Students created fish jigsaw puzzles that included written descriptions. This idea can be adapted to the study of fish in any state.

Type: Teaching Idea

Collecting Nature's Alphabet:

This teaching idea describes a project for kindergarten students to teach them the alphabet and the shape of letters. Students use their observational skills to locate an item in nature shaped like each letter of the alphabet. Students can then compile their findings into a class or individual ABC book.

Type: Teaching Idea

Where Plants and Animals Live:

This site features activity ideas on comparing plants and animals in different habitats. It also includes a virtual manipulative, black line masters for activity ideas, and a family newsletter to encourage family involvement.

Type: Teaching Idea

Sound Makers:

This inquiry activity involves students building a working model to help them understand that sound is made from vibrations.

Type: Teaching Idea

Looking at the Sky:

This site features lesson plans focused on weather and the sky. It includes a virtual manipulative, black line masters, and a family newsletter for parent involvement.

Type: Teaching Idea

The Five Senses - Differentiated Lesson for ESL/Special Needs Students:

This guided inquiry activity is designed to help students understand that people get all of their knowledge from their senses, and that is why our senses are so important.

Type: Teaching Idea

Animal Sing Along-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students will be able to name warm- and cold-blooded animals through role play and song and demonstrate the behaviors used to dissipate excess body heat.

Type: Teaching Idea

Aiming For Action-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students will use hand-eye coordination and large muscle skills as they reinforce positive action choices that help endangered wildlife and habitats.

Type: Teaching Idea

Make a Winter Weather Pictograph :

This is an activity on collecting and charting the data of weather conditions. An extension of this activity would be to create different kinds of graphs based on the data collected.

Type: Teaching Idea

Animal Disguises-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, the students will be able to demonstrate how cryptic coloration helps ocean animals survive.

Type: Teaching Idea

Fingerprint Fish-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students explore how schooling behavior is an adaptation for avoiding predators.

Type: Teaching Idea

Thematic Observational Drawing Ideas for Primary Students:

This chart provides teachers with easy and practical items that can be used to for observational tables and observational drawing opportunities. Drawing requires the observer to focus on details such as shape, texture, line, and color. When students have time to study and then draw items in nature it increases their observational skills.

Type: Teaching Idea

What Is Water?:

The lesson introduces students to the properties of water and its presence in the environment.

Type: Teaching Idea

Unit/Lesson Sequences

Exploring the Five Senses:

This unit explores the five senses and their respective related body parts. It shows how observations of the natural world are made using our senses.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Ladybugs:

These lessons explore the characteristics and behavior of ladybugs, and to create their own paper model of a ladybug.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Touching and Fair Tests with Pill Bugs and Earthworms:

This unit shows students how to humanely handle pill bugs ("roly polies") and earthworms while observing their characteristics. Students will explore the types of conditions that each bug prefers to live in (eg., wet or dry, dark or light).

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Comparing Plants, Animals, and Seeds:

These lessons compare and contrast plants versus animals and seeds versus plants in regards to both appearance and behavior/function.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Vibrations Make Sound:

Students explore and discuss vibration and sound using a variety of common materials. Activities demonstrate connections between vibration, movement, sound, and waves using materials such as homemade drums, rubber bands, tuning forks, balloons, and water.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Physical Changes:

Two lessons provide students with opportunities to explore physical changes. Students manipulate paper and clay to demonstrate and discuss physical changes of matter.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8

Going On a Science Hunt!:

Make observations using your five senses, sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing with Tallula on her science hunt in this interactive tutorial.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Going On a Science Hunt!:

Make observations using your five senses, sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing with Tallula on her science hunt in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Teaching Idea

Where Plants and Animals Live:

This site features activity ideas on comparing plants and animals in different habitats. It also includes a virtual manipulative, black line masters for activity ideas, and a family newsletter to encourage family involvement.

Type: Teaching Idea