Page Title


  DL Home | In Your Classroom | At The Nature Center | Request Program | Evaluation


PROGRAMS FOR KINDERGARTEN - 2ND GRADES

On This Page:


OHIO’S WILDLIFE - K – 2nd Grade          

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES

Benchmark B. Explain that living things cause changes on Earth.

KINDERGARTEN

2. Explore that animals and plants cause changes to their surroundings.

1ST GRADE

3. Explain that all organisms cause changes in the environment where they live; the changes can be very noticeable or slightly noticeable, fast or slow (e.g., spread of grass cover slowing soil erosion, tree roots slowly breaking sidewalks).

LIFE SCIENCES

Benchmark A. Discover that there are living things, non-living things and pretend things, and describe the basic needs of living things (organisms).

Benchmark B. Explain how organisms function and interact with their physical environment.

Benchmark C. Describe the similarities and differences that exist among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Explore differences between living and non-living things (e.g., plant-rock).

2. Discover that stories (e.g., cartoons, movies, comics) sometimes give plants and animals characteristics they really do not have (e.g., talking flowers).

3. Describe how plants and animals usually resemble their parents.

4. Investigate variations that exist among individuals of the same kind of plant or animal.

5. Investigate observable features of plants and animals that help them live in different kinds of places.

6. Investigate the habitats of many different kinds of local plants and animals and some of the ways in which animals depend on plants and each other in our community.

1ST GRADE

1. Explore that organisms, including people, have basic needs which include air, water, food, living space and shelter.

2. Explain that food comes from sources other than grocery stores (e.g., farm crops, farm animals, oceans, lakes and forests).

3. Explore that humans and other animals have body parts that help to seek, find and take in food when they are hungry (e.g., sharp teeth, flat teeth, good nose and sharp vision).

4. Investigate that animals eat plants and/or other animals for food and may also use plants or other animals for shelter and nesting.

5. Recognize that seasonal changes can influence the health, survival or activities of organisms.

2ND GRADE

1. Explain that animals, including people, need air, water, food, living space and shelter; plants need air, water, nutrients (e.g., minerals), living space and light to survive.

2. Identify that there are many distinct environments that support different kinds of organisms.

3. Explain why organisms can survive only in environments that meet their needs (e.g., organisms that once lived on Earth have disappeared for different reasons such as natural forces or human-caused effects).

4. Compare similarities and differences among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals, including people.

5. Explain that food is a basic need of plants and animals (e.g., plants need sunlight to make food and to grow, animals eat plants and/or other animals for food, food chain) and is important because it is a source of energy (e.g., energy used to play, ride bicycles, read, etc.).

6. Investigate the different structures of plants and animals that help them live in different environments (e.g., lungs, gills, leaves and roots).

7. Compare the habitats of many different kinds of Ohio plants and animals and some of the ways animals depend on plants and each other.

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Benchmark A. Ask a testable question.

Benchmark B. Design and conduct a simple investigation to explore a question.

Benchmark C. Gather and communicate information from careful observations and simple investigation through a variety of methods.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Ask "what if" questions.

2. Explore and pursue student-generated "what if" questions.

4. Use the five senses to make observations about the natural world.

6. Recognize that numbers can be used to count a collection of things.

10. Make new observations when people give different descriptions for the same thing.

1ST GRADE

1. Ask "what happens when" questions.

2. Explore and pursue student-generated "what happens when" questions.

2ND GRADE

1. Ask "how can I/we" questions.

2. Ask "how do you know" questions (not "why" questions) in appropriate situations and attempt to give reasonable answers when others ask questions.

3. Explore and pursue student-generated "how" questions.

SCIENTIFIC WAYS OF KNOWING

Benchmark B. Recognize the importance of respect for all living things.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Recognize that scientific investigations involve asking open-ended questions. (How? What if?)

2. Recognize that people are more likely to accept your ideas if you can give good reasons for them.

3. Interact with living things and the environment in ways that promote respect.

4. Demonstrate ways science is practiced by people everyday (children and adults).

To Top

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS - K – 2nd Grade          

LIFE SCIENCES

Benchmark A. Discover that there are living things, non-living things and pretend things, and describe the basic needs of living things (organisms).

Benchmark B. Explain how organisms function and interact with their physical environment.

Benchmark C. Describe similarities and differences that exist among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals.

KINDERGARTEN

2. Discover that stories (e.g., cartoons, movies, comics) sometimes give plants and animals characteristics they really do not have (e.g., talking flowers).

3. Describe how plants and animals usually resemble their parents.

4. Investigate variations that exist among individuals of the same kind of plant or animal.

5. Investigate observable features of plants and animals that help them live in different kinds of places.

6. Investigate the habitats of many different kinds of local plants and animals and some of the ways in which animals depend on plants and each other in our community.

1ST GRADE

1. Explore that organisms, including people, have basic needs which include air, water, food, living space and shelter.

2. Explain that food comes from sources other than grocery stores (e.g., farm crops, farm animals, oceans, lakes and forests).

3. Explore that humans and other animals have body parts that help to seek, find and take in food when they are hungry (e.g., sharp teeth, flat teeth, good nose and sharp vision).

4. Investigate that animals eat plants and/or other animals for food and may also use plants or other animals for shelter and nesting.

5. Recognize that seasonal changes can influence the health, survival or activities of organisms.

2ND GRADE

1. Explain that animals, including people, need air, water, food, living space and shelter; plants need air, water, nutrients (e.g., minerals), living space and light to survive.

2. Identify that there are many distinct environments that support different kinds of organisms.

3. Explain why organisms can survive only in environments that meet their needs (e.g., organisms that once lived on Earth have disappeared for different reasons such as natural forces or human-caused effects).

4. Compare similarities and differences among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals, including people.

5. Explain that food is a basic need of plants and animals (e.g., plants need sunlight to make food and to grow, animals eat plants and/or other animals for food, food chain) and is important because it is a source of energy (e.g., energy used to play, ride bicycles, read, etc.).

6. Investigate the different structures of plants and animals that help them live in different environments (e.g., lungs, gills, leaves and roots).

7. Compare the habitats of many different kinds of Ohio plants and animals and some of the ways animals depend on plants and each other.

SCIENTIFIC WAYS OF KNOWING

Benchmark B. Recognize the importance of respect for all living things.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Recognize that scientific investigations involve asking open-ended questions. (How? What if?)

3. Interact with living things and the environment in ways that promote respect.

1ST GRADE

2. Demonstrate good explanations based on evidence from investigations and observations.

To Top

HABITATS - K – 2nd Grade

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES

Benchmark B. Explain that living things cause changes on Earth.

KINDERGARTEN

2. Explore that animals and plants cause changes to their surroundings.

1ST GRADE

3. Explain that all organisms cause changes in the environment where they live; the changes can be very noticeable or slightly noticeable, fast or slow (e.g., spread of grass cover slowing soil erosion, tree roots slowly breaking sidewalks).

LIFE SCIENCES

Benchmark A. Discover that there are living things, non-living things and pretend things, and describe the basic needs of living things (organisms).

Benchmark B. Explain how organisms function and interact with their physical environment.

Benchmark C. Describe similarities and differences that exist among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals.

KINDERGARTEN

2. Discover that stories (e.g., cartoons, movies, comics) sometimes give plants and animals characteristics they really do not have (e.g., talking flowers).

3. Describe how plants and animals usually resemble their parents.

4. Investigate variations that exist among individuals of the same kind of plant or animal.

5. Investigate observable features of plants and animals that help them live in different kinds of places.

6. Investigate the habitats of many different kinds of local plants and animals and some of the ways in which animals depend on plants and each other in our community.

1ST GRADE

1. Explore that organisms, including people, have basic needs which include air, water, food, living space and shelter.

2. Explain that food comes from sources other than grocery stores (e.g., farm crops, farm animals, oceans, lakes and forests).

3. Explore that humans and other animals have body parts that help to seek, find and take in food when they are hungry (e.g., sharp teeth, flat teeth, good nose and sharp vision).

4. Investigate that animals eat plants and/or other animals for food and may also use plants or other animals for shelter and nesting.

5. Recognize that seasonal changes can influence the health, survival or activities of organisms.

2ND GRADE

1. Explain that animals, including people, need air, water, food, living space and shelter; plants need air, water, nutrients (e.g., minerals), living space and light to survive.

2. Identify that there are many distinct environments that support different kinds of organisms.

3. Explain why organisms can survive only in environments that meet their needs (e.g., organisms that once lived on Earth have disappeared for different reasons such as natural forces or human-caused effects).

4. Compare similarities and differences among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals, including people.

5. Explain that food is a basic need of plants and animals (e.g., plants need sunlight to make food and to grow, animals eat plants and/or other animals for food, food chain) and is important because it is a source of energy (e.g., energy used to play, ride bicycles, read, etc.).

6. Investigate the different structures of plants and animals that help them live in different environments (e.g., lungs, gills, leaves and roots).

7. Compare the habitats of many different kinds of Ohio plants and animals and some of the ways animals depend on plants and each other.

SCIENTIFIC WAYS OF KNOWING

Benchmark B. Recognize the importance of respect for all living things.

KINDERGARTEN

3. Interact with living things and the environment in ways that promote respect.

To Top

PREDATOR/PREY - K – 2nd Grade

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES

Benchmark B. Explain that living things cause changes on Earth.

KINDERGARTEN

2. Explore that animals and plants cause changes to their surroundings.

3. Explore that sometimes change is too fast to see and sometimes change is too slow to see.

5. Observe and describe seasonal changes in weather.

1ST GRADE

3. Explain that all organisms cause changes in the environment where they live; the changes can be very noticeable or slightly noticeable, fast or slow (e.g., spread of grass cover slowing soil erosion, tree roots slowly breaking sidewalks).

LIFE SCIENCES

Benchmark A. Discover that there are living things, non-living things and pretend things, and describe the basic needs of living things (organisms).

Benchmark B. Explain how organisms function and interact with their physical environment.

Benchmark C. Describe similarities and differences that exist among individuals of the same kind of plants and animals.

KINDERGARTEN

5. Investigate observable features of plants and animals that help them live in different kinds of places.

6. Investigate the habitats of many different kinds of local plants and animals and some of the ways in which animals depend on plants and each other in our community.

1ST GRADE

1. Explore that organisms, including people, have basic needs which include air, water, food, living space and shelter.

2. Explain that food comes from sources other than grocery stores (e.g., farm crops, farm animals, oceans, lakes and forests).

3. Explore that humans and other animals have body parts that help to seek, find and take in food when they are hungry (e.g., sharp teeth, flat teeth, good nose and sharp vision).

4. Investigate that animals eat plants and/or other animals for food and may also use plants or other animals for shelter and nesting.

5. Recognize that seasonal changes can influence the health, survival or activities of organisms.

2ND GRADE

1. Explain that animals, including people, need air, water, food, living space and shelter; plants need air, water, nutrients (e.g., minerals), living space and light to survive.

2. Identify that there are many distinct environments that support different kinds of organisms.

3. Explain why organisms can survive only in environments that meet their needs (e.g., organisms that once lived on Earth have disappeared for different reasons such as natural forces or human-caused effects).

5. Explain that food is a basic need of plants and animals (e.g., plants need sunlight to make food and to grow, animals eat plants and/or other animals for food, food chain) and is important because it is a source of energy (e.g., energy used to play, ride bicycles, read, etc.).

7. Compare the habitats of many different kinds of Ohio plants and animals and some of the ways animals depend on plants and each other.

SCIENTIFIC WAYS OF KNOWING

Benchmark B. Recognize the importance of respect for all living things.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Recognize that scientific investigations involve asking open-ended questions. (How? What if?)

3. Interact with living things and the environment in ways that promote respect.

To Top

WEATHER - K – 2nd Grade

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES

Benchmark A. Observe constant and changing patterns of objects in the day and night sky.

Benchmark C. Observe, describe and measure changes in the weather, both long term and short term.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Observe that the sun can be seen only in the daytime, but the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day.

3. Explore that sometimes change is too fast to see and sometimes change is too slow to see.

4. Observe and describe day-to-day weather changes (e.g., today is hot, yesterday we had rain).

5. Observe and describe seasonal changes in weather.

2ND GRADE

4. Observe and describe that some weather changes occur throughout the day and some changes occur in a repeating seasonal pattern.

5. Describe weather by measurable quantities such as temperature and precipitation.

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Benchmark A. Ask a testable question.

Benchmark B. Design and conduct a simple investigation to explore a question.

Benchmark C. Gather and communicate information from careful observations and simple investigation through a variety of methods.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Ask "what if" questions.

2. Explore and pursue student-generated "what if" questions.

3. Use appropriate safety procedures when completing scientific investigations.

4. Use the five senses to make observations about the natural world.

7. Use appropriate tools and simple equipment/instruments to safely gather scientific data (e.g., magnifiers and other appropriate tools).

1ST GRADE

1. Ask "what happens when" questions.

2. Explore and pursue student-generated "what happens when" questions.

3. Use appropriate safety procedures when completing scientific investigations.

6. Use appropriate tools and simple equipment/instruments to safely gather scientific data (e.g., magnifiers, timers and simple balances and other appropriate tools).

7. Make estimates to compare familiar lengths, weights and time intervals.

8. Use oral, written and pictorial representation to communicate work.

9. Describe things as accurately as possible and compare with the observations of others.

2ND GRADE

1. Ask "how can I/we" questions.

2. Ask "how do you know" questions (not "why" questions) in appropriate situations and attempt to give reasonable answers when others ask questions.

3. Explore and pursue student-generated "how" questions.

4. Use appropriate safety procedures when completing scientific investigations.

5. Use evidence to develop explanations of scientific investigations. (What do you think? How do you know?)

6. Recognize that explanations are generated in response to observations, events and phenomena.

7. Use appropriate tools and simple equipment/instruments to safely gather scientific data (e.g., magnifiers, non-breakable thermometers, timers, rulers, balances and calculators and other appropriate tools).

8. Measure properties of objects using tools such as rulers, balances and thermometers.

9. Use whole numbers to order, count, identify, measure and describe things and experiences.

10. Share explanations with others to provide opportunities to ask questions, examine evidence and suggest alternative explanations.

To Top