Kindergarten
K12’s Science program encourages children to become scientists by:
Exploring scientific concepts through hands-on
activities Making careful observations Asking relevant questions, drawing conclusions,
and communicating information Thinking carefully about what they do and see Learning about great scientists who have shaped
our understanding of the world we live in
Each lesson provides clear, detailed instructions for experiments and
activities. Most experiments use commonly available materials. Specialized
scientific materials (such as a balance, magnets, or pulleys) are provided
by K12.
K12’s Science program provides step-by-step guidance in each lesson.
You may choose to print the entire lesson, or you may follow the lesson
from the computer screen. Some lessons use computer animations, but most
of the teaching takes place away from the computer.
Total lessons:
72. If you teach Science twice a week, you can comfortably complete the
program within a typical school year. Lesson time:
45 minutes. You might choose to split the lessons into smaller segments
and take a break between investigations. K12’s online lesson tracking
system allows you to pick up wherever you stopped in any given lesson.
Science lessons take one of the following two forms:
Books
Some lessons rely on readings from books about specific scientific topics.
You can find these books at libraries or purchase them at bookstores.
Animals in Winter
by Henrietta Bancroft & Richard G. Van Gelder (HarperCollins, 1997) My Five Senses
by Aliki (HarperCollins, 1990) The Big Dipper
by Franklyn Branley (HarperCollins, 1991) What's Alive?
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (HarperCollins, 1995) Where Are the
Night Animals? by Mary Ann Fraser (HarperCollins, 1999)
Materials to Have on Hand
Most materials required for Science activities are common household
items or items that you can readily find in grocery, office supply, hardware,
or garden stores. Such items include, for example, potting soil, marbles,
rubber bands, tape, string, nails, wire, and wood.
At the beginning of each lesson, you can find
and print a list of supplies needed for that lesson.
To document your child’s progress in Science, we recommend that you
compile a portfolio.
The portfolio itself can be a three-ring binder with pocket folders
to hold:
Completed practice sheets Drawings Printed copies of the Lesson Reviews and Assessments Photographs of your child performing experiments,
and photographs of completed projects
At the end of each unit, take some time to review the Science portfolio
with your child and celebrate how much your child has learned!
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