Science exploration in Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 aims to engage students in rich, culturally diverse, and authentic learning experiences that will foster their curiosity and advance their understanding of the world around them. 

Elementary Science Mission & Vision

The Illinois Learning Standards for Science, which are the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), are the foundation for student learning.  To foster mastery of the NGSS, an inquiry model of instruction is supported using Exploring Science 2019 from National Geographic as our main resource. The units of study, for both monolingual and dual language students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, all begin with the Nature of Science and then move into the following areas of focus:

Kindergarten:

• Earth Science
• Weather and Climate
• Physical Science
• Pushes and Pulls
• Life Science
• Independent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants and Their Environment

1st Grade

• Earth Science
• Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles
• Physical Science
• Waves: Light and Sound
• Life Science 
• Structure, Function, and Information Processing

2nd Grade

• Earth Science
• Earth’s Systems: Earth’s Process that shape the Earth
• Physical Science
• Structure and Properties of Matter
• Life Science
• Ecosystem: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
• Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

3rd Grade

• Physical Science
• Forces and Interactions
• Earth Science
• Weather and Climate
• Life Science
• Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
• Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

4th Grade

• Earth Science
• Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth
• Life Science
• Structure, function, and Information Processing
• Physical Science
• Energy
• Waves: Waves and Information

5th Grade

• Earth Science
• Earth’s Systems
• Space Systems: Stars and the Solar Systems
• Physical Science
• Matter
• Life Science
• Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems