Science Standards by Grade: Project ARIES Modules

Exploring Time: Sundials, Waterclocks, and Pendulums

Children explore the concepts of time and timekeeping. They study time from historical and cultural perspectives; they relate time to day and night, months, and seasons; and they build timekeeping devices.

grades 3-6

Exploring Light and Color: Filters, Lenses, and Cameras

Children investigate characteristics of light. They examine light and vision, color filters, reflections, and lenses.

grades 3-6

Exploring the Earth in Motion: Daylight, Sun, and Shadow Patterns

Children investigate shadows, the changing relationship between the Earth and the Sun, the daily path of the Sun, and the spin of the Earth.

grades 3-6

Exploring Waves: Water, Vibrations, and Sound

Children observe waves and wave motion, build ripple tanks to explore water waves, and make and play their own musical instruments to investigate sound.

grades 5-8

Exploring Energy: Waterwheels, Windmills, and Sunlight

Children observe three natural energy sources - flowing water, wind, and sunlight - and construct devices to harness these sources of energy.

grades 3-6

Exploring Motion and Forces: Friction, Velocity, and Acceleration

Children build devices, including an air puck, a ball-and-track system, and different carts. They make time and distance measurements to describe linear motion and then represent their findings graphically.

grades 5-8

Exploring Space: Sun, Moon, and Stars

Children explore the Earth/Moon/Sun relationship and become familiar with the night sky.

grades 5-8

Exploring Navigation: Location, Direction, and Latitude

Children explore map-making and map-reading, make and use compasses, and observe nature for clues that can help them determine direction.

grades 5-8