LESSON 2:

Contents of Elementary Science in a

Spiral Progression

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

LESSON OUTCOMES

• Identify the contents of science in Grade 3 to 6

in a spiral progression
• Explain that the contents or subject matter of
science progresses in complexity from grade
level to another.

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Questions to ponder . . .
• Is Science easy or difficult to teach? Why?

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

“key concepts are
presented
repeatedly
throughout the
curriculum but with
deepening layers of
complexity”

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

4 Major Disciplines of the K to 12
Elementary Science Education
1. CHEMISTRY (Matter, Diversity of Materials.
Properties and Structures, Changes and
Interactions)
2. BIOLOGY (Living Things and Their Environment)
3. PHYSICS (Force, Motion and Energy); and
4. EARTH AND SPACE (Surroundings and Land,
Water and Air, Weather, Climate and Solar
System)

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6

Quarter 1 Matter Matter Matter Matter

Living Things Living Things Living Things

Quarter 2 Living Things

Force, Motion and Force, Motion and Force, Motion and Force, Motion and
Quarter 3
Energy Energy Energy Energy

Quarter 4 Earth and Space Earth and Space Earth and Space Earth and Space

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Content and processes, inquiry and science
attitudes are also taken up starting in
Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Two Major Areas: Chemistry and Biology

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Major Area: Chemistry
Description in the Elementary Curriculum: Matter

Grade 3 Properties and Structure of Matter

• Characteristics of solids, liquids and gases
Matter • Changes in solids, liquids and gases
Properties and Structure of Matter
• Properties used to group and store materials (ability to absorb
Grade 4 water, float or sink; decaying or non-decaying) Regrouping
materials; recycle, reduce, reuse, recover, repair.
Matter Changes that materials undergo
• Changes that are useful
• Change that are harmful

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Major Area: Chemistry
Description in the Elementary Curriculum: Matter

Properties and Structure of Matter

• Properties used to minimize waste.
Grade 5
• Importance of reading product label
Changes that materials undergo
Matter
• Evidence of change
• Appropriate ways of storing materials
Properties and Structure of Matter
Grade 6 • Mixture and their Characteristics
- Heterogenous mixtures: solutions, and suspensions
Matter - Colloids
• Separating mixtures
| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression
Major Area: Learning Things and their
Environment
Characteristics of Living Things
Parts and Function of Living Things
• Humans
Grade 3 • Animals
• Plants
Living Traits Passed on From Parents
Things and
• Humans
Their
Environmen • Animals
t • Plants
Interactions of Living Things with the Environment
• Basic needs
• Feeding relationships

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Major Area: Learning Things and their
Environment
Parts and Functions
• Humans
- Major organs of the body
- Caring for the major organs
- Diseases that affect the major organs
• Animals
Grade 4 - Terrestrial animals
- Aquatics animals
Living Things
• Plants
and Their
Environment
- Terrestrial plants
- Aquatics Plants
Life Cycles
• Humans, Animals and Plants
Interactions
• Beneficial interactions
• Harmful interactions

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Major Area: Learning Things and their
Environment
Parts and Functions
• Humans
- Stages of growth
- Parts of the reproductive system
- Development of secondary sex characteristics
- Menstrual cycle
Grade 5 • Animals
- Parts of the reproductive system of representative groups of animals and their
Living Things
functions
and Their
Environment
- Differences in the modes of reproduction: External fertilization, internal
fertilization
 Birds (ducks)
 Fishes (tilapia)
 Toads/frogs
 Crustaceans (crabs and shrimps)
 Dragonflies and butterflies

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Major Area: Learning Things and their
Environment
Grade 5
- Protecting habitats of animals
• Plants
- Flowering plants (rice/corn, pechay, mongo)
Living Things - Non-flowering plants (conebearing, ferns, liverworts)
and Their
Environment
- Protecting habitats of plants
Interactions among Living Things

Parts and Functions

• Human Body System
- Muscoskeletal
Grade 6 - Digestive system
- Respiratory system
Living Things - Circulatory system
and Their
Environment
- Nervous system
• Animals
- Characteristics of vertebrates and invertebrates
- Economic importance of vertebrates and invertebrates in the community
| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression
Major Area: Learning Things and their
Environment
- Rare animals in the community
- Protecting and caring for animals
• Plants
- Parts of spore-bearing plants
Grade 6 - Life cycle of ferns and mosses
- Vegetative plant propagation
Living Things
• Interactions
and Their
Environment
- Physical condition of tropical rainforest, coral reefs and mangrove swamps
- Plants and animals living in these ecosystems
- Feeding relationships in these ecosystems
- Protecting and conserving tropical forest ecosystems
Separating mixture

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

What have you observed in the content
outline for each topic?

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

Statements about (1) Matter and (2) Living Things in
Agree Disagree Explanation
their Environment

1. In both topics, the concepts in grade 3 are simpler than

grade 4.

2. There is a consistent title of the major topic from grade

3 to grade 6.

3. The area on Living Things and Their Environment

focused on three kinds of living things : humans, plants
and animals
4. The Chemistry component of Elementary science
revolve around Matter that progressively advance in
complexity from Grade 3 to Grade 6.
5. In the elementary science framework, Chemistry which
is considered by many as difficult subject is taught in
Grade 3.

6. Elementary Science should lead learners to scientific

literacy.

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression

EVALUATION

| Contents of Elementary Science in a Spiral Progression