OpenSciEd Grade 5 Unit 1: Ecosystems & Matter Cycling Student Edition

The OpenSciEd elementary science program aligns with all NGSS standards for elementary education. This comprehensive curriculum encourages students to explore, design, investigate, and solve problems in the world around them. 

• Phenomenon Based - Centered around exploring phenomena or solving problems
• Driven by Student Questions - Storyline based on students’ questions and ideas 
• Grounded in Evidence - Incremental building and revision of ideas based on evidence 
• Collaborative - class and teacher figure out ideas together
• Equitable - Builds a classroom culture that values ideas and learning of all

The materials invite students to explore science through a phenomenon-based, three-dimensional approach that promotes curiosity, understanding, and equitable learning. Crafted with insights from teachers and students across the country, each unit features thoughtfully selected phenomena and engaging storylines that draw students in. Along the journey, students develop essential skills like problem-solving, asking meaningful questions, and building arguments supported by evidence. With an interdisciplinary design, these units also seamlessly integrate literacy and math, nurturing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Unit 5.1 Ecosystems & Matter Cycling - How does a nurse log help other things live and grow?

Have you ever seen a fallen log in a forest? Have you wondered how plants could be growing on it or why animals might be visiting it? In this unit, students explore nurse logs to figure out just that. Students begin their exploration of nurse logs by considering how the plant life that grows on them gets the matter needed to grow. They plan, carry out, and evaluate investigations that provide them with evidence that plants get the matter they need to grow primarily from air and water and the energy they need to grow from the Sun. As students build their understanding of matter and energy transfer, they investigate how there are also many animals that live in, on, and around nurse logs. They model to explain the transfer of energy and matter between plants, animals, the nurse log, and the sun. Students figure out that decomposers are a vital component of the nurse log system. Finally, students consider how new species can disrupt that balance and flow of matter and energy, using the example of American bullfrogs that have been recently introduced to nurse log ecosystems.

The Student Edition is a consumable, perforated, perfect-bound book that conveniently contains all student handouts. Printed in black and white, it provides a clear and practical format, making it easy for young learners to take notes and engage with the material effectively.