Prek-2 A4

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 04/07/04

PreK-2

A4: Design and describe a classification system for objects.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

What are some words you can use to describe different types of objects?

What are some attributes you can use to group objects?

How can you draw or show a way you can group objects?

Elaboration
Students should recognize that objects can be described in terms of the materials they are made of, or their physical properties, and can be categorized as either natural or man-made. Younger children generally use mutually exclusive categories rather than hierarchical and form groups of different status...for example, organisms that are able to fly and organisms that fight each other. Students should be lead to recognize items that fit into more than one class or that do not fit into any category.Benchmarks p.340.

Specific Ideas

Objects can be described by their physical properties (color, size, shape, weight, texture, flexibility, etc.).Benchmarks 4D1.

Objects can be described by the materials they are made of (clay, cloth, paper, plastic, metal, rubber, etc.) Benchmarks 4D1.

Properties or the materials they are made of can be used to sort a group of objects. NSES B1b.

Developmental & Instructional Implications
Students may have difficulty recognizing that objects can belong to more than one category. For example, that robins are animals and they are birds. Students should not use classification systems similar to those used by biologists until the upper elementary grades.Benchmarks 341.

Children's ideas about organisms develop from basic concepts such as this.

Examples

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Curriculum Organizing Questions	What are some words you can use to describe different types of objects? What are some attributes you can use to group objects? How can you draw or show a way you can group objects?
Elaboration	Students should recognize that objects can be described in terms of the materials they are made of, or their physical properties, and can be categorized as either natural or man-made. Younger children generally use mutually exclusive categories rather than hierarchical and form groups of different status...for example, organisms that are able to fly and organisms that fight each other. Students should be lead to recognize items that fit into more than one class or that do not fit into any category.Benchmarks p.340.
Specific Ideas	Objects can be described by their physical properties (color, size, shape, weight, texture, flexibility, etc.).Benchmarks 4D1. Objects can be described by the materials they are made of (clay, cloth, paper, plastic, metal, rubber, etc.) Benchmarks 4D1. Properties or the materials they are made of can be used to sort a group of objects. NSES B1b.
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Students may have difficulty recognizing that objects can belong to more than one category. For example, that robins are animals and they are birds. Students should not use classification systems similar to those used by biologists until the upper elementary grades.Benchmarks 341. Children's ideas about organisms develop from basic concepts such as this.
Examples