PROCESS EMPHASIS: The Earth Systems Program is inquiry-based science which includes the following process skills: observing, classifying, measuring, predicting, inferring, summarizing, communicating, collecting data, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, building models, interpreting evidence and experimenting.

Grade	Focus	Life Science	Physical Science	Earth Science	Investigations and Applications
K	Characteristics	Life Characteristics Insights: Myself and Others	Properties of Matter FOSS: Wood & Paper	Properties of Earth Materials FOSS: Pebbles, Sand, and Silt	Example: Dinosaur Digs (teacher resources)
1	Inter- relationships	Comparing Animals ASD: Alaskan Animals	Comparing Matter NSRC: Balancing and Weighing	Watersheds ASD: The Power of Water (revised)	Example: Investigating Insects (teacher resources)
2	Cycles	Cycles in Life NSRC: Plant Growth and Development	Investigating Vibration Insights: Sound	Characteristics & Behavior of Soil NSRC: Soils	Examples: Butterflies, Salmon, or Birds (teacher resources)
3	Changes of Form	Seasonal Variation ASD: Alaskan Plants (revised)	Observing Changes NSRC: Changes	Recording & Interpreting Data ASD: Weather (revised)	Example: Mystery Powders (teacher resources)
4	Systems	Skeletal Systems Insights: Bones and Skeletons	Electrical Systems Insights: Circuits and Pathways	Mineral Identification FOSS: Earth Materials	Example: Alaska Sea and River Week (teacher resources)
5	Energy Flows	Energy for Life NSRC: Ecosystems	Testing Variables FOSS: Variables	Energy Sources ARIES: Exploring Energy	Examples: Aviation or NEED Project (teacher resources)
6	Scale and Structure	Waste Management Insights: There is No Away	Form and Function Insights: Structures	Relative Size and Distance ASD: Astronomy (revised)	Examples: Outdoor School, Earth Rangers, or Voyage of the Mimi (teacher resources)