NATURAL

SCIENCE
5th Grade
2014-2015

Name: _________________________
Number: _______
Class: ________
1

UNIT 5. ECOSYSTEMS
An ecosystem

has

three

components:

1. A place: biotope
2. Living

things:

the

biocenosis
3. The relationships between
them.

1.What is an ecosystem?
A community of animals and plants interacting with their environment.
It is a community of living organisms (the BIOCENOSIS) in conjunction with
the nonliving

components of

their

environment

(BIOTOPE)

and

the

relationships between them.

Organism-Ecosystem Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gm9zJS10E

1. The biotope includes the non-living

components of the ecosystem. The
surrounding conditions which affect
living things, such as soil, water, light,
air and climate.

2. The biocenosis includes the living

components: The animals are called
fauna. The plants are called flora.
There are also fungi, bacteria and
algae.
A pond may be home to different
species, for example: rushes,
frogs, herons and carps.

3. The relationships in an ecosystem

All the components in an ecosystem are related. The depend on each other. If these
relationships remain stable, the ecosystem is in balance. Unusual changes in the
components of the ecosystem disturb the balance.

2.Types of ecosystems
Depending on the characteristics of their biotope they can be classified as:
1. Aquatic: Freshwater ecosystems (rivers, lakes) or Marine ecosystems
(saltwater)
2. Land or terrestrial. It is not covered by water
3. Mixed: in places where land and water meet (beaches, deltas)

Aquatic ecosystems: Coral reefs

A land (or terrestrial) ecosystem

Mixed ecosystem: Rainforest

3.Feeding relationships
Living things need nutrients. They obtain nutrients from the biotope and from
other living things.
1. Producers: such as plants or algae make their own food.
2. Consumers:
- Primary consumers: such as fish or zebras. They eat plants.
- Secondary consumers: such as lions and snakes. They eat primary
consumers.
- Tertiary consumers: secondary consumers which eat other secondary
consumers (eagles and owls)
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3. Decomposers: fungi and some bacteria eat the remains of other living
things

4.Food chain
Food chains show how food transfers from one living thing to another in an
ecosystem
Ecosystem Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRhdDs91aas

5.Invasive

species

An invasive species is a plant or animal that is not native to a specific location

and has a tendency to spread. They cause damage to the environment, human
economy and/or human health.

European Rabbits in Australia

Bunny rabbits may be adorable, but they are an absolute nightmare in
Australia. These hopping creatures are eradicating native wildlife.
European rabbits obviously aren't a menace individually, but their
powers of reproducing and eating can destroy ecosystems with
shocking speed.
A mere 24 rabbits introduced into Australia in 1859 as a hunting diversion
for European settlers quickly got to 10 billion hopping menaces by the
1920s.
The animals devastated farmers crops.
A massive "rabbit proof fence" erected in Western Australia to stop the
bunny plague didn't help much.
Rabbits are believed to be responsible for the extinction of a number of
small marsupials and they continue to threaten native plants and
animals.
Video: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/news/science/invaders-among-usrogues-gallery-invasive-species-and-what-they-mean-you

6.* Reading

In danger of extinction (page 8)

ACTIVITIES:
1.

Name the different parts of an ecosystem:

2. Draw what you can find in an ecosystem

Living things

Non-living components

Relationships

3. Explain the differences between biotope and biocenosis:

4. Complete the sentences:

In an ecosystem, the animals are called (3)
In an ecosystem, the plants are called (5)
There are also: (2), (1) and (4)

5. Now, complete de crossword with the words from exercise 4. (use the numbers
next to the words)

6. Write the words into the correct column:

Grass

coral reef

earth

starfish

cow

lake

sea

river

bush

dolphin

tree

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM

7. Match the words:

Freshwater

Forest

Land

Rivers and lakes

Mixed

Coral reef

Marine

Rainforest
Saltwater

8. Complete the sentences:

- Living things obtain from the and from another
things.
-

According

to

feeding

relationships,

the

organisms

are

classified

as:

, or

9. Write the words in the box into the correct place:

Algae

fish

lions

owls

fungi

plant

bacteria

zebra

snakes

eagles

- Make their own food

- Eat plants
- Eat primary consumers
- Eat secondary consumers
- Eat the remains of other living things
10. What is an invasive species?
An invasive species is a or that is not native to a specific
and has a tendency to .
11. What

kind

of

damage

can

it

cause?

12. European rabitt in Australia:

- Vocabulary: write five words you have learned in this article:

.
-

Why

are

rabbits

menace

in

Australia?

.
-

How

many

rabbits

were

introduced

in

Australia?

What

did

they

do

to

stop

the

plague?

- Complete the sentence: Rabbits are responsible for the extinction of a number of
small .

and they continue to threaten native ..

and

..

INTERESTING WEB PAGES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem
http://biology.tutorvista.com/ecology/abiotic-factors.html?view=simple
http://www.tburg.k12.ny.us/mcdonald/foodch1.htm
http://pagetenglish.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/rabbit-proof-fence/
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activity/ecosystems-11-studyjams-interactivescience-activities

UNIT 8: MACHINES
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC We use simple machines every day.
Machines are objects that make it easier to do work. They help us lift, pull,
transport, and hold objects together. Without these very basic machines our
lives would be much harder.
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids
using different machines. These were
not

machines

that

ran

on

gas

or

electricity. They were machines that

were used to make work easier. These
machines

were

called

later

simple

machines by the Greeks.

The Egyptians invented and used many simple machines, in their pyramids,
such as the inclined plane the lever and the pulley, to aid construction
processes. They used the lever and the pulley to raise heavy stones; and the
inclined plane to transport heavy loads.
In ancient Greece a scientist named
Archimedes came up with the idea that
there are simple machines which can be
used to make work easier. These
machines could change the direction of
movement and could lessen the amount
of work needed for moving things.
Later, scientists and artists like Galileo and Da Vinci advanced this idea and
came up with the six simple machines we have today: pulley, screw, wheel &
axle, lever, wedge, and inclined plane. Almost all modern machines use one or
more of these six simple machines.
Class activity:
Machines are everywhere. We use them to play and to work. Have a look
around you: Can you name at least three simple machines?

LEARN MORE ABOUT MACHINES!

What is a Machine?
A machine is a tool used to make work easier.
Types of machines
There are two types of machines: simple and complex or compound machines.
Simple machines: They are simple tools used to make work easier.
There are six types of simple machines.
Compound machines have two or more simple machines working together
to make work easier.
What Is a Simple Machine?
Machines help people make work easier. Simple machines have either one
moving part or no moving parts. Simple machines have only one or two main
parts. A screwdriver, a knife, a broom, and even a slide on the playground are
all simple machines.
Lets learn about the six types of simple machines.
PulleyA pulley is a wheel with a rope or a belt around it.
A pulley helps a person lift or move something up, down,
or across an area.
When you pull it downward, the other end lifts upward.
The function of the pulley is to change the direction of a
force.
ScrewA screw is an object that spirals around itself or
around a center post. When you turn it, it can lift objects
or also it is often used to hold things together.
The function of the screw is to hold things together or to
lift and object.
Inclined planeAn inclined plane is a flat surface that is higher
at one end. It helps a person move something up or down from
one place to another. It works like a ramp.
The function of an inclined plane is to move objects to a greater
height.
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Wheel and axleA wheel and axle move at the same time. The axle is the rod
that fits through the center of the wheel. When the wheel is turned, it turns
the axel with it. Both parts turn to help a person move something.
The function of the wheel and axle is to reduce friction of moving something.
WedgeA wedge is an object with a sharp edge. It is a pair of inclined planes
attached back to back. A wedge helps a person spread or cut apart something.
The function of the wedge is to force things apart.
A leverA lever is a flat bar that rests on a
support called a fulcrum. This bar pivots or
turns on a fixed point: the fulcrum. A lever
helps a person move or lift something.
The function of the lever is to increase or
decrease the applied force.

Class activity
List two examples of each type of simple machines.
Use the following words to complete the blanks.
1. A
is made up of two inclined planes and is very useful
for separating objects.
2. This simple machine is made up two parts that works together. This
machine can move a load over a long distance much easier.
3. To lift a heavy object upwards we may use a
which have a
wheel with a groove in it and rope that we p

11

Homework

Name: __

Simple Machines
The six types of simple machines are:

1.

inclined plane
wedge
screw

lever
pulley
wheel and axle

An ax is used to chop wood. The metal part chops

through the wood, pushing it apart into two smaller
sections.
Which simple machine is found on the head of this ax?

2.

The center of this seesaw is used to balance the

board with the seats. The children can easily move
up and down without much force.
The seesaw is an example of which simple machine?

3.

The cap on this water bottle has a spiral shape.

When you place it on the bottle and twist, the cap
pulls itself toward the bottle.
The bottle cap is an example of which simple machine?

12

4.

When you turn the large knob on a door, a rod on

the inside releases a latch that holds the door
closed.
It would be difficult to turn the rod, if
the knob wasn't attached to it.
The door knob and rod make up which simple machine? _______________

5.

A wheel with a rope is used to hoist a flag up to

the top of a tall flagpole. This simple machine
can also be used to help lift heavy objects with
less force.
The wheel and rope make up which simple machine?

6.

A ramp is used for loading this truck. A mover can

pull a cart with a heavy object up the ramp. This is
much easier than lifting heavy objects into the
truck.

Which simple machine is on the back of this truck?

7.

What types of simple machines do you see in the picture?

The slide is ____________________

The shovel is ___________________
The broom is____________________
The screwdriver is ______________

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4

UNIT 9: ELECTRICITY
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC: THE HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY
Look

around

your

house.

Almost

everything that you own and use

operates on electricity. But did you
ever

wonder

how

we

discovered

electricity?
Did you know that lightning is a form of electricity?
Ben Franklin started working with electricity in the 1740's. He believed
that lightning was a flow of electricity taking place in nature. In 1752,
Benjamin Franklin who was curious about lightning did an experiment to
prove that it was electrical. He went out into a thunderstorm and tied a
metal key to the bottom of a kite and, as he suspected, electricity from
the storm clouds flowed down the string, which was wet, and he received an
electrical shock. This experiment was very dangerous, and he was lucky
that all he received was a shock, but this became one of the most
important experiments of all time.
Throughout the next hundred years, many inventors and scientists tried to
find a way to use electrical power to make light. In 1879, the Amer ican
inventor Thomas Edison was finally able to produce a reliable, long-lasting
electric light-bulb in his laboratory.
By the end of the 1880s, small electrical stations based on Edison's designs
were in a number of cities, but each station was able to power only a few
city blocks.
Today, nearly everyone is fortunate enough to have electric power at home,
school, and at work. In order to maintain this constant and reliable
resource, it is important that we use it wisely every day.
Class activity
Think about how many electrical devices you use only for your breakfast.
How many electrical machines do you use?

14

THE POWER OF ELECTRICITY

Before the invention of electricity, people had to make energy wherever
and whenever they needed it. Thus, they had to make wood or coal fires to
heat their homes or cook food. The invention of electricity changed all
that.
People no longer had to worry about making energy for heating or cooking:
all they had to do was plug in and switch onand the energy was there as
soon as they wanted it.
What is electricity?
Electricity is a type of energy that can build up in one place or flow from
one place to another. It is the flow of moving electrons. One of the most
common ways to make electricity is by converting other energy sources,
such as coal, natural gas, and oil or solar, wind and falling water.
When electricity accumulates in one place it is known as static
electricity(the word static means something that does not move);
electricity that moves from one place to another is called current
electricity.
Static electricity
Static electricity often happens when you
rub things together. If you rub a balloon
against your jumper 20 or 30 times, you'll
find the balloon sticks to you. This happens
because rubbing the balloon gives it
an electric
charge (a small amount of
electricity). The charge makes it stick to your
jumper like a magnet, because your jumper
gains an opposite electric charge. So your
jumper and the balloon attract one another
like the opposite ends of two magnets.
Current electricity
When electrons move, they carry electrical energy from one place to
another. This is called current electricity or an electric current. Electric
currents are involved in powering all the electrical appliances that you use,
from washing machines to flashlights and from telephones to MP3 players.

15
4

When electricity gathers in one place, it has the

potential to do something in the future. Electricity
stored in a battery is an example of electrical
potential energy. You can use the energy in the
battery to power a torch, for example. When you
switch on a torch, the battery inside begins to
supply electrical energy to the lamp, making it give
off light.
Electric circuits
For an electric current to happen, there
must be a circuit. A circuit is a closed
path or loop around which an electric
current flows.
A circuit is usually made by linking
electrical components together with
pieces of wire cable. When you turn the
switch on, electricity flows around the
circuit. If there is a break anywhere in
the circuit, electricity cannot flow. If
one of the wires is broken, for example,
the lamp will not light. Similarly, if the
switch is turned off, no electricity can
flow. This is why a switch is sometimes
called a circuit breaker.

Class Activity
Complete
1

is a type of energy.

2 There are two types of energy:

3A
4A

energy and

energy

is a closed path around which an electric current flows.

is a circuit breaker when is turned off.

5 To switch on a torch the electricity is stored in a

16
4

HOW ELECTRICITY MOVE

INSULATORS.

IN

CIRCUIT:

CONDUCTORS

AND

Electricity travels easily through electrical conductors, like metals.

Materials that do not let electricity pass
through them easily are called electrical
insulators. Plastic, wood, glass and
rubber are good electrical insulators.
That is why they are used to cover
materials that carry electricity.
The plastic covering that surrounds
wires is an electrical insulator. It stops
you from getting an electrical shock.
Materials such as copper metal, iron or steel that conduct electricity (allow
it to flow freely) are called conductors.
Other materials that are sometimes used as conductors are silver, gold,
and aluminum. Copper is still the most popular material used for wires
because it is a very good conductor of electrical current and it is not so
expensive when compared to gold and silver. Aluminum and most other
metals do not conduct electricity quite as good as copper
A current of electricity is a steady
flow of electrons. When electrons move
from one place to another, round a
circuit, they carry electrical energy
from place to place like marching ants
carrying leaves. Instead of carrying
leaves, electrons carry a tiny amount of
electric charge.
Metal is used in plugs to allow
electricity to transfer from the wall
socket, through the plug, and into a
device such as a radio or TV.
Conductors that let electricity flow freely are said to have a
highconductance and a low resistance; insulators that do not allow
electricity to flow are the opposite: they have a low conductance and a high
resistance.

17
4

Name:

Conductors and Insulators

A conductor is a material that allows electricity to flow through it.
An insulator is a material that electricity cannot flow through.
To determine whether an object is a conductor or insulator, you can build a simple
ci rcuit with a battery, light bulb, and three pieces of wire.

Touch the free ends of the wire to the object you are testing. If the light bulb lights up, the
object is made from a conductor. i f it does not, the object is made from an insulator.
Complete the table. Predict whether each item is made from a material that is a conductor or
insulator. Then test each item to determine if it is made from a conductor or insulator.
Object

Prediction: Conductor or Insulator?

Result: Conductor or Insulator?

rubber band
penny
nickel
toothpick
key
paper clip
brass paper fastener
glass microscope slide
(your choice)

(your choice)

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4

CRITICAL THINKING: Energy for Life

ENERGY IS THE KEY
We use a lot of energy to live. Whether
were playing, studying or eating, energy
makes these activities possible. We also
use energy for productionto run
machines, for instance. Much of this
energy comes from fuels like oil, coal
or natural gas. These fuels are used to
make the blacktop and basketballs at
recess, as well as generate the
electricity for the lights all around you.
Think of all the energy required to
plant, grow, harvest, transport and cook
your lunch, and you can start to
understand that energy is a key to life!
NATURAL, BUT NOT FOREVER
Fuels like natural gas, oil and coal are important natural resources. They are
known as fossil fuels and take millions of years to form. Weve used them for
hundreds of years, and theyve powered everything from planes and trains to cars
and computers. Unfortunately, fossil fuels are nonrenewable forms of energy.
Our power plants burn them faster than nature makes them, and when they are
burned, power plants create emissions harmful to the environment.
To use fossil fuels, we first need to get them out of the earth with technologies
like oil rigs, coal mines and natural gas wells. The drilling, mining and pumping of
these natural resources often requires very large operations. These procedures
result in producing the important energy we need, but they need fossil fuels
themselves to operate and can often negatively impact the land where these fuels
are found.
POWERING THE FUTURE
Fortunately, there are forms of renewable energy out there. They also come from
nature and dont harm the environment as much as fossil fuels. Furthermore, they
arent consumed to produce energy, so we can use them again and again. One form
of renewable energy is solar energy. Solar energy uses solar panels, which collect
sunlight and convert it directly into electricity.

19
4

Another form of renewable energy is wind energy. Like an extremely large

pinwheel, wind turbines have blades that rotate when the wind blows, and this
movement generates electricity. Some solar and wind energy power plants are
connected to batteries so they can supply electricity even when the sun isnt shining
or the wind isnt blowing.
One form of renewable energy that has been around for a very long time is
hydropower. Hydropower is energy produced by falling and running water.
Hydropower technologies can be as simple as a watermill on a stream or as complex
as a hydroelectricity dam. Hydropower is a great source of renewable energy.
THE RIGHT PLAN
Using renewable energy is a good way to reduce our dependence on fossil
fuels, though
renewable energies have some negative impacts on the earth as well. Solar power
plants are usually built in deserts where sunshine is reliable and strong, but the
desert land that is disrupted for the construction and operation of these power
plants is actually rich with plant and animal life.
Wind energy power plants are called wind farms and require a lot of land.
Though each turbine only takes up a small area of land, wind farms can easily have
hundreds or thousands of turbines.
With that many turbines together, their
presence can easily affect birds, bats and other wildlife in the area.
Hydropower plants can generate a lot of energy and electricity, but their existence
can dramatically alter the environment around them.
Many hydropower plants
use dams to create the electricity.
Fish can be easily blocked by a dam and
prevented from swimming to important spawning grounds. Dams can also fail and
cause massive flooding. Also, in the event of a drought, the electricity produced
could truly be limited to a trickle!
However, by carefully planning the locations of renewable energy power plants,
their harmful impact to the planet can be minimized and their renewable and
sustainable benefits maximized.
LOOKING FORWARD
Almost everything we do requires some sort of energy.
Its important to
understand where our energy comes from, how it is produced and what
effect each type has on our environment. As technology improves, we can
balance the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels with renewable energy for a healthier
planet.

20

Name:

Date:

1. What do people use energy for?

A
B
C
D

People use energy to cause massive floods.

People use energy to create more oil and coal.
People use energy to play, study, and live.
People use energy to minimize sustainable benefits from the sun.

2. What does the passage compare and contrast with fossil fuels?
A The passage compares and contrasts playing, studying, and eating with fossil
fuels.
B The passage compares and contrasts coal mines and natural gas wells
with fossil fuels.
C The passage compares and contrasts Washington State with fossil fuels.
D The passage compares and contrasts forms of renewable energy with fossil
fuels.
3. Humans use energy from several different sources. What evidence from the
passage supports this statement?
A People use energy to play, study, eat, make basketballs, and generate
electricity.
B People use energy from natural gas, oil, coal, the sun, wind, and water.
C Wind turbines can affect birds, bats, and other wildlife around them.
D When a dam that produces hydropower fails, it can cause massive flooding.
4. What is true of all types of energy discussed in the passage?
A
B
C
D

They are all non-renewable.

They are all renewable.
They all have some negative impacts on the earth.
None of them has any negative impacts on the earth.

5. What is this passage mainly about?

A
B
C
D

the importance of energy and where energy comes from

watermills, dams, and other forms of hydropower
planting, growing, harvesting, transporting, and cooking food
the different ways children play and study

21

6. Read the following sentences: Fortunately, there are forms of renewable energy
out there. They also come from nature and dont harm the environment as much as
fossil fuels. Furthermore, they arent consumed to produce energy, so we can use
them again and again.
What does the word renewable mean?
A
B
C
D

harmful to the environment

able to be used more than once
produced by falling and running water
made in the United States of America

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Wind is a form of renewable energy;

, oil is not renewable.

A for example
B
particularly
C soon
D on the other hand
8. Where does hydropower come from? What effects does hydropower have on the
environment?

10. The passage states that it is important to understand where our energy
comes from, how it is produced and what effect each type has on our
environment. Explain why understanding these things are important, using
evidence from the passage.

22

Inventions and inventors:Thomas Edison

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