Science Speakers - Curriculum
This program helps children connect their science curriculum to interests and careers and stimulates their curiosity. As a guest speaker you will awaken children to the wide variety of jobs that people do and help them understand the necessity of a good education to getting the jobs. By illustrating how basic science concepts are used in your work, you’ll show how science is fundamental to daily life.
Here you can look at brief descriptions of curriculum topics and how you can use them as a starting point for your presentation. Fill out the volunteer application here.
| Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 |
| Solids and Liquids | Air and Weather | Measurement | Earth Materials | Levers and Pulleys |
| Magnetism and Electricity | Models and Designs |
Return to the Science Speakers main page to see how your career fits into each curriculum.
Grade 1: Solids and Liquids (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: First graders (age 6) study solids and liquids. They learn to recognize differences between solids and liquids through their characteristics. The science content includes the following points:
- Liquids pour and flow.
- Solid materials come in all sizes and shapes.
- Pieces of solid materials (like gravel or beans) can pour like liquids, but maintain their shape.
- Some solids (like road salt) dissolve in water.
- A solid has a stable, definite shape, and a definite volume.
- Solids can only change their shape by force, as when broken or cut.
- A liquid maintains a fixed volume but adopts the shape of its container.
- The shape of a liquid is not definite, but is determined by its container.
- The volume is definite if the temperature and pressure are constant.
What you could say:
- Describe your job or hobby and explain the role solids and liquids play in it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or interest.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Fill out the volunteer application here.
Grade 2: Air and Weather (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: Second graders (age 7) study air and weather. They learn to observe and record changes in the weather over time. The science content includes the following points:
- Air is matter. Air takes up space. It is all around objects and it interacts with objects.
- Air can be compressed. The pressure from compressed air can move things.
- Temperature, precipitation, cloud types, and wind are components of the weather that can be described.
- A meteorologist uses instruments to monitor air and weather conditions.
- The Sun heats the Earth during the day.
- Each season has a typical weather pattern that can be observed, compared, and predicted.
- The Sun and Moon appear to move slowly across the sky. The bright appearance of the Moon changes shape in a pattern that can be observed, compared, and predicted.
What you could say:
- Describe your job or hobby and explain how air and weather play a role in it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or interest.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Fill out the volunteer application here.
Grade 3: Measurement (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: Third graders (age 8) study measurement. They learn to measure length, temperature, mass (weight), and volume (fluid measurement). The children are also learning the metric system but speakers do not need to use metric. The science content includes the following points:
- Length is how far it is from one point to another.
- Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.
- Volume is the three-dimensional space occupied by something.
- Capacity is the maximum amount (or volume) of fluid a container can hold.
- Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is measured by its weight.
- Standard units of measure allow people to make measurements that have definite meaning to others.
What you could say
- Describe your job or hobby and explain how measurement is a part of it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or hobby.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders:
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Fill out the volunteer application here.
Grade 4: Earth Materials (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: Fourth graders (age 9) study earth materials. They learn that earth materials provide many of the resources that humans use. The science content includes the following points:
- Rocks are earth materials and they have physical and chemical properties.
- Physical and chemical properties make earth materials useful in different ways, for example, as building materials.
- Rocks exhibit a variety of properties, including shape, size, color, and texture.
- Rocks can be separated into their components.
- Water, settling, and evaporation can separate rocks into their components.
- Crystals form from evaporation of a saltwater mixture.
- Rocks are composed of earth materials called minerals that cannot be physically broken apart any further.
What you could say:
- Describe your job or hobby and explain how earth materials play a role in it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or interest.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders:
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Fill out the volunteer application here.
Grade 4: Magnetism and Electricity (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: Fourth graders study magnets and electricity. The science content includes the following points:
- Magnets attract and repel each other and certain kinds of other materials;
- Electricity in circuits can produce light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects.
- Electric circuits require a complete loop through which an electric current can pass.
- Some materials permit the flow of electricity (conductors), and some don’t (insulators).
What you could say:
- Describe your job or hobby and explain how magnetism and/or electricity play a role in it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or interest.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders:
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Fill out the volunteer application here.
Grade 5: Levers and Pulleys (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: Fifth graders (age 10) study levers and pulleys. The science content includes the following points:
- A lever is a simple machine that people use to gain an advantage, such as making work easier.
- Effort is the force needed to move a load or overcome a resistance.
- Load is a mass lifted or a resistance overcome by a lever.
- A single-pulley system can be set up in two ways, fixed or movable.
- A two-pulley system can be made with one fixed and one movable pulley.
- Depending on the way the pulleys are arranged, a pulley system can provide a mechanical advantage for its user or changes the direction of the effort.
What you could say:
- Describe your job or hobby and explain how levers and/or pulleys play a role in it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or interest.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders:
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Grade 5: Models and Designs (Return to Top of Page)
What the children are learning: Fifth graders (age 10) study models and designs. They learn to design and construct conceptual and physical models. The science content includes the following points:
- Models are developed to explain how systems work.
- A model is a representation or explanation of a system or interaction that cannot be observed directly.
- The way something is put together is its design.
- Conceptual models can be communicated through words and drawings.
- Physical models are constructed to demonstrate how something works or how it is constructed.
- Problem solving involves designing, constructing, testing, evaluating, and redesigning based on evidence from testing.
What you could say:
- Describe your job or hobby and explain how models and design play a role in it.
- Please tell the children about the duties and responsibilities of your job or interest.
- Please also tell them some of the things that you enjoy about it.
- Explain to the children how the science they are learning is used in this job or hobby. As you explain and/or demonstrate, please remind the children of some of the science points above. You do not need to refer to all of them.
- Please tell the children what kind of education is needed to do the job and how you got interested in this job or hobby.
- Children love to see examples; it helps them remember and understand. Any items you can show them will impress and delight them.
Reminders:
- Plan your presentation to run about 20 minutes. Then give the children 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Please arrive at the school office at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to speak.
- Call Mary Goljenboom at United Way of Lake County with questions: 847 775 1058.
Fill out the volunteer application here.
