What are the 2022-23 content updates?

Last updated August 14, 2023

We’re wrapping up the 2022-23 content updates. Here’s a rundown of what changed and what’s left.

2nd grade

New Lessons

• Plant Adventures Lesson 2: Why do seeds have so many different shapes?

Revised Lessons

• Plant Adventures - Lesson 1: How did a tree travel halfway around the world?

Retired Lessons

These Plant Adventures lessons are no longer part of the unit but are still accessible through these direct links. 

• Lesson 2: Why do trees grow so tall?
• Lesson 4: Should you water a cactus?
• Lesson 5: Where do plants grow best?

Coming soon

One new lesson is still in the works for our Plant Adventures unit! This will be added in August 2023.

• Lesson 4: Title TBD; Focus: Plant Habitats

3rd grade

New lessons

• Invisible Forces - Lesson 3: How high can you swing on a flying trapeze?

Retired lessons

• Invisible Forces - Lesson 3: How can you go faster down a slide?

Revised lessons

• Animals Through Time - Lesson 2: How do we know what dinosaurs looked like?

New Unit – Fates of Traits

The following lessons have been moved from Animals Through Time to the new Fates of Traits unit:

• Lesson 4: What kinds of animals might there be in the future?
• Lesson 5: Can selection happen without people?
• Lesson 6: Why do dogs wag their tails?
• Lesson 7: How long can people (and animals) survive in outer space? 

Retired Unit – Power of Flowers

The following Power of Flowers lessons have been moved to Circle of Life and Fates of Traits:

• Lesson 1: Why do plants grow flowers? (moved to Circle of Life)
• Lesson 2: Why do plants give us fruit? (moved to Circle of Life)
• Lesson 3: Why are some apples red and some green? (moved to Fates of Traits Lesson 1 Extensions)
• Lesson 4: How could you make the biggest fruit in the world? (moved to Fates of Traits)

4th Grade

New lessons

• Waves of Sound - Lesson 1: How do you send a secret code?
• Energizing Everything - Lesson 3: How can marbles save the world?

Retired Lesson

• Energizing Everything - Lesson 3: Why is the first hill of a roller coaster always the highest?

5th Grade

New lessons

• Web of Life - Lesson 6: How can we protect Earth’s environments?
• Spaceship Earth - Lesson 6: How can the Sun help us explore other planets? 

Retired lesson

• Spaceship Earth - Lesson 6: What are the wandering stars?

Find full details about the changes in the 2022-23 New Content Guide.