School Year at a Glance:
Unit One - Earth & Space:
This will be the second topic we discuss. This is also another fun unit because the students will do a lot of hands on activities to model our solar system. Lesson Objectives:
Unit Two: Force, Motion & Energy
Unit 3: Properties of Matter
Unit 4:Earth Systems
Earth Layers, Minerals, & Rock Cycle:
Unit 5- Using Earth's Resources
Thermal Energy & Transformations:
Unit 6: Living Systems:
Organisms and environments. The student knows all organisms are classified into Domains and Kingdoms. Organisms within these taxonomic groups share similar characteristics which allow them to interact with the living and nonliving parts of their ecosystem. The student is expected to:
Unit One - Earth & Space:
This will be the second topic we discuss. This is also another fun unit because the students will do a lot of hands on activities to model our solar system. Lesson Objectives:
- Earth and space. The focus of this strand is on introducing Earth's processes. Students should develop an understanding of Earth as part of our solar system. The topics include organization of our solar system, the role of gravity, and space exploration.
- Earth and space. The student understands the organization of our solar system and the relationships among the various bodies that comprise it. The student is expected to:
- Describe the physical properties, locations, and movements of the Sun, planets, Galilean moons, meteors, asteroids, and comets.
- Understand that gravity is the force that governs the motion of our solar system.
- Describe the history and future of space exploration, including the types of equipment and transportation needed for space travel.
- Earth and space. The student understands the organization of our solar system and the relationships among the various bodies that comprise it. The student is expected to:
Unit Two: Force, Motion & Energy
- The student knows force and motion are related to potential and kinetic energy. The student is expected to:
- Compare & Contrast Potential and Kinetic Energy
- Identify & Describe the changes in position, direction, and speed of an object when acted upon by unbalanced forces.
- Calculate average speed using distance and time measurement
- Measure & Graph Changes in Motion
- Investigate how inclined planes and pulleys can be used to change the amount of force to move an object.
Unit 3: Properties of Matter
- Matter and energy. The student knows the differences between elements and compounds. The student is expected to:
- Know that an element is a pure substance represented by chemical symbols
- Recognize that a limited number of the many known elements comprise the largest portion of solid Earth, living matter, oceans, and the atmosphere
- Differentiate between elements and compounds on the most basic level
- Identify the formation of a new substance by using the evidence of a possible chemical change such as production of a gas, change in temperature, production of a precipitate, or color change.
- Matter and energy. The student knows matter has physical properties that can be used for classification. The student is expected to:
- Compare metals, nonmetals, and metalloids using physical properties such as luster, conductivity, or malleability
- Calculate density to identify an unknown substance
Unit 4:Earth Systems
Earth Layers, Minerals, & Rock Cycle:
- Matter and energy. The student knows matter has physical properties that can be used for classification. The student is expected to:
- Test the physical properties of minerals, including hardness, color, luster, and streak.
- Earth and space. The student understands the structure of Earth, the rock cycle, and plate tectonics. The student is expected to:
- Build a model to illustrate the structural layers of Earth, including the inner core, outer core, mantle, crust, asthenosphere, and lithosphere
- Classify rocks as metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary by the processes of their formation
- Test the physical properties of minerals, including hardness, color, luster, and streak.
- Earth and space. The student understands the structure of Earth, the rock cycle, and plate tectonics. The student is expected to:
- Identify the major tectonic plates, including Eurasian, African, Indo-Australian, Pacific, North American, and South American;
- Describe how plate tectonics causes major geological events such as ocean basins, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building.
Unit 5- Using Earth's Resources
Thermal Energy & Transformations:
- Force, motion, and energy. The student knows that the Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it just changes form. The student is expected to:
- Investigate methods of thermal energy transfer, including conduction, convection, and radiation
- Verify through investigations that thermal energy moves in a predictable pattern from warmer to cooler until all the substances attain the same temperature such as an ice cube melting
- Demonstrate energy transformations such as energy in a flashlight battery changes from chemical energy to electrical energy to light energy.
- Matter and energy. The student knows that some of Earth's energy resources are available on a nearly perpetual basis, while others can be renewed over a relatively short period of time. Some energy resources, once depleted, are essentially nonrenewable. The student is expected to:
- Research and debate the advantages and disadvantages of using coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and solar resources
- Design a logical plan to manage energy resources in the home, school, or community.
Unit 6: Living Systems:
Organisms and environments. The student knows all organisms are classified into Domains and Kingdoms. Organisms within these taxonomic groups share similar characteristics which allow them to interact with the living and nonliving parts of their ecosystem. The student is expected to:
- Understand that all organisms are composed of one or more cells
- Recognize that the presence of a nucleus determines whether a cell is prokaryotic or eukaryotic
- Recognize that the broadest taxonomic classification of living organisms is divided into currently recognized Domains
- Identify the basic characteristics of organisms, including prokaryotic or eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic, and mode of reproduction, that further classify them in the currently recognized Kingdoms
- Describe biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem in which organisms interact
- Diagram the levels of organization within an ecosystem, including organism, population, community, and ecosystem.