Science

Engineering, Technology & Application of Science

Introduction to Engineering & Science Learning Targets

• Students can define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem in a way to ensure a successful solution

• Students can go through the iterative design process to ensure a successful solution to a design problem

• Students can explain the importance of precisely defining engineering problems before developing solutions

Engineering, Technology & Application of Science

Introduction to Engineering & Science Learning Targets

• Students can define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem in a way to ensure a successful solution

• Students can go through the iterative design process to ensure a successful solution to a design problem

• Students can explain the importance of precisely defining engineering problems before developing solutions

 

Earth & Space Science

Circulation of Earth's Air & Water Learning Targets

• Students will design a model that describes oceanic and atmospheric circulation and use it to explain the factors that influence each type of circulation

• Students will use models to explain the processes by which energy and matter flow through the Earth’s systems

• Students will learn ways in which sunlight and gravity drive water movement and how the transfer of energy moves matter through a system

Earth & Space Science

Circulation of Earth's Air & Water Learning Targets

• Students will design a model that describes oceanic and atmospheric circulation and use it to explain the factors that influence each type of circulation

• Students will use models to explain the processes by which energy and matter flow through the Earth’s systems

• Students will learn ways in which sunlight and gravity drive water movement and how the transfer of energy moves matter through a system

The Dynamic Earth Learning Targets

• Students explain how rock formations and other matter on Earth’s surface have changed over time through chemical and physical processes

• Students model the effects of erosion and deposition by water and wind

Earth's Natural Hazards Learning Targets

• Students analyze and interpret data in charts, maps, and graphs to explore natural hazards. I can identify patterns in the data to determine the history of hazards in a particular location and describe when and where natural hazards are likely to occur

• Students design solution to a problem through the development of a model and include multiple criteria and constraints. I will use charts and images to identify patterns in data about natural hazards and ways to reduce their effects

Patterns in the Solar System Learning Targets

• Students develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons

Physical Science

The Structure of Matter Learning Targets

• Students describe matter and explore how to use the properties of matter to explain the behavior of substances

• Students describe how physical and chemical properties can be used to identify elements, calculate density in order to identify specific elements, model the scale of an atom, and explore how the periodic table organizes elements by their properties

• Students develop models to describe molecules and analyze the arrangements of extended structures

Energy Learning Targets

• Students construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object

• Students develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system

Forces and Motion Learning Targets

• Students apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects

• Students plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object

• Students construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects

Physical Science

Forces and Motion Learning Targets

• Students apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects

• Students plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object

• Students construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects

 

Life Science

Cells Learning Targets

• Students conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells
• Students develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

Matter and Energy in Living Systems Learning Targets

• Students construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms
• Students develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism
• Students develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem

The History of Life on Earth Learning Targets

• Students explore the conditions necessary for fossilization and analyze how the relative and absolute ages of rock layers are used to determine the ages of fossils in the context of the geologic timescale
• Students explore evidence of the earliest life forms and evidence for change in life forms over time
• Students identify patterns of similarities in the anatomy and embryological development across species and analyze these patterns to infer evolutionary relationships among modern and extinct species

Life Science

Cells Learning Targets

• Students conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells
• Students develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

Matter and Energy in Living Systems Learning Targets

• Students construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms
• Students develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism
• Students develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem

The History of Life on Earth Learning Targets

• Students explore the conditions necessary for fossilization and analyze how the relative and absolute ages of rock layers are used to determine the ages of fossils in the context of the geologic timescale
• Students explore evidence of the earliest life forms and evidence for change in life forms over time
• Students identify patterns of similarities in the anatomy and embryological development across species and analyze these patterns to infer evolutionary relationships among modern and extinct species

Engineering, Technology & Application of Science

The Practices of Engineering Learning Targets

• Students can define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem in a way to ensure a successful solution

• Students can go through the iterative design process to ensure a successful solution to a design problem

• Students can explain the importance of precisely defining engineering problems before developing solutions

Engineering, Technology & Application of Science

The Practices of Engineering Learning Targets

• Students can define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem in a way to ensure a successful solution

• Students can go through the iterative design process to ensure a successful solution to a design problem

• Students can explain the importance of precisely defining engineering problems before developing solutions

 

Earth & Space Science

Weather & Climate Learning Targets

• Students will be able to collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions

• Students will also be able to develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates

Earth Through Time Learning Targets

• Students determine the ages of Earth’s rocks and fossils using relative and absolute dating methods and analyze evidence used to organize Earth’s long history 
• Students gather and use evidence about geologic processes, rocks, and fossils to construct explanations for how Earth’s history is organized into the geologic time scale

Earth & Space Science

Weather & Climate Learning Targets

• Students will be able to collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions

• Students will also be able to develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates

Earth Through Time Learning Targets

• Students determine the ages of Earth’s rocks and fossils using relative and absolute dating methods and analyze evidence used to organize Earth’s long history 
• Students gather and use evidence about geologic processes, rocks, and fossils to construct explanations for how Earth’s history is organized into the geologic time scale

Resources in Earthy Systems Learning Targets

• Students investigate the uses of natural resources and explore the difference between nonrenewable and renewable resources
• Students construct a scientific explanation about how the natural world operates and they use cause and effect relationships to predict phenomena

The Solar System & Universe Learning Targets

• Students develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system
• Students analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system

Physical Science

States of Matter & Change of State Learning Targets

• Students recognize that matter is composed of atoms and molecules, and that an understanding of the properties of atoms can be used to explain the properties of substances and diversity of materials we engage with on a daily basis

• Students understand how reacting substances rearrange to form new substances, and that through the process matter is conserved. Recognize that some reactions release energy and others absorb energy

Energy Transfer Learning Targets

• Students explain how motion is described and how the mass and force influence motion, as part of this analyze interactions and energy transfer between two objects in motion

Electric and Magnetic Forces Learning Targets

• Students understand that forces, like gravity,  that act a distance can be explained by force fields that extend through space and that their impact on objects can be analyzed
• Students recognize that kinetic energy, the energy of motion, can be distinguished from the various forms of potential (stored) energy, and explain how changes in energy forms can be tracked through physical or chemical interactions
• Students explore the relationship between the temperature and the total energy of a system
• Students explore the properties of waves, and understand how waves transmit energy, and gather information about technology that transmit information as wave pulses.  This model can explain many phenomena which include light and sound

Physical Science

Energy Transfer Learning Targets

• Students explain how motion is described and how the mass and force influence motion, as part of this analyze interactions and energy transfer between two objects in motion

Electric and Magnetic Forces Learning Targets

• Students understand that forces, like gravity,  that act a distance can be explained by force fields that extend through space and that their impact on objects can be analyzed
• Students recognize that kinetic energy, the energy of motion, can be distinguished from the various forms of potential (stored) energy, and explain how changes in energy forms can be tracked through physical or chemical interactions
• Students explore the relationship between the temperature and the total energy of a system
• Students explore the properties of waves, and understand how waves transmit energy, and gather information about technology that transmit information as wave pulses.  This model can explain many phenomena which include light and sound

 

Life Science

Organisms as Systems Learning Targets

• Students recognize that all living things are made of cells,  and that sustaining life requires substantial energy and matter inputs

• Students describe how sense receptors respond to different stimuli, and how they transmit signals to the brain

• Students understand that organisms reproduce and transfer their genetic information to their offspring, and that there are processes by which characteristics or traits are passed from one generation to another

Life Science

Organisms as Systems Learning Targets

• Students recognize that all living things are made of cells,  and that sustaining life requires substantial energy and matter inputs

• Students describe how sense receptors respond to different stimuli, and how they transmit signals to the brain

• Students understand that organisms reproduce and transfer their genetic information to their offspring, and that there are processes by which characteristics or traits are passed from one generation to another

Relationships in Ecosystems Learning Targets

• Students recognize that ecosystems are dynamic in nature, and are sustained by a continuous flow of energy that originates primarily from the sun

• Students analyze how organisms and populations of plants and animals in ecosystems are dependent on environmental interactions with living and nonliving things, and that variations in populations of organisms is beneficial for their survival and reproduction in an environment

Evolution Learning Targets

• Students describe how fossils and fossil records can be used to understand the changes that have occurred over time

Engineering, Technology & Application of Science

The Engineering Design Process Learning Targets

• Students can define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem in a way to ensure a successful solution

• Students can go through the iterative design process to ensure a successful solution to a design problem

• Students can explain the importance of precisely defining engineering problems before developing solutions

Engineering, Technology & Application of Science

The Engineering Design Process Learning Targets

• Students can define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem in a way to ensure a successful solution

• Students can go through the iterative design process to ensure a successful solution to a design problem

• Students can explain the importance of precisely defining engineering problems before developing solutions

 

Earth & Space Science

Using Resources Learning Targets

• Students understand that we can use models of our solar system to predict predict eclipses, lunar phases, and seasons

• Students analyze how gravity plays a role in how objects in our solar system interact with each other

• Students examine how we can use rock strata and the fossil record to organize the relative order of  historical events in Earth’s history

• Students recognize that plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains movements of rocks at Earth’s surface and geological history

• Students understand energy flows and matter cycles within and among Earth’s systems, including the sun and Earth’s interior as primary energy sources

• Students study the water cycle, and how changes in the properties of water and movement of water impact Earth’s systems

• Students describe the complex interactions that determine local weather patterns and influence climate, including the role of the ocean

Earth & Space Science

Using Resources Learning Targets

• Students understand that we can use models of our solar system to predict predict eclipses, lunar phases, and seasons

• Students analyze how gravity plays a role in how objects in our solar system interact with each other

• Students examine how we can use rock strata and the fossil record to organize the relative order of  historical events in Earth’s history

• Students recognize that plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains movements of rocks at Earth’s surface and geological history

• Students understand energy flows and matter cycles within and among Earth’s systems, including the sun and Earth’s interior as primary energy sources

• Students study the water cycle, and how changes in the properties of water and movement of water impact Earth’s systems

• Students describe the complex interactions that determine local weather patterns and influence climate, including the role of the ocean

Human Impacts on Earth Systems Learning Targets

• Students describe how humans depend on the Earth for different resources, and analyze how human activities have impacted Earth’s biosphere and climate

• Students map the history of natural hazards in a region and understand related geological forces

• Students evaluate ways to reduce the impact of global warming

Earth & Space Science

Human Impacts on Earth Systems Learning Targets

• Students describe how humans depend on the Earth for different resources, and analyze how human activities have impacted Earth’s biosphere and climate

• Students map the history of natural hazards in a region and understand related geological forces

• Students evaluate ways to reduce the impact of global warming

 

Physical Science

Chemical Processes & Equations/The Chemistry of Materials Learning Targets

• Students recognize that matter is composed of atoms and molecules, and that an understanding of the properties of atoms can be used to explain the properties of substances and diversity of materials we engage with on a daily basis 

• Students understand how reacting substances rearrange to form new substances, and that through the process matter is conserved

• Students recognize that some reactions release energy and others absorb energy

Physical Science

Chemical Processes & Equations/The Chemistry of Materials Learning Targets

• Students recognize that matter is composed of atoms and molecules, and that an understanding of the properties of atoms can be used to explain the properties of substances and diversity of materials we engage with on a daily basis 

• Students understand how reacting substances rearrange to form new substances, and that through the process matter is conserved

• Students recognize that some reactions release energy and others absorb energy

Waves/Information Transfer Learning Targets

•  Students explain how motion is described and how the mass and force influence motion, as part of this analyze interactions and energy transfer between two objects in motion

• Students understand that forces, like gravity, that act as distance can be explained by force fields that extend through space and that their impact on objects can be analyzed

• Students recognize that kinetic energy, the energy of motion, can be distinguished from the various forms of potential (stored) energy

• Students explain how changes in energy forms can be tracked through physical or chemical interactions

• Students explore the relationship between the temperature and the total energy of a system 

• Students explore the properties of waves, and understand how waves transmit energy, and gather information about technology that transmit information as wave pulses.  This model can explain many phenomena which include light and sound

Life Science

Reproduction, Heredity and Growth Learning Targets

• Students recognize that all living things are made of cells, and that sustaining life requires substantial energy and matter inputs

• Students describe how sense receptors respond to different stimuli, and how they transmit signals to the brain

• Students understand that organisms reproduce and transfer their genetic information to their offspring, and that there are processes by which characteristics or traits are passed from one generation to another

Ecosystem Dynamics and Human Influence on Inheritance Learning Targets

• Students recognize that ecosystems are dynamic in nature, and are sustained by a continuous flow of energy that originates primarily from the sun

• Students analyze how organisms and populations of plants and animals in ecosystems are dependent on environmental interactions with living and nonliving things, and that variations in populations of organisms is beneficial for their survival and reproduction in an environment

• Students describe how fossils and fossil records can be used to understand the changes that have occurred over time

Spiral Review also Occurs throughout March/April

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