Enduring Understandings - important ideas that students should carry with them years beyond the instruction received this year.

• Scientists investigate the world around them and communicate to others through the scientific process.
• The scientific process is the basis of an integrated approach to understanding our world. (topic/problem, testable question, hypothesis, procedure)
• Scientists use a plan to carry out an investigation (variables, control, data, observations, investigations).
• Scientists select, appropriate tools to collect, organize, and record data using the metric system in tables, charts, and graphs.
• Scientists analyze data for reliability and validity to form a conclusion
• Scientists analyze data to infer past and predict future events.
• Scientists ask questions based on their investigations and these questions can lead to new investigations.
• Scientists communicate the results of their investigations in many formats and appropriate ways.
• Energy moves in predictable patterns
• Electricity involves the movement of electrons; magnetism involves the arrangement of electrons.
• The atmosphere consists of several different layers.
• Although weather changes daily, trends can be observed and predicted.
• The Sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the Earth's surface; it powers winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle.
• Fronts and air pressure systems are measured and used to predict weather patterns.
• The world population uses both renewable and nonrenewable resources.
• The world is affected by the interrelationship of science and technology.
• New technology continually impacts human activity.
• Experiments must be controlled and have reproducible results.
• Scientists identify, determine, compare, and control variables.
• Scientists must be objective and bias free when examining their work.
• Scientists communicate their results using various methods.
• Scientists use models to predict change.
• Safety is a primary concern with all laboratory techniques.

Essential Questions - most important “big picture” questions students should be able to answer after completing learning activities.

• What is a testable question that leads to a proposed hypothesis? How is a testable question developed?

• How do scientists design a plan for investigating a testable questions? How is an investigation organized?

• How do scientists develop and perform a scientific investigation? What are the independent/manipulated and dependent/responding variables? What is the standard of control?

• What are the appropriate tools, technologies, and measurement systems used by scientists?

• How do scientists interpret and evaluate data?

• How do scientists infer/predict past and future events?

• What new questions have arisen based on unexpected results of the investigation?

• How is scientific information effectively communicated to specific audiences?

• What are the predictable patterns of wave energy?

• What are the properties of magnetic materials? What are the parts of a circuit? What is the relationship between electricity and magnetism?

• What takes place in the various layers of the atmosphere?

• What instruments and symbols are used in reading and predicting weather?

• What drives weather?

• What instruments and symbols are used in recording and predicting weather?

• What are the differences between and uses of renewable and nonrenewable resources?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using technology to solve problems?

• How has technology influenced the way people work? What are advantages/disadvantages created by new technology?

• How do people use science and technology in their professional lives?

• How do controlled/uncontrolled variables affect the outcomes of experiments?

• How do you identify, compare, and control variables in an investigation?

• How does bias, opinion, and evidence affect the way science is communicated in various media?

• What are some different sources and methods a scientist uses to collect and record data?

• How can models help us predict future outcomes

• What are safe laboratory practices?

Standards

Highest Frequency Standards

High Frequency Standards
Other Standards & E-skills

Standard 1: Students understand the processes of scientific investigations and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigation.

Standard 2: Physical Science: Students know and understand common properties, forms, and changes in matter and energy. Students know that matter has characteristic properties which are related to its composition and structure. Students understand that energy appears in different forms and can move (be transferred) and change (be transformed). Students understand that interactions can produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of matter and energy remain unchanged.

Standard 4: Earth and Space Science: Students know and understand the processes and interactions of Earth's systems and the structure and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space. Students know and understand the composition of the Earth, its history, and the natural processes that shape it. Students know and understand the general characteristics of the atmosphere and fundamental processes of weather. Students know major sources of water, its uses, importance, and cyclic patterns of movement through the environment. Students know the structure of the solar system, composition and interactions of objects in the universe and how space is explored.

Standard 5: Students know and understand interrelationships among science, technology, and human activity and how they affect the world.

Standard 6: Students understand that science involves a particular way of knowing and they understand common connections among scientific disciplines.

• Science Unit 1 Science Unit 1
• Science Unit 2 Science Unit 2
• Science Unit 1 Science Unit 3