In Science we cover 4 different units. Students will have a new book for each quarter of the school year. The units are…
1st quarter – Earth’s Changing Surface
2nd quarter – Electricity and Magnetism
3rd quarter – Human Body Systems
4th quarter – Weather and Climate
Science Routines and Expectations:
Science activities include reading, note taking, and learning vocabulary. Homework assignments include studying for tests, finishing notes and vocabulary pages if they did not get them done in class, and, occasionally, bringing materials from home that we may need for a class activity.
If you would like to access the science books on line you may do so by following these steps:
– click login under returning user
username: scottscience2015
password: science2015
We have many hands-on labs and activities. Students are expected to actively participate. Students are given several quizzes throughout each quarter. The quizzes are typically open book – open note. They have only one test at the end of each unit. The test is only over the unit we have studied during that quarter.
You will find a link to my QUIA website on my “Home” page. If you follow the link you will find quizzes and games to help you study for the Science quizzes and tests throughout the quarter. Happy studying!
QUARTER 1: Earth’s Changing Surface
Notes:
| Topics/Concepts & Skills | Text Chapter/Section |
| Composition of Earth’s Surface | |
| Compare/contrast main landforms based on elevation and relief | 1.1 |
| Weathering and Soil Formation | |
| Explain the agents of mechanical and chemical weathering and analyze the factors that affect the rate of weathering | 2.1 |
| Recognize that Earth processes we see today are similar to those that occurred in the past (uniformity of processes) | |
| Describe the composition of soil, explain how soil is formed, and recognize the soil horizons | 2.2 |
| Identify ways soil is lost or destroyed, and explain how and why soil is conserved | 2.3 |
| Erosion and Deposition | |
| Differentiate between erosion and deposition | 3.1 |
| Explain how water, gravity, and wind erosion impact land features | 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6 |
| Explain how sediment is formed and how sediment impacts land features | 3.1 |
| Describe the causes and types of glaciers, how they impact land features, and analyze their role in Earth’s history | 3.4 |
| Compare and contrast constructive and destructive forces | 3.1-3.6 |
QUARTER 2: Magnetism and Electricity
Notes:
| Topics/Concepts & Skills | Text Chapter/Section |
| Magnetism | |
| Define the properties of magnetism and investigate the interactions of like and unlike poles | 1.1 |
| Explain how the alignment and misalignment of magnetic domains affects magnetism | 1.2 |
| Understand the Earth’s magnetic field and compare magnetic and geographic poles | 1.3 |
| Electricity | |
| Understand the properties of electric charge | 2.1 |
| Review circuit, insulators, conductors, and resistance | 2.2 |
| Compare forms of electrical energy (static, electric current, induction, lightning) | 2.1 |
| Explain how electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy and vice versa | 3.2 |
| Understand electrical safety procedures | 2.6 |
| Interaction Between Magnetism and Electricity | |
| Investigate how a magnet can be used to produce electricity | 3.3 |
| Understand how an electric current can produce a magnetic field | 3.3 |
| Investigate the properties of an electromagnet | 3.1 |
QUARTER 3: Human Body Systems
| Topics/Concepts & Skills | Text Chapter/Section |
| System Organization | |
| Order the levels of organization in the body | 1.1 |
| Describe the basic components of a body system and explain how they work together to function as a system (homeostasis) | 1.1 |
| Movement and Support | |
| Describe the role of the skeleton and muscles | 1.2, 1.4 |
| Describe the structure and function of bone | 1.2 |
| Explain the function of muscles and tendons | 1.4 |
| Analyze how the skeletal and muscular systems work together to coordinate body movement | 1.2, 1.4 |
| Identify the three types of muscle tissue and describe their function | 1.4 |
| Digestion and Excretion | |
| Describe the role of the digestive and excretory systems | 2.3, 2.4, 4.3 |
| Identify the major organs in the digestive system; explain their functions | 2.3, 2.4 |
| Identify the major organs in the excretory system; explain their functions | 4.3 |
| Analyze how the digestive and excretory systems work together | 2.3, 2.4, 4.3 |
| Coordinated Responses | |
| Describe the role of the nervous system | 6.1 |
| Explain the functions of the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and spinal cord; explain the potential impact of spinal injuries | 6.2 |
| Explain the function of reflexes | 6.2 |
| Analyze how the parts of the nervous system work together to coordinate body responses | 6.2 |
QUARTER 4: Weather and Climate
| Topics/Concepts & Skills | Text Chapter/Section |
| Atmosphere | |
| Identify the major gases the make up the atmosphere | 1.1 |
| Describe the characteristics of atmospheric layers | 1.3 |
| Investigate the properties of air | 1.2 |
| Describe the factors that influence wind, distinguish between local and global winds, and locate the major wind belts | 2.3 |
| Weather | |
| Identify and explain the factors that influence weather (temperature, precipitation, pressure, humidity, global and local winds, clouds, and humans, tilt of the Earth) | 1.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 |
| Describe fronts and storms, and storm safety measures | 3.1, 3.2 |
| Describe the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) | |
| Climate | |
| Identify factors used to identify climates, and differentiate between climate regions | 4.1, 4.2 |
| Identify natural factors that can cause climatic change | 4.3 |
| Analyze evidence of climate change over time (Fossil Records) | 4.3 |
| Investigate current issues concerning climate change | 4.4 |