Unit

Timeframe

Driving Questions

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

Astronomy

September - October

What factors cause  the seasons?

How does gravity influence Earth’s tides and the orbiting of planets and moons?

Seasons lab: use mini-globes and a flashlight to model and explain the changing seasons

Tides project: Graph seasonal tide data to illustrate tidal fluctuations.

Weather/ Climate

October-November

How can students use local weather data to see patterns in air mass interactions and relate these patterns to their local weather?

What is the role of oceans and ocean currents in determining global and regional weather and climate?

Local Weather Observation Activity; observe and explain local weather patterns

Weather Report project - create a video explaining weather phenomena and using key vocabulary

Climate Debate: use evidence to support claims about climate change

Geology

November-December

How do plate tectonics change the Earth’s surface and cycle Earth’s materials and what role does convection play?

Why are minerals and fossil fuels unevenly distributed on the earth’s surface?

Rock Formation lab: model and explain how temperature affects rock formation with crystallization 

Evolution/ Climate Change

December-January 

How do environmental and inherited traits ensure/influence the survival of a species(natural and artificial selection)? 

How have human activities contributed to a fast increase in global temperatures and how does this impact the survival of species?

Bird Beak lab: model natural selection 

Climate Action project: research and explain mitigation efforts that can reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere

Heredity

January-February 

How do inherited traits and adaptations ensure/influence the survival of a species(natural and artificial selection)?  

How do environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms?

What is the relationship between DNA, genes and proteins?

Are mutations harmful, helpful or neither?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both sexual and asexual reproduction?

Reebop activity: use Punnett squares to model both sexual and asexual reproduction in Reebops.

Chemistry

February- March

How do atoms combine in multiple ways to make molecules and compounds that make up all living and nonliving things in the universe?

How can we determine if a chemical reaction has occurred?

How does thermal energy change particle motion?

How is the Law of Conservation of Mass illustrated in chemical reactions?

Chemical Change Labs: investigate chemical changes with liver and hydrogen peroxide

Conservation of Mass: explain glow sticks demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Mass

Physics

March- April 

What results when two objects collide?

What is the difference between Velocity, Speed and Acceleration?

How does the mass and the net force on an object affect its speed?

Boat Speed

Mass vs Weight Comparison Lab

Tablecloth Trick: explain net forces involved in pulling a cloth out from a set table

Net Forces lab; use wooden blocks and spring scales to calculate net forces

MCAS PREP

May

Greenhouse Project 

May-June

How do environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms?

Greenhouse Project: design and write code to monitor variables in a smart greenhouse (temperature, humidity, soil moisture)