Physical Sciences
The curriculum for this year has two complementary facets -- the "book work" and the in-class activities. This process is taxing in that it is routine and not very exciting, but it is a fairly good way to learn to refine one's text reading and note-taking skills -- a complement to the other relatively non-traditional learning styles that are integral to DCS.
Physical Science Schedule (dates in parenthesis are from 2012-2013)
Unit 1: The Nature of Science August 23 - September 24 (21)
Overview and Divisions of Science
Scientific Methods (ppt, apple preservation)
Chapter 1 -- The World of Physical Science (exploring physical science / scientific methods / scientific models / tools, measurement, safety)
Unit 2: Motion and Forces September 25 - October 18 (18)
Chapter 5 -- Matter in Motion (measuring motion / what is a force? / friction / gravity)
Chapter 6 -- Forces and Motion (gravity and motion / Newton's laws of motion / momentum)
Chapter 7 -- Forces in Fluids (fluids and pressure / buoyant force / fluids and motion)
Unit 3: Introduction to Matter October 22 - November 16 (19) -- next year I should flip U3 and U4... better progression
Chapter 2 -- The Properties of Matter (what is matter / physical properties / chemical properties)
Chapter 3 -- States of Matter (three states of matter / behavior of gases / changes of state)
Chapter 4 -- Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (element / compound / mixture)
Unit 4: Work, Machines, and Energy November 19 - December 14 (17)
Chapter 8 -- Work and Machines (work and power / what is a machine / types of machines)
Chapter 9 -- Energy and Energy Resources (what is energy / energy conversions / conservation of energy / energy resources)
Chapter 10 -- Heat and Heat Technology (temperature / what is heat / matter and heat / heat technology)
Unit 5: Atoms and Elements December 17 - January 17 (14)
Chapter 11 -- Introduction to Atoms (development of atomic theory / the atom)
Chapter 12 -- The Periodic Table (arranging the elements / grouping the elements)
Chapter 16 -- Atomic Energy (radioactivity / energy from the nucleus)
Unit 6: Chemistry & Interactions of Matter January 22 - February 15 (19)
Chapter 13 -- Chemical Bonding (electrons and chemical bonding / ionic bonds / covalent and metallic bonds)
Chapter 14 -- Chemical Reactions (forming new substances / chemical formulas and equations / chemical reactions / energy and rates of chemical reactions)
Chapter 15 -- Chemical Compounds (ionic and covalent compounds / acids and bases / solutions of acids and bases / organic compounds)
Unit 7: Electricity & Magnetism February 25 - March 22 (19)
Chapter 17 -- Introduction to Electricity (electric charge and static electricity / electric current and electrical energy / electrical calculations / electric circuits)
Chapter 18 -- Electromagnetism (magnets and magnetism / magnetism from electricity)
Chapter 19 -- Electronic Technology (electronic devices / communication technology / computers)
Unit 8: Waves, Sound, and Light March 25 - April 26 (20)
Chapter 20 -- The Energy of Waves (the nature of waves / properties of waves / wave interactions)
Chapter 21 -- The Nature of Sound (what is sound / properties of sound / interactions of sound waves / sound quality)
Chapter 22 -- The Nature of Light (what is light / electromagnetic spectrum / interactions of light waves / light and color)
Chapter 23 -- Light and Our World (mirrors and lenses / light and sight / light and technology)
Unit 9: Astronomy April 29 - May 17 (15)
Unit 10: Human Growth and Development May 20 - June 7 (14)
McDougal-Littell Book:
Structure of Matter
Properties of Matter
CSI: Powders at a crime scene, blood splatter size, ink sample, cloth fibers
States of Matter
Popping popcorn... when do you smell it and why? PS3 lab
Drawing particle proximity then experiment with syringe (air & water) and revise drawing.
Use probeware to graph heating water
Dry ice sublimation lab
Atomic Structure
paper ball demo
Periodic table
Do patterns and clusters first, then look at atomic structure
Properties of Elements lab (which item is made of which metal)
Flame test lab
Periodic strip of the elements cut
Other
Cherie's "Lost" lab (separating sand, iron, salt)
Chemical Interactions
Chemical Bonds and Compounds
valence electrons as magnet squares on magnet sheet... kids try to pair up (Cherie's "ionic bonding activity game")
Chemical Reactions
Solutions
Chemistry of Living Systems
Motion and Forces
Motion
Forces
demo/activity: support a meter stick between two fingers (off center) and predict where they will meet
Gravity, Elastic Forces, and Friction
Density and Bouyancy
Space Science
Earth, Moon, and Sun
Our Solar System
Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe
Random Ideas
use blabberize to create a piece that reviews/explains a concept in science (test review?)
use voicethread for students to give comments/analysis on a machine or mechanical device
timeline along the top of a wall showing yearlong course outline, and a way to thread activities to it
"Pyramid of Discovery" project. Perhaps making a fake FaceBook page about the inventor (friends, wall, news feed, chats, adds, etc)
http://groups.physics.umn.edu/physed/Research/CGPS/GreenBook.html
Talk To
Cherie Remkus cremkus@smfc.k12.ca.us (Abbot Middle School, San Mateo)
Field Trips & Explorations
Exploratorium
Experiments/Explorations
balancing centripetal and gravity (tube & weights on a string)
Steve Spangler Science: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdmnDPX5o0A
Design, Invention, Engineering, and Manufacturing
http://science.discovery.com/tv/how-its-made/