Science Resources
Unit 1: Matter and It's Interactions
Students observe different materials and describe their differences They investigate how materials change when they mix together They learn to recognize chemical reactions and develop a model of matter being made of particles These particles move and their arrangement changes, but their mass always stays the same
Guiding Questions
What causes different materials to have different properties?
How do materials change when they dissolve, evaporate, melt, or mix together?
What are the differences between solids, liquids, and gases?
What is Matter?
States of Matter
Properties of Matter
Mixtures and Solutions
Chemical Changes
Properties of Matter (Cont.)
Gravity
States of Matter - Rule-Breakers!
Unit 2: Flow of Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
Students make models that trace the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems They investigate the needs of plants and gather evidence that all organisms produce waste They explain how animals depend upon one another as components in an interconnected system
Guiding Questions
What matter do plants need to grow?
How does matter move within an ecosystem?
How does energy move within an ecosystem?
Unit 3: Earth's Interacting Systems
Students make models of the flow of energy and matter at the scale of the entire planet, and obtain information about a few example phenomena They describe these phenomena in terms of interactions between different systems within the broader Earth system They use their models to understand how humans impact these systems and develop solutions to minimize these effects
Guiding Questions
How can we represent systems as complicated as the entire planet?
Where does my tap water come from and where does it go?
How much water do we need to live, to irrigate plants? How much water do we have?
What can we do to protect Earth’s resources?
Unit 4: Patterns in the Night Sky
Students ask questions and wonder about the night sky They investigate the force of gravity and then analyze data to identify patterns related to Earth’s motion They gather evidence and make models showing that the brightness of a star depends on its distance from Earth
Guiding Questions
How far away are the stars? How can we tell?
What trends and patterns are there in the movement of the Sun and stars?