Science
Curriculum
Course Title: Integrated Science
Department: Science
Units of Study:
PHYSICS and Earth and Space Science:
Speed & Velocity
Newton’s Laws
Earth’s Interior
Convection and Plate Motion
Energy Transfer (renewable energy project)
CHEMISTRY/ Human Impact:
Atomic Structure, Periodic Table & Bonding
Periodic Table and Patterns (First 20 Elements)
Ionic/Covalent Bonding (Bohr diagrams and Lewis dot structures)
Metal vs Nonmetal
Valence Electrons
Atomic # vs Atomic Mass
Water Chemistry
Polar vs Nonpolar
Density of water vs other materials
Cohesion/Adhesion and Surface Tension/Capillary Action
Universal Solvent
Heat Capacity
Freezing Point
pH – Monterey Bay Ocean Acidification Activity
BIOLOGY/ Human Impact:
Flow of Energy and Cycling of Matter
o Food Chain/Web – flow of energy and matter; abiotic vs biotic; Levels of Ecological Organization
o Symbiosis and Competition
Biomes of the World
o Terrestrial Biomes (tiaga, temperate rainforest, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, chaparral/shrub land, temperate grassland, savannah, desert, tundra)
o Aquatic Biomes:
− Fresh Water Biomes: streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, water cycle
− Marine Biomes: Oceans*, Coral Reefs*, Marshes, and Estuaries*
Human Impacts:
o Climate Change: with a focus on how ecosystems are shifting/impacted by changing climate / evidence of impact
o Loss of Biodiversity
o Invasive Species
o Habitat Destruction
Curriculum-Based Assessments: N/A
Standardized Assessments: Keystone
Description of Course: Integrated Science is an innovative science program that immerses students into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). By breaking down the traditional disciplinary boundaries into a series of thematic project-based "missions," 9th grade students will receive a strong foundation needed for success in future core science disciplines (biological, physical, and earth sciences).
The curriculum is founded on the principle that students learn best when manipulatives and inquiry- based projects are at the heart of the course. Integrated Science is designed to increase each student’s science literacy in content and process skills to improve their opportunity for success in our biology course and state required Keystone Exam.