Science

Students will be able to apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision.

Students will be able to design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

Students will be able to plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperatures are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).

Students will be able to generate hypotheses and then design and perform controlled experiments involving multiple variables to validly test the hypotheses. Evaluate experiments for possible sources of measurement error.

Students will be able to use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy. Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy. Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. [

Students will be able to plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.

Students will be able to construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

Students will be able to use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.

Students will be able to generate hypotheses and then design and perform controlled experiments involving multiple variables to validly test the hypotheses. Evaluate experiments for possible sources of measurement error.