Science Curriculum: Enduring Understandings
The following are from the TUSD Science Curriculum Map for Sustainability. Please note: While in sustainability we will cover many, if not all, the topics listed below, it will not be in that order.
True sciences must meet specific criteria to be deemed as such. (Science v. pseudo‐science)
Science deals only with natural, observable patterns and explanations and concentrates on discovery of new knowledge.
Scientific Knowledge is gained through testing and observation and open to change with compelling new evidence.
A growth mindset for continuous learning and gaining new knowledge is essential for scientific discovery.
Technological advances have been occurring throughout human history. These advances have increased human quality of life as well as increased our understanding of the world around us and our place in it.
Engineering concentrates on solving problems within certain parameters.
Creative problem solving, collaboration and perseverance are critical skills for engineers.
Math is the “language” through which scientific discoveries can be quantified and communicated.
Statistics can be used to predict testing outcomes based on previous observations.
Constraints and requirements for solving problems through the engineering process can be quantified using math and mathematical models.
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. ‐‐Two key concepts are 1) the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and 2) the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.
The quality of life of individuals and societies is affected by energy choices. All humans require energy (food), nutrients (vitamins and minerals), water, oxygen, and a moderate temperature to survive.
Beyond physical needs, humans also have love and belonging needs, self‐esteem needs, and self‐actualization needs.
Current commercial agriculture and food distribution practices affect ecological, economic, and social sustainability in several complex ways.
Malnutrition can mean not only not getting enough food but also eating food that is unhealthy, leading to disease and long term health problems that have social and economic implications.
Beyond personal actions to support sustainable agriculture and increased health from proper nutrition, social and political action must be taken to ensure food production/quality meets the requirements of sustainability.
Significant changes to infrastructure, political, and economic policies will be required in order to decrease carbon emissions to a point that rising temperatures are no longer a threat to human survival.
Slavery has not been eradicated from the world. Many products that Americans take for granted, are produced by a network and infrastructure of slavery.
The quality of life of individuals and societies is affected by our energy choices.
Looking for and analyzing patterns is foundational to understanding the position of elements of the Periodic Table and their subsequent chemical combinations
How we live impacts others both in Arizona and around the world, now and into the future.
Earth’s resources are both limited and not equitable; they need to be conserved.
There are positive and negative effects of using natural resources.
Water is essential to all life.
Different regions of the globe have renewable and non‐renewable energy resources.
Various sources of energy can be used to power human activities.
Most energy sources used by humans today are non‐renewable.
Energy decisions are influenced by economic, political, environmental and social factors.
The Laws of Physics are fundamental to understanding energy use and transfer.
Energy is a physical quantity that follows precise natural laws.
Science and technology (research and development) are both needed to create and manage Earth’s fuel resources.
The climate of Earth has been changing for billions of years.
There have been times in geologic history where the concentration of C02 has been much higher than current and even higher than current forecasts of concentrations if carbon emissions are not reduced.
Use of alternative power sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, etc.) can reduce carbon emissions.
Fresh clean water is a finite resource on Earth and millions of people do not have access to clean water.
Water is used in ways that are not obvious (actual vs virtual water use).
There is currently a drought in the Southwest that could affect access to water and products that require water at affordable prices.
There are personal actions that can be taken to reduce an individual’s water footprint.
Beyond personal action, political changes to water rights laws and social/political systems are needed in order to conserve water and secure it as a resource for everyone everywhere in the future.
Energy can be stored in a system and can be transferred from one system to another.
Energy is conserved in a closed system and can be quantitatively determined.
Methods of energy production are often determined by availability of resources and may have deleterious environmental and health side effects.
The quality of life of individuals and societies is affected by energy choices.
Various sources of energy can be used to power human activities, and often this energy.
Different regions of the globe have renewable and non‐renewable energy resources.
Energy decisions are influenced by economic, political, environmental and social factors.
The Laws of Physics are fundamental to understanding energy use and transfer.
Energy is a physical quantity that follows precise natural laws. Science and technology (research and development) are both needed to create and manage Earth’s fuel resources.
Speed and velocity can be expressed graphically.
Newton’s first law describes inertia.
Newton’s second law can be expressed by the equation F=ma.
Newton’s third law states that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction (momentum).