Unit 3:  What are we made of?  (introduction to atoms and the periodic table)

Approximate time 2 weeks

Standards Covered:  

HS-PS1-1. Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.1

HS-PS1-8. Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.

Unit 4:  What are chemical reactions?

Standards Covered:  

MS-PS1-2. Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. MS-PS1-3. Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society. MS-PS1-5. Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved. MS-PS1-6. Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by chemical processes. *MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.