I: Students will understand the structure of matter.

I.1: Describe the structure of matter in terms of atoms and molecules.

I.1.a: Recognize that atoms are too small to see.

Element Builder

I.1.b: Relate atoms to molecules (e.g., atoms combine to make molecules).

Dehydration Synthesis
Limiting Reactants

I.1.c: Diagram the arrangement of particles in the physical states of matter (i.e., solid, liquid, gas).

Freezing Point of Salt Water
Phase Changes

I.1.d: Describe the limitations of using models to represent atoms (e.g., distance between particles in atoms cannot be represented to scale in models, the motion of electrons cannot be described in most models).

Bohr Model of Hydrogen
Bohr Model: Introduction
Electron Configuration
Element Builder

I.1.e: Investigate and report how our knowledge of the structure of matter has been developed over time.

Electron Configuration
Element Builder

I.2: Accurately measure the characteristics of matter in different states.

I.2.a: Use appropriate instruments to determine mass and volume of solids and liquids and record data.

Density Laboratory
Determining Density via Water Displacement

I.2.b: Use observations to predict the relative density of various solids and liquids.

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Density via Comparison
Determining Density via Water Displacement

I.2.c: Calculate the density of various solids and liquids.

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Density via Comparison
Determining Density via Water Displacement

I.2.d: Describe the relationship between mass and volume as it relates to density.

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Density via Comparison
Determining Density via Water Displacement

I.3: Investigate the motion of particles.

I.3.a: Identify evidence that particles are in constant motion.

Boyle's Law and Charles' Law
Temperature and Particle Motion

I.3.b: Compare the motion of particles at various temperatures by measuring changes in the volume of gases, liquids, or solids.

Boyle's Law and Charles' Law
Temperature and Particle Motion

I.3.c: Design and conduct an experiment investigating the diffusion of particles.

Diffusion

I.3.d: Formulate and test a hypothesis on the relationship between temperature and motion.

Boyle's Law and Charles' Law
Temperature and Particle Motion

I.3.e: Describe the impact of expansion and contraction of solid materials on the design of buildings, highways, and other structures.

Boyle's Law and Charles' Law

II: Students will understand the relationship between properties of matter and Earth's structure.

II.1: Examine the effects of density and particle size on the behavior of materials in mixtures.

II.1.a: Compare the density of various objects to the density of known earth materials.

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Density via Comparison
Determining Density via Water Displacement

II.1.b: Calculate the density of earth materials (e.g., rocks, water, air).

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Density via Comparison
Determining Density via Water Displacement

II.1.c: Observe and describe the sorting of earth materials in a mixture based on density and particle size (e.g., sorting grains of sand of the same size with different densities, sort materials of different particle size with equal densities).

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Determining Density via Water Displacement

II.1.d: Relate the sorting of materials that can be observed in streambeds, road cuts, or beaches to the density and particle size of those materials.

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Determining Density via Water Displacement
Rock Classification

II.2: Analyze how density affects Earth's structure.

II.2.a: Compare the densities of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior layers.

Density Laboratory

II.2.b: Relate density to the relative positioning of Earth’s atmosphere, water, crust, and interior.

Density Laboratory

II.2.c: Model the layering of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior due to density differences.

Density Laboratory

III: Students will understand that the organs in an organism are made of cells that have structures and perform specific life functions.

III.1: Observe and describe cellular structures and functions.

III.1.a: Use appropriate instruments to observe, describe, and compare various types of cells (e.g., onion, diatoms).

Cell Structure
Paramecium Homeostasis

III.1.b: Observe and distinguish the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, chloroplast, and cytoplasm of cells.

Building DNA
Cell Energy Cycle
Cell Structure
Osmosis
Photosynthesis Lab
RNA and Protein Synthesis

III.1.c: Differentiate between plant and animal cells based on cell wall and cell membrane.

Cell Structure

III.1.d: Model the cell processes of diffusion and osmosis and relate this motion to the motion of particles.

Diffusion
Osmosis
Temperature and Particle Motion

III.1.e: Gather information to report on how the basic functions of organisms are carried out within cells (e.g., extract energy from food, remove waste, produce their own food).

Cell Structure
Paramecium Homeostasis
Photosynthesis Lab

III.2: Identify and describe the function and interdependence of various organs and tissues.

III.2.d: Describe how the needs of organisms at the cellular level for food, air, and waste removal are met by tissues and organs (e.g., lungs provide oxygen to cells, kidneys remove wastes from cells).

Cell Energy Cycle
Photosynthesis Lab

IV: Students will understand that offspring inherit traits that make them more or less suitable to survive in the environment.

IV.1: Compare how sexual and asexual reproduction passes genetic information from parent to offspring.

IV.1.a: Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits.

Chicken Genetics
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Microevolution
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)
Natural Selection

IV.1.b: Contrast the exchange of genetic information in sexual and asexual reproduction (e.g., number of parents, variation of genetic material).

Cell Division

IV.1.c: Cite examples of organisms that reproduce sexually (e.g., rats, mosquitoes, salmon, sunflowers) and those that reproduce asexually (e.g., hydra, planaria, bacteria, fungi, cuttings from house plants).

Cell Division

IV.1.d: Compare inherited structural traits of offspring and their parents.

Chicken Genetics
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Microevolution
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)
Natural Selection

IV.2: Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.

IV.2.a: Predict why certain traits (e.g., structure of teeth, body structure, coloration) are more likely to offer an advantage for survival of an organism.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Microevolution
Natural Selection
Rainfall and Bird Beaks

IV.2.b: Cite examples of traits that provide an advantage for survival in one environment but not other environments.

Chicken Genetics
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Microevolution
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)
Natural Selection
Rainfall and Bird Beaks

IV.2.c: Cite examples of changes in genetic traits due to natural and manmade influences (e.g., mimicry in insects, plant hybridization to develop a specific trait, breeding of dairy cows to produce more milk).

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Natural Selection

IV.2.d: Relate the structure of organs to an organism’s ability to survive in a specific environment (e.g., hollow bird bones allow them to fly in air, hollow structure of hair insulates animals from hot or cold, dense root structure allows plants to grow in compact soil, fish fins aid fish in moving in water).

Natural Selection

V: Students will understand that structure is used to develop classification systems.

V.3: Classify organisms using an orderly pattern based upon structure.

V.3.a: Identify types of organisms that are not classified as either plant or animal.

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

V.3.c: Use a classification key or field guide to identify organisms.

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis