P: Physical Science

P.1: Newton's laws of motion and gravitation describe the relationships among forces acting on and between objects, their masses, and changes in their motion - but have limitations

P.1.a: Gather, analyze and interpret data and create graphs regarding position, velocity and acceleration of moving objects

Distance-Time Graphs
Free-Fall Laboratory
Golf Range
Shoot the Monkey

P.1.c: Develop, communicate and justify an evidence-based scientific prediction regarding the effects of the action-reaction force pairs on the motion of two interacting objects

Fan Cart Physics

P.2: Matter has definite structure that determines characteristic physical and chemical properties

P.2.a: Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation supporting the current model of an atom

Bohr Model of Hydrogen
Bohr Model: Introduction
Element Builder

P.2.b: Gather, analyze and interpret data on chemical and physical properties of elements such as density, melting point, boiling point, and conductivity

Circuit Builder

P.2.c: Use characteristic physical and chemical properties to develop predictions and supporting claims about elements' positions on the periodic table

Electron Configuration

P.3: Matter can change form through chemical or nuclear reactions abiding by the laws of conservation of mass and energy

P.3.a: Recognize, analyze, interpret, and balance chemical equations (synthesis, decomposition, combustion, and replacement) or nuclear equations (fusion and fission)

Balancing Chemical Equations
Chemical Equations
Nuclear Decay

P.3.b: Predict reactants and products for different types of chemical and nuclear reactions

Chemical Equations
Equilibrium and Concentration
Nuclear Decay

P.3.c: Predict and calculate the amount of products produced in a chemical reaction based on the amount of reactants

Chemical Equations
Equilibrium and Concentration

P.4: Atoms bond in different ways to form molecules and compounds that have definite properties

P.4.a: Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation supporting the current models of chemical bonding

Covalent Bonds
Ionic Bonds

P.4.b: Gather, analyze, and interpret data on chemical and physical properties of different compounds such as density, melting point, boiling point, pH, and conductivity

Circuit Builder

P.4.c: Use characteristic physical and chemical properties to develop predictions and supporting claims about compounds' classification as ionic, polar or covalent

Ionic Bonds

P.4.d: Describe the role electrons play in atomic bonding

Covalent Bonds
Ionic Bonds

P.4.e: Predict the type of bonding that will occur among elements based on their position in the periodic table

Covalent Bonds
Electron Configuration
Ionic Bonds

P.5: Energy exists in many forms such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, radiant, thermal, and nuclear, that can be quantified and experimentally determined

P.5.a: Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation regarding the potential and kinetic nature of mechanical energy

Air Track
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics

P.5.b: Use appropriate measurements, equations and graphs to gather, analyze, and interpret data on the quantity of energy in a system or an object

Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

P.6: When energy changes form, it is neither created not destroyed; however, because some is necessarily lost as heat, the amount of energy available to do work decreases

P.6.a: Use direct and indirect evidence to develop and support claims about the conservation of energy in a variety of systems, including transformations to heat

Air Track
Energy Conversion in a System
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics

P.6.b: Evaluate the energy conversion efficiency of a variety of energy transformations

Energy Conversion in a System
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

P.6.c: Describe energy transformations both quantitatively and qualitatively

Energy Conversion in a System
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

L: Life Science

L.1: Matter tends to be cycled within an ecosystem, while energy is transformed and eventually exits an ecosystem

L.1.a: Analyze how energy flows through trophic levels

Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem

L.1.f: Describe how carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles work

Cell Energy Cycle

L.1.g: Use computer simulations to analyze how energy flows through trophic levels

Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem

L.2: The size and persistence of populations depend on their interactions with each other and on the abiotic factors in an ecosystem

L.2.a: Analyze and interpret data about the impact of removing keystone species from an ecosystem or introducing non-native species into an ecosystem

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors

L.3: Cellular metabolic activities are carried out by biomolecules produced by organisms

L.3.e: Analyze and interpret data on the body's utilization of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins

Digestive System

L.4: The energy for life primarily derives from the interrelated processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Photosynthesis transforms the sun's light energy into the chemical energy of molecular bonds. Cellular respiration allows cells to utilize chemical energy when these bonds are broken.

L.4.a: Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation the optimal environment for photosynthetic activity

Photosynthesis Lab
Pond Ecosystem

L.4.b: Discuss the interdependence of autotrophic and heterotrophic life forms such as depicting the flow of a carbon atom from the atmosphere, to a leaf, through the food chain, and back to the atmosphere

Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem

L.5: Cells use passive and active transport of substances across membranes to maintain relatively stable intracellular environments

L.5.a: Analyze and interpret data to determine the energy requirements and/or rates of substance transport across cell membranes

Cell Structure
Osmosis

L.5.e: Use computer simulations and models to analyze cell transport mechanisms

Osmosis
Paramecium Homeostasis

L.7: Physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism are influenced to varying degrees by heritable genes, many of which encode instructions for the production of proteins

L.7.a: Analyze and interpret data that genes are expressed portions of DNA.

Chicken Genetics
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)

L.7.b: Analyze and interpret data on the processes of DNA replication, transcription, translation, and gene regulation, and show how these processes are the same in all organism

RNA and Protein Synthesis

L.7.e: Explain using examples how genetic mutations can benefit, harm, or have neutral effects on an organism

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection

L.8: Multicellularity makes possible a division of labor at the cellular level through the expression of select genes, but not the entire genome.

L.8.a: Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation of how cells form specialized tissues due to the expression of some genes and not others

Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)

L.8.d: Analyze and interpret data on medical problems using direct and indirect evidence in developing and supporting claims that genetic mutations and cancer are brought about by exposure to environmental toxins, radiation, or smoking

Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection

L.9: Evolution occurs as the heritable characteristics of populations change across generations and can lead populations to become better adapted to their environment

L.9.c: Analyze and interpret data suggesting that over geologic time, discrete bursts of rapid genetic changes and gradual changes have resulted in speciation

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

L.9.d: Analyze and interpret data on how evolution can be driven by three key components of natural selection - heritability, genetic variation, and differential survival and reproduction

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
Microevolution
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

E: Earth Systems Science

E.2: As part of the solar system, Earth interacts with various extraterrestrial forces and energies such as gravity, solar phenomena, electromagnetic radiation, and impact events that influence the planet's geosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere in a variety of ways

E.2.b: Analyze and interpret data regarding extraterrestrial forces and energies

Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

E.3: The theory of plate tectonics helps explain geological, physical, and geographical features of Earth

E.3.a: Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation about the theory of plate tectonics and how it can be used to understand geological, physical, and geographical features of Earth

Plate Tectonics

E.3.b: Analyze and interpret data on plate tectonics and the geological, physical, and geographical features of Earth

Plate Tectonics

E.3.c: Understand the role plate tectonics has had with respect to long-term global changes in Earth's systems such as continental buildup, glaciations, sea-level fluctuations, and climate change

Plate Tectonics

E.3.d: Investigate and explain how new conceptual interpretations of data and innovative geophysical technologies led to the current theory of plate tectonics

Plate Tectonics

E.4: Climate is the result of energy transfer among interactions of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere

E.4.c: Explain how a combination of factors such as Earth's tilt, seasons, geophysical location, proximity to oceans, landmass location, latitude, and elevation determine a location's climate

Coastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
Seasons Around the World
Seasons in 3D
Seasons: Why do we have them?

E.4.f: Interpret evidence from weather stations, buoys, satellites, radars, ice and ocean sediment cores, tree rings, cave deposits, native knowledge, and other sources in relation to climate change

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors