1: Students will understand the scientific evidence that supports theories that explain how the universe and solar system developed.

1.1: Describe the big bang theory and evidence supporting it.

1.1.a: Determine the motion of a star relative to Earth based on a red or blue shift in the wavelength of light from the star.

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced

1.1.b: Explain how evidence of red and blue shifts is used to determine whether the universe is expanding or contracting.

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced

1.1.c: Describe the big bang theory and the red shift evidence that supports this theory.

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced

1.2: Relate the structure and composition of the solar system to the processes that exist in the universe.

1.2.e: Compare the life cycle of the sun to the life cycle of other stars.

H-R Diagram

2: Students will understand that the features of Earth?s evolving environment affect living systems, and that life on Earth is unique in the solar system.

2.2: Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors.

2.2.a: Observe and list abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, water, nutrients, sunlight, pH, topography) in specific ecosystems.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Pond Ecosystem

2.2.b: Observe and list biotic factors (e.g., plants, animals, organic matter) that affect a specific ecosystem (e.g., wetlands, deserts, aquatic).

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Pond Ecosystem

2.2.d: Explain that energy enters the vast majority of Earth's ecosystems through photosynthesis, and compare the path of energy through two different ecosystems.

Cell Energy Cycle
Food Chain
Pond Ecosystem

2.2.e: Analyze interactions within an ecosystem (e.g., water temperature and fish species, weathering and water pH).

Food Chain

2.3: Examine Earth's diversity of life as it changes over time.

2.3.b: Compare the diversity of life in various biomes specific to number of species, biomass, and type of organisms.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors

3: Students will understand that gravity, density, and convection move Earth?s plates and this movement causes the plates to impact other Earth systems.

3.1: Explain the evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics.

3.1.b: Compare the movement and results of movement along convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries.

Plate Tectonics

3.1.c: Relate the location of earthquakes and volcanoes to plate boundaries.

Plate Tectonics

3.2: Describe the processes within Earth that result in plate motion and relate it to changes in other Earth systems.

3.2.c: Model the movement and interaction of plates.

Plate Tectonics

3.2.d: Relate the movement and interaction of plates to volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and climate changes.

Plate Tectonics

3.2.e: Predict the effects of plate movement on other Earth systems (e.g., volcanic eruptions affect weather, mountain building diverts waterways, uplift changes elevation that alters plant and animal diversity, upwelling from ocean vents results in changes in biomass).

Plate Tectonics

4: Students will understand that water cycles through and between reservoirs in the hydrosphere and affects the other spheres of the Earth system.

4.2: Analyze the physical and biological dynamics of the oceans.

4.2.a: Describe the physical dynamics of the oceans (e.g., wave action, ocean currents, El Nino, tides).

Ripple Tank
Tides - Metric

4.2.b: Determine how physical properties of oceans affect organisms (e.g., salinity, depth, tides, temperature).

Pond Ecosystem

5: Students will understand that Earth's atmosphere interacts with and is altered by the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

5.1: Describe how matter in the atmosphere cycles through other Earth systems.

5.1.a: Trace movement of a carbon atom from the atmosphere through a plant, animal, and decomposer, and back into the atmosphere.

Carbon Cycle
Cell Energy Cycle
Forest Ecosystem

5.1.d: Research ways the biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere interact with the atmosphere (e.g., volcanic eruptions putting ash and gases into the atmosphere, hurricanes, changes in vegetation).

Carbon Cycle

5.2: Trace ways in which the atmosphere has been altered by living systems and has itself strongly affected living systems over the course of Earth?s history.

5.2.c: Compare the rate at which CO2 is put into the atmosphere to the rate at which it is removed through the carbon cycle.

Cell Energy Cycle

6: Students will understand the source and distribution of energy on Earth and its effects on Earth systems.

6.1: Describe the transformation of solar energy into heat and chemical energy on Earth and eventually the radiation of energy to space.

6.1.d: Demonstrate how absorbed solar energy eventually leaves the Earth system as heat radiating to space.

Herschel Experiment - Metric
Seasons Around the World

6.2: Relate energy sources and transformation to the effects on Earth systems.

6.2.a: Describe the difference between climate and weather, and how technology is used to monitor changes in each.

Hurricane Motion - Metric

6.2.b: Describe the effect of solar energy on the determination of climate and weather (e.g., El Nino, solar intensity).

Coastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
Seasons Around the World

6.2.e: Relate how weather patterns are the result of interactions among ocean currents, air currents, and topography.

Coastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
Hurricane Motion - Metric
Weather Maps - Metric