D2: Students describe and analyze the biological, physical, energy, and human influences that shape and alter Earth Systems.

D2.d: Describe and analyze the effects of human influences on Earth Systems.

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

D3: Students describe the structure, behavior, and interactions of matter at the atomic level and the relationship between matter and energy.

D3.a: Describe the structure of atoms in terms of neutrons, protons, and electrons and the role of the atomic structure in determining chemical properties.

Element Builder

D3.b: Describe how the number and arrangement of atoms in a molecule determine a molecule's properties, including the types of bonds it makes with other molecules and its mass, and apply this to predictions about chemical reactions.

Covalent Bonds
Ionic Bonds

D3.c: Explain the essential roles of carbon and water in life processes.

Carbon Cycle
Cell Energy Cycle

D3.d: Describe how light is emitted and absorbed by atoms' changing energy levels, and how the results can be used to identify a substance.

Bohr Model of Hydrogen
Bohr Model: Introduction
Star Spectra

D3.e: Describe factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions (including concentration, pressure temperature, and the presence of molecules that encourage interaction with other molecules).

Collision Theory

D3.f: Apply an understanding of the factors that affect the rate of chemical reaction to predictions about the rate of chemical reactions.

Collision Theory

D3.g: Describe nuclear reactions, including fusion and fission, and the energy they release.

Nuclear Decay

D3.h: Describe radioactive decay and half-life.

Half-life
Nuclear Decay

D3.i: Explain the relationship between kinetic and potential energy and apply the knowledge to solve problems.

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

D3.k: Apply an understanding of energy transformations to solve problems.

Energy Conversion in a System
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

D3.l: Describe the relationship among heat, temperature, and pressure in terms of the actions of atoms, molecules, and ions.

Temperature and Particle Motion

D4: Students understand that the laws of force and motion are the same across the universe.

D4.a: Describe the contribution of Newton to our understanding of force and motion, and give examples of and apply Newton's three laws of motion and his theory of gravitation.

Fan Cart Physics
Gravitational Force
Pith Ball Lab

D4.b: Explain and apply the ideas of relative motion and frame of reference.

Free-Fall Laboratory

D4.c: Describe the relationship between electric and magnetic fields and forces, and give examples of how this relationship is used in modern technologies.

Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Induction

D4.d: Describe and apply characteristics of waves including wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.

Ripple Tank

D4.e: Describe and apply an understanding of how waves interact with other waves and with materials including reflection, refraction, and absorption.

Basic Prism
Herschel Experiment - Metric
Longitudinal Waves
Refraction
Ripple Tank

D4.f: Describe kinetic energy (the energy of motion), potential energy (dependent on relative position), and energy contained by a field (including electromagnetic waves) and apply these understandings to energy problem

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

E2: Students describe and analyze the interactions, cycles, and factors that affect short-term and long-term ecosystem stability and change.

E2.a: Explain why ecosystems can be reasonably stable over hundreds or thousands of years, even though populations may fluctuate.

Food Chain
Rabbit Population by Season

E2.b: Describe dynamic equilibrium in ecosystems and factors that can, in the long run, lead to change in the normal pattern of cyclic fluctuations and apply that knowledge to actual situations.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors

E2.c: Explain the concept of carrying capacity and list factors that determine the amount of life that any environment can support.

Food Chain
Rabbit Population by Season

E2.d: Describe the critical role of photosynthesis and how energy and the chemical elements that make up molecules are transformed in ecosystems and obey basic conservation laws.

Cell Energy Cycle
Photosynthesis Lab

E3: Students describe structure and function of cells at the intracellular and molecular level including differentiation to form systems, interactions between cells and their environment, and the impact of cellular processes and changes on individuals.

E3.a: Describe the similarities and differences in the basic functions of cell membranes and of the specialized parts within cells that allow them to transport materials, capture and release energy, build proteins, dispose of waste, communicate, and move.

Cell Structure
Osmosis
Paramecium Homeostasis
RNA and Protein Synthesis

E3.b: Describe the relationship among DNA, protein molecules, and amino acids in carrying out the work of cells and how this is similar among all organisms.

RNA and Protein Synthesis

E3.c: Describe the interactions that lead to cell growth and division (mitosis) and allow new cells to carry the same information as the original cell (meiosis).

Cell Division

E3.e: Describe the role of regulation and the processes that maintain an internal environment amidst changes in the external environment.

Human Homeostasis
Paramecium Homeostasis

E3.f: Describe the process of metabolism that allows a few key biomolecules to provide cells with necessary materials to perform their functions.

Cell Structure

E4: Students examine the role of DNA in transferring traits from generation to generation, in differentiating cells, and in evolving new species.

E4.d: Describe the possible causes and effects of gene mutations.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection

E5: Students describe the interactions between and among species, populations, and environments that lead to natural selection and evolution.

E5.a: Describe the premise of biological evolution, citing evidence from the fossil record and evidence based on the observation of similarities within the diversity of existing organisms.

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

E5.b: Describe the origins of life and how the concept of natural selection provides a mechanism for evolution that can be advantageous or disadvantageous to the next generation.

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