-Earth and Space Science

The learner will be able to:

• explain properties of the Earth's surface using the plate tectonics theory.
• explain the scientific evidence for the plate tectonics theory.
• understand the Earth's origin and evolution.
• understand the some of the Earth's evolutionary changes are observable, such as a volcanic eruption.  Other changes, such as the formation of a mountain, take millions of years.
• understand that scientists use rock sequence and fossils to determine geological time.
• understand the scientist are able to measure the time since a rock was formed by using the known decay rates of radioactive isotopes present in the rock.
• understand that the Earth's atmosphere did not originally contain oxygen.
• use the ice age theory to explain the Great Lakes region on the Earth's surface.
• observe and describe the day and night sky.
• understand that the solar system was formed 4.6 billion years ago from a nebular cloud of dust and gas.
• describe the motion of our solar system within the universe.
• describe the position of our solar system within the universe.
• understand that nuclear reactions produce a star's energy.
• explain the formation of stars and how they produce energy.
• understand that billions of gravitationally bound clusters of stars form a galaxy.
• compare the sun in our solar system to other stars and other star systems.
• explain how scientists have learned about the universe through scientific inquiry and technology.
• understand that most of the visible mass in the universe are galaxies.
• understand that during the early development of the universe, matter was clumped together by gravitational attraction to form stars.
• understand that the some scientists use the Big Bang Theory to describe the origin of the universe.  This theory claims that 10-20 billion year ago, the universe began in a hot dense state and has continued to evolve ever since.
• understand the Universe's origin and evolution.

The learner will be able to:

• compare and contrast the chemical composition of cells.
• understand that chemical reactions are involved in most cell functions.
• classify cells based upon organelle, nucleus, cell wall, or cell membrane.
• understand that cells can differentiate.
• understand that enzymes are protein catalysts that allow for the breakdown and synthesis of molecules.
• understand that each cell is surrounded by a membrane.
• describe how some materials move into cells through osmosis and how other materials move out of cells through diffusion.
• develop and understanding of cells.
• describe how cells use food to grow.
• understand that cells take in food molecules which provide the chemical constituents necessary to synthesize other molecules.
• recognize that cells are specialized based on their function.
• understand that there are two methods in which regulation occurs.  The first method is through changes in enzyme activity dictating protein function.  The second method is through the selective expression of individual genes.
• understand that regulation allows cells to adapt to their environment and control cell growth and division.
• understand that cell functions are regulated.
• understand that a highly organized arrangement of differentiated cells forms multicellular organisms.
• use cell growth and reproduction to describe how multicellular organisms grow.
• understand the development process of multicellular organisms: the progeny from a single cell form an embryo, then cells within the embryo multiply and differentiate to form specialized cells, tissues and organs.
• compare and contrast specialized cells and their functions.
• understand biological evolution.
• use evidence to explain the relationship between present humans and past animal life forms.
• understand how natural selection provides a scientific explanation for ancient life forms, as well as current life forms with molecular similarities.
• understand that the great diversity of organisms is due to over three and a half billion years of evolution.
• understand that all species of plants, animals, and microorganisms are related by descent from common ancestors.
• understand that evolution accounts for the diversity of species, which change and develop through gradual processes over many generations.
• understand the two X chromosomes determines female gender.  Male gender is determined by one X and one Y chromosome.
• understand that most human cells contain two copies of each of twenty-two different chromosomes.
• explain how characteristic are passed on through generations.
• understand the molecular basis of heredity.
• understand the DNA mutations occur spontaneously at low rates.
• understand that DNA mutations that occur in germ cells can change an organism's offspring.
• understand that the properties of DNA, both chemical and structural, explain how the genetic information is both encoded in genes and replicated.
• understand that a single chromosome is formed by a DNA molecule.
• describe how changes in DNA may create new traits in individuals and/or populations.
• understand that DNA is comprised of four subunits: A, G, C and T.
• understand that DNA stores genetic information and is used to direct the synthesis of the thousands of proteins that each cell requires.
• understand that genetic information is transmitted to the offspring through egg and sperm cells that contain only one representative from each chromosome pair.
• understand humans use sensory, motor, emotional, social, and technological methods for avoiding or reducing the risk of hazards.
• understand that some disease are caused by bodily malfunctions and are non-transmittable.
• explain how the life cycle of an organism affects human diseases.
• understand that human resistance and the severity of the disease-producing organisms impact the disease symptoms.
• explain how technology has been used to prevent, diagnose, and treat human diseases.
• classify living things based on the five-kingdom system.
• describe how living things are able to maintain internal systems.
• understand the matter, energy, and organization in the systems of living things.
• understand that the nervous system generates behavior in multicellular animals.
• understand that nerve cells secrete excitatory and inhibitory molecules as a way to communicate with each other.
• understand that specialized cells that conduct rapid signals through the nerves form the nervous system.
• understand that sense organs detect light, sound, and chemicals.  These organs enable animals to monitor their surroundings.
• understand that the obtaining, transforming, transporting, releasing, and eliminating of matter and energy is determined by the organism's complexity and organization.
• understand the behavior of organisms.
• understand that the behaviors of organisms have evolved through natural selection.
• understand that an organism's behavior will change with internal and external stimuli.
• understand that the classification of the biological system is based on the relationship of all living organisms.
• explain how asexual and sexual reproduction pass genetic material from parent to offspring.
• understand that the most fundamental unit of classification for organisms is the species.
• describe how the evolutionary process of natural selection may spawn a new species.
• describe how new traits develop and stabilize in a species population.

The learner will be able to:

• understand that an atom or molecule gains or loses a discrete amount of energy.  Therefore, the atom or molecule can only absorb and emit light at wavelengths corresponding to that amount.  The size of the wavelengths are used to identify the substance.
• understand that the process of splitting a large nucleus into smaller pieces is called fission.
• understand that the process of two nuclei joining at extremely high temperature and pressure is called fusion.
• understand that the energy of the sun and stars is the result of fusion.
• understand that the reaction rate depends on several factors: the rate at which the reacting atoms and molecules encounter one another, the temperature, and the properties of the reacting species.
• understand that between any two charge objects there exists a force called the electric force.
• understand that two charged particles have a greater electric force than gravitational force.
• understand that the strength of the electric force is directly proportional to the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
• use wires, light bulbs, fuses, switches, and power sources to construct simple electric circuits.
• explain how the interaction of wires and magnets can produce electrical currents.
• understand the two aspects of electromagnetic forces: electricity and magnetism.
• understand that when a charged object is accelerated or decelerated, the result is an electromagnetic wave.
• understand the following as types of electromagnetic waves: radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, and gamma rays.
• understand that some materials are superconductors, which allow electrons to flow easily.  Other materials are insulated and obstruct the flow of electrons.
• understand that all energy can be classified into three types:  kinetic, potential, and rest.
• compare and contrast  the magnitude of change in energy during physical, chemical, and nuclear changes.
• describe the changes that occur in energy during physical, chemical, and nuclear changes.
• understand that over time, everything will become less organized and orderly.
• determine the original source of energy used by machines.
• explain how energy is stored in vibrating and oscillating objects.
• understand that in energy transfers the energy is dispersed uniformly.
• understand that energy is transferred into or out of a system in most chemical and nuclear reactions.
• explain how energy is transformed in vibrating and oscillating objects.
• describe how during transformations of natural and technological systems energy is conserved.
• associate waves, such as sound waves, to the transfer of energy.
• explain that when one object exerts force onto another object, a force is exerted onto the first object of equal magnitude and opposite in direction.
• understand forces and motion.
• understand that force can cause motion in objects.
• analyze machines in terms of force and motion.
• understand that gravity is a universal force that each body of mass exerts on any other body of mass.
• understand that the strength of the gravitational force between two bodies of mass is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
• associate colors with the wavelengths of light.
• understand that in liquids the molecules or atoms move around one another and do not move apart.
• understand that the formula f=ma can be used to calculate the magnitude of the change in motion independent of the nature of force.
• describe the direction and speed of an object using measurements and calculations.
• understand that to calculate the effects of forces on the motion of objects scientists use the laws of motion.
• use the properties of reactants and products to describe nuclear changes.
• understand that a nuclear reaction converts a fraction of the mass of interacting particles into energy.
• explain how sound recording devices work.
• associate the properties of sound to the characteristics of waves.
• describe the interaction of waves.
• use properties, such as frequency and amplitude, to describe waves.
• describe the different types of waves and their subsequent technological applications.

The learner will be able to:

• participate in group discussions:  summarize the findings of others, request clarification, request additional information, offer alternative perspectives.
• justify an explanation based on theoretical or empirical evidence.
• identify and explain the limitations of measuring instruments.
• identify possible reasons why a system, mechanical or electronic, may fail.
• use instruments and instructions to assemble systems, both mechanical and electronic.
• demonstrate procedures, knowledge base, and conceptual understandings of scientific investigations.
• perform a scientific investigation.
• plan a scientific investigation.
• demonstrate how math, science and technology apply in real world scenarios.
• develop a hypothetical questions for a scientific investigation.
• develop methods for testing hypotheses.
• gather and integrate information found in a variety of resources.
• explain how future scientific developments will be effected by historical, political and social factors.
• explain the historical development of scientific concepts.
• explain the limitations and the varying degrees of confidence surrounding scientific knowledge.
• use key points to reconstruct previously learned knowledge.