MONTH TOPIC AND OVER- SKILLS AND ASSESSMENT RESOURCES AND ARCHING QUESTIONS STRATEGIES LINKS Fall & Spring PHENOLOGY Data collection (Environmental Science) How long is the growing season in our schoolyard? Classify plants based on physical characteristics of leaves Weekly data collection sheets Quizzes Harvard Forest Schoolyard Research Buds, Leaves and Global Warming protocols How might the length of the growing season relate to climate? Identify structures in plants Graphs made from collected data Differentiate between observed characteristics of plants that are affected by climate or environment Sept- Nov MIXTURES and SOLUTIONS What types of substances make up the world around us? What factors affect solubility and saturation? How can we as scientists design experiments to answer our? How can we compare the concentration of different solutions? How can you tell a chemical reaction has occurred? Measuring the volume and mass of solids, liquids, mixtures and solutions Comparing behavior of certain materials in water (solubility) Generating specific for scientific inquiry Developing plans to answer scientific Measure solids and liquids Informal lab report to measure ability to plan and execute experiments to answer scientific Weekly homework to measure ability to write and verbalize scientific explanations Use of scientific vocabulary from classroom lessons Application of knowledge and data to determine to contents of a mystery solution Foss Investigations: Mixtures and Solutions
while examining chemical reactions Developing skills of inquiry through investigation of personal
Dec- Jan FORENSICS (General Science and Chemistry) What is forensic science? How are keen observations used to solve a crime? Inference vs. observation Observing a Crime Scene, collecting evidence, & synthesizing data 12 Evidence Experiments Definitions of key terms Police Report Ward s Forensic Science Kit MA. State Police Forensics Visit Books: Eyewitness Crime and Detection What is an inference? Writing a Crime Report Feb- April Why is organization important to a forensic scientist and detective? ROBOTICS (Physical Science) What are robots? How do I select ppropriate materials, tools, and machines that extend our ability to solve problems and invent? How do I use engineering design that requires creative thinking and strategies to solve practical problems generated by needs and wants? How can this unit help me to strengthen my skills as a cooperative worker and problem solver? Robot challenges Problem solving using Lego NXT kits Recognizing and identifying parts and processes integral to robots Self- evaluation and self- assessment (reflection) processes Lego NXT Problem solving challenges Design journal Final Project: plan, develop and present a robot to overcome a given challenge Lego Mindstorms NXT sets
May- June Vernal Pools /Tide Pools (Life Science) How are animals and plants designed to thrive in these environments and in their unique habitats? What impact do humans have on these environments? What responsibility do humans have to help it survive? What role can I play in helping these environments thrive? Investigation of internet and print resources to build basic understanding about topical Scientific sketching and description of vernal pool/tide pool organisms Investigation (through experimentation and research) of the human impact on the vernal pool/tide pool environments Observation and drawing at the shore Online scavenger hunt Museum Exhibit, museum cards Guiding Questions worksheets on vernal pools reading Group Project on human impact on vernal pools and tide pools tide pools (oil spill/pollution simulations) Harvard Forest Schoolyard Research Water in the Landscape: Vernal Pools The Rocky Shore- Seacoast Science Center Teacher s Guide Field Trips- Ipswich River in April/Marblehead in May A variety of picture books and videotapes about oceans, vernal pools and rocky shore environments Comparing and contrasting tide pools and vernal pools Revised 6/13/11 Revised again 1/12/12 MIXTURES and SOLUTIONS What types of substances make up the world around us? What factors effect solubility and Measuring solids and liquids to make mixtures and solutions Comparing behavior of certain Ability to plan and execute experiments to answer scientific
saturation? How can we as scientists design experiments to answer our? How can we compare the concentration of different solutions? How can you tell a chemical reaction has occurred? materials in water (solubility) Generating specific for scientific inquiry Developing plans to answer scientific Measure solids and liquids while conducting chemical reactions Developing skills of inquiry through investigation of personal Ability to write and verbalize scientific explanations Use of scientific vocabulary from classroom lessons Application of knowledge and data to determine to contents of a mystery solution