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Status

Open

Estimated Completion Time

2 segments / 36 weeks

Overview

Comprehensive Science 2 is the second course in the M/J Comprehensive Science Sequence. In this course, students explore: The Foundations of Science, Energy, The Earth and it’s features, The Earth’s internal and external structures and how they change, The Earth’s history, living things and how they change and interact, Genetics and Heredity, and The Organization of the living world. Some of these topics are introduced and serve as a foundation for Comprehensive Science 3 and others are discussed in detail. Students will learn through real-world examples and virtually visit six different continents to see science in action all over the world. Students will participate in activities and online laboratory experiences to apply what they have learned.

Major Topics and Concepts

Segment 1:

  • What is Science?
  • Scientific Theories
  • Scientific Laws
  • Scientific Method – importance
  • Scientific Method – steps
  • Experiments- variables
  • Metric System
  • Metric Conversions
  • The Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Light
  • The Law of Conservation of Energy
  • Energy Transfer and Transformation
  • Sound
  • Thermal Energy
  • Heat Transfer: Convection
  • Heat Transfer: Conduction
  • Heat Transfer: Radiation
  • Alternative Sources of Energy
  • The Earths’ Structure: Layers
  • The Earth as a system
  • Plate Tectonics
  • The theory of Continental Drift
  • Pangaea
  • Mountain Building
  • Volcanoes
  • Sea Floor Spreading
  • Formation of Oceans
  • Earthquakes
  • Graphing in Science
  • Seismic Waves
  • Faults

Segment 2:

  • Formation of rocks
  • Types of rocks
  • The rock cycle
  • Fossils
  • Erosion
  • Weathering
  • The Law of Superimposition
  • Radioactive dating
  • Human Impact on Lands
  • Lands Change over time
  • Human Impacts on Waters
  • Waters change over time
  • Cells
  • DNA
  • Heredity/Punnet Squares
  • Mitosis
  • Meiosis
  • Sexual Reproduction Asexual Reproduction
  • Genotypes
  • Phenotypes
  • Biodiversity: What is it?
  • Biodiversity: Why is it important?
  • Cloning/Genetic Engineering/Artificial Selection
  • Food Webs
  • Interactions of Species
  • Struggle to Survive and Thrive
  • Scientific Theory of Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Loss of Diversity/ Human Impacts
  • Extinction

Credits 1

Competencies

  • Matter and Energy
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of matter and energy by explaining transformation of energy, explaining conservation of energy, and explaining biological classification systems.
  • Interdependence of Biological Systems
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of life by describing types of biological interactions, explaining the role of limiting factors, and explaining principles of natural selection.
  • The Earth
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Earth by explaining processes used to measure the age of the earth, describing layers of the earth, and explaining plate tectonics.
  • Patterns of Change
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of patterns of change by explaining processes that shape the earth, describing heat flow inside the earth, and explaining the human impact on the earth.
  • Energy Resources
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of energy resources by explaining the components of the electromagnetic spectrum, explaining the properties of light, and explaining phases of matter.
  • Heredity and Genetics
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of genetics by describing biotechnology as a career field, explaining the role of DNA in heredity, and explaining mitosis and meiosis.

Pre-Requisites

Recommended for 7th grade.

Honors

Course: To take the Advanced version, please select the course from the"Advance/Honors/AP" drop down during registration.

Project/Experience: Honors is awarded by earning "Exceeds" on all rubric assessments.

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