Middle School

Middle School Comprehensive Science 1/Middle School Comprehensive Science 1 Advanced

1.0 Credit
2 segments / 36 weeks
Open

Comprehensive Science 1 is the first in a series of three consecutive science classes. This course provides an introduction to Science, Energy, Force, Weather, Climate, The Earth’s Systems, and the Living World. Some topics are explored in depth while others are introduced to serve as building blocks for Comprehensive Science 2 and 3. During this course students will explore science through every day examples and experiences. Students will participate in activities and online laboratory experiences to apply what they have learned.

Competencies

Force and Energy

Students will demonstrate an understanding of force and energy by summarizing types of forces, explaining strategies for measuring speed and distance, and describing types of energy.

The Earth

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Earth by describing landforms, explaining the weathering process, and describing the Earth’s ecological system.

The Atmosphere

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the atmosphere by explaining the effects of the atmosphere, explaining principles of climate formation, and explaining the water cycle.

Organization of Organisms

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the organization of organisms by describing the levels of organization in an organism, explaining elements in the human body, and describing the role of cells in living organisms.

Life Classification Systems

Students will demonstrate an understanding of life classification systems by explaining the process of homeostasis, describing the process of classifying organisms scientifically, and explaining the function of a taxonomic key.

Systems of the Human Body

Students will demonstrate an understanding of systems of the human body by explaining the function of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, explaining the function of the endocrine and reproductive systems, explaining the function of the respiratory and circulatory systems, and explaining the function of the digestive and immune systems.

Major Topics and Concepts

Segment 1:

  • What is science?
  • Scientific Theories
  • Scientific Laws
  • Scientific Method- purpose
  • Scientific Method -steps
  • Metric System
  • Metric Conversions
  • Graphing for Science
  • What is energy?
  • Potential and Kinetic Energy
  • Law of Conservation of Energy
  • Energy transfers and transformations
  • Heat and Temperature
  • Heat Transfer Convection
  • Heat Transfer Conduction
  • Heat Transfer Radiation
  • Nonrenewable Energy
  • Renewable Energy
  • What is force?
  • What is mass?
  • How does mass effect force/
  • Contact forces
  • Contact forces friction
  • Balanced forces
  • Unbalanced forces
  • Distance Forces
  • Distance Force: Gravity
  • Distance Force: Magnetism
  • Distance Forces: electrical
  • What is speed
  • Determining speed (mathematical approach)
  • Graphing for speed and distance

Segment 2:

  • What is weather?
  • Cloud formation and types
  • Precipitation
  • Air pressure
  • Temperature
  • Temperature Graphing, Mathematical approach
  • Wind currents
  • Humidity and temperature
  • Historical weather events and folklore
  • Earth’s Systems
  • Interactions between Earth’s Systems
  • Jet Stream
  • Ocean Currents
  • Natural Disasters
  • Natural Disasters: Hurricanes
  • Natural Disasters: Tornadoes
  • Protection from Natural Disasters
  • Dangers and Protection from the Sun
  • How weather affects the physical features of the earth
  • Physical Weathering
  • Chemical Weathering
  • What is climate?
  • Global Warming
  • Hierarchical organization of organisms
  • Cell theory
  • Organelles
  • Cell Processes: Respiration
  • Cell Processes: Waste removal
  • Cell Processes: Mitosis
  • Human Body Systems
  • Classification of the Living World

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