| How do we measure the world around us?
What is the scientific method, and how do scientists use it to investigate phenomena?
What is density and how does it help explain natural phenomena?
| MEASUREMENT REVIEW
• Basic vocabulary
... temperature
... volume
... length
... mass
• Rate of change
... percent error
... scientific notation
... metric conversions
• Graphing review
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• Traditional vs. Practical Scientific Method
DENSITY
• Relationship between mass and volume
• Sink/float relationships
• Phase changes
• States of matter
• Unique properties of water
• Formation of the earth
| MEASUREMENT REVIEW
• Manipulate basic lab equipment to collect data
... thermometer
... graduated cylinder
... ruler
... triple beam balance
• Make connections between science & mathematics
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• Skeptical Habits of Mind
• Observe/infer
• Hypothesize/predict
• Organize/interpret an experiment
• Construct and Interpret Graphs/Best Fit Line
• Use library resources to conduct research
DENSITY
• Conduct, measure and analyze data in a density lab experiment
• Infer using density column to determine relative density of unknown materials
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Energy within Earth Systems | How are work, force, and motion related?
What is energy? What forms can it take?
How is energy produced for human use?
What are some alternative sources of energy?
| WORK, FORCE, MOTION
• Define work, force and motion
• Relationship between work, force and motion
• Relationship of work, force and motion to energy
• Newton's 3 Laws of Motion
ENERGY
• Potential/kinetic
• Forms
• Transformations
• Law of conservation of energy
• Methods of electricity generation:
... fossils fuels
... nuclear energy
... alternative energy sources
ENERGY FOR LIVING THINGS
... photosynthesis
... respiration
| WORK, FORCE, MOTION
• Identify and explain work, force and motion and their relationship to energy
• Calculate work, force and motion
ENERGY
• Identify and predict changes of potential and kinetic energy
• Calculate kinetic and potential energy
• Solve basic physics math problems
• Identify and analyze changes of forms of energy
• Apply the Law of Conservation of Energy to explain energy transformations and loss of energy
• Identify and debate pros and cons of the current use of energy vs. alternative energy sources
ENERGY FOR LIVING THINGS
• Describe the cycling of energy though living things
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Chemistry within Earth Systems | What is a chemical? How and why do they interact to form the substances around us?
| CHEMICALS
• Structure of atoms
• Formation of compounds
CHEMICAL CHANGES
• Types of chemical changes
• Law of Conservation of Matter
• Acids/bases
• Mechanics of reaction rate
• Physical v. chemical changes
| CHEMICALS
• Construct and identify various elements, molecules/compounds
• Calculate number of protons, electrons and neutrons given atomic number and/or mass
• Use the periodic table for above and to identify families of chemical behavior
• Use the periodic table to predict and explain chemical bonding
CHEMICAL CHANGES
• Read and balance chemical reactions
• Identify different chemical reactions
• Investigate factors that can affect the rate of reaction
• Distinguish between endothermic and exothermic reactions
• Use various laboratory apparatus including Bunsen burner, test tubes, beakers, flasks, etc
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Human Interrelationships within our Biosphere | What are the biotic and abiotic factors found in an ecosystem, and how do they behave and interact?
How does the biosphere interact with the geosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere?
What effects do humans have on the biosphere?
| ECOSYSTEMS
• Living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
• How species interact with each other
... prediation
... competition
... parasitism
... commensalism
... mutualism
BIODIVERSITY
• Adaptation to an environment
• Natural selection
ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM
• Cycling of materials
... water
... nitrogen
... carbon
... others
• Food chains
• Food webs
• Trophic relationships
| ECOSYSTEMS
• Differentiate between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem
• Describe how ecosystems change over time (succession)
• Identify biotic relationships
BIODIVERSITY
• Explain role of biodiversity in the health of an ecosystem
• Relate adaptations of organisms to various biomes
• Explain how natural selection drives the adaptation and evolution of species
ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM
• Describe key components of the major Earth cycles
• Identify, construct and analyze food chains/webs
• Identify, construct and analyze energy pyramids
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Human Interrelationships within our Hydrosphere | How is water an essential resource?
What effects do humans have on their water resources, and what are some solutions?
How does the hydrosphere interact with atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere?
What effects do humans have on the hydrosphere?
| WATER USE AND ABUSE
• Water resources
• Water pollution
• Effects of pollution on an ecosystem
• Point vs. non-point source pollution
• Relationship between land use and water quality (watershed)
• Solutions to pollution
| WATER USE AND ABUSE
• Identify sources and distribution of water on Earth
• Trace the path of water from surface/groundwater through home/commercial use, waste and back to source
• Differentiate between point & non-point source pollution
• Identify causes and effects of pollution
... biomagnifications
... accumulation
... eutrophication
• Relate land use to water quality
• Extrapolate solutions to water pollution
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Human Interrelationships with our Atmosphere | How are air and weather related?
What effects do humans have on the atmosphere?
How does the atmosphere interact with the geosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere?
| CLIMATE AND WEATHER
• Composition of the atmosphere
• Climate fundamentals (i.e. greenhouse effect)
• Weather fundamentals
HUMAN IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY
• Acid precipitation
• Ozone depletion
• Global warming
• Solutions to pollution
| CLIMATE AND WEATHER
• Identify the composition of the atmosphere
• Distinguish between climate and weather
• Trace and analyze the source of wind (local and regional)
• Differentiate low and high pressure and how it affects weather
• Analyze a weather map and predict weather
HUMAN IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY
• Identify causes and effects of human activities on air quality
• Extrapolate solutions to air pollution
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Human Interrelationships with our Geosphere | How is land an essential resource?
What effects do humans have on the land, and what are some solutions?
What effects do humans have on the geosphere?
How does the geosphere interact with the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere?
| LAND AS A RESOURCE
• Composition and thickness of Earth’s geosphere
• Natural shaping of the land
STUDYING HUMAN IMPACT ON LAND QUALITY
• Earth’s fields (i.e. magnetosphere)
• Watersheds and waste management
• Topographic maps
• Latitude/longitude
• Patterns of water flow
• Soil formation and characteristics
| LAND AS A RESOURCE
• Apply concepts of density to the composition and layering of Earth’s geosphere during formation
• Identify factors of erosion and other types of weathering in shaping the land
STUDYING HUMAN IMPACT ON LAND QUALITY
• Explain relationship between land use and water quality (watersheds)
• Use latitude and longitude to identify position on the Earth
• Read a topographic map
• Identify the flow of water using aerial photography and topographic maps
• Describe formation of soil and explain soil characteristics
• Measure physical and chemical properties of soil
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Comprehsensive Study of Earth Systems Science | How can the biology and chemistry of our local waters show the water’s quality?
In what ways can we measure a stream’s water quality?
Disclaimer: Traditionally this has been a stream ecology study but work is underway to create a comprehensive, culminating investigation of Earth System Science.
| STUDYING A STREAM ECOSYSTEM
Determining health of a stream ecosystem including:
• Biological testing
• Physical testing
• Chemical testing
| STUDYING A STREAM ECOSYSTEM
• Interpret NYS DEC water quality regulations manual
• Use a variety of equipment and technology to collect and analyze data from a local body of water in order to measure: (following is a menu of options):
... flow-rate
... nitrates/nitrites
... phosphates
... pH
... temperature
... dissolved oxygen
... fecal coliform bacteria
... turbidity
... conductivity
• Collect, identify and analyze macro-invertebrates taken from a local body of water
• Use tests to assess local water quality
• Develop hypotheses, collect data, interpret data and draw conclusions
• Relate and demonstrate relationship between 8th grade science content and skills to comprehensive ecological field study
• Apply and communicate understanding of Earth system connections during cumulative field experience
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