Overview of Topics

Unit 1: Matter

  • Observations (p. 2)

  • Properties of Matter (p. 2)

  • Experiments (p. 3)

  • Metric System (p. 4)

  • Density (p. 5)

  • Atoms and the Periodic Table (p. 6)

Unit 2: Life on Earth

  • Plate Tectonics (p. 8)

  • Weather and Climate (p. 10)

  • Biomes and Adaptations (p. 11)

  • Cell Structure (p. 12)

Unit 3: Disaster Preparedness

  • Earthquakes and Volcanoes (p. 14)

  • Disaster Preparedness (p. 15)

  • Circulatory System (p. 16)

  • Respiratory System (p. 17)

  • Nervous System (p. 19)

Unit 1: Matter Observations

Key Terms

  • Quantitative: Measurements involving numbers.

  • Qualitative: Descriptive observations without numbers.

Skills

  • Ability to make detailed qualitative and quantitative observations.

  • Identify whether an observation is qualitative, quantitative, or both.

Practice

  1. Choose an Object: Make 5 quantitative and 5 qualitative observations.

  2. Classify Observations:

    • a. "The chair is blue." - Qualitative

    • b. "The cube weighs 1.3 kg." - Quantitative

    • c. "The textbooks are heavy." - Qualitative

    • d. "The cylinders are round and smooth." - Qualitative

Properties of Matter

Key Terms

  • Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.

  • Intrinsic Property: Does not change with the amount of material.

  • Extrinsic Property: Changes with the amount of material.

  • Density: Mass divided by volume.

  • Buoyancy: Ability to float in a fluid.

Skills

  • Describe matter using properties.

  • List and categorize different properties.

Practice

  1. Intrinsic/Extrinsic Properties:

    • Buoyancy - Intrinsic

    • Density - Intrinsic

    • Mass - Extrinsic

    • Texture - Extrinsic

    • Temperature - Extrinsic

    • Malleability - Extrinsic

  2. Discuss the importance of intrinsic properties in identifying materials.

Experiments

Key Terms

  • Independent Variable: What is changed in an experiment?

  • Dependent Variable: What is measured.

  • Controlled Variables: Factors kept the same.

Skills

  • Identify variables in experiments.

  • Explain the importance of controlled variables.

Practice

  1. JoAnn's Study:

    • Independent Variable: Type of food.

    • Dependent Variable: Energy levels.

    • Four Controlled Variables: Amount of food, amount of water, time of day, amount of sleep.

  2. Design an Experiment: Study tomato plant growth based on soil type.

    • Independent Variable: Type of soil.

    • Dependent Variable: Number of tomatoes.

Density

Key Terms

  • Density: Mass per unit volume.

  • Buoyancy: The ability to float based on density.

Skills

  • Calculate and interpret density.

  • Use density to identify materials.

Practice

  1. Density Formula: Density = Mass/Volume

  2. If an object has a density of 1.53 kg/L, it will not float in water.

  3. Object Density Calculations: Complete a table with given mass and volume data to calculate and identify materials.

Metric System

Key Terms

  • Base Unit: Standard units for measurement (gram, meter, liter).

  • Prefix: Modifiers that reflect the size (kilo-, milli-, etc.).

Skills

  • Identify metric prefixes and convert between units.

Practice

  1. Fill in the Metric Scale.

  2. Unit Conversion Problems.

Atoms and the Periodic Table

Key Terms

  • Atom: Basic unit of matter.

  • Molecule: Two or more atoms bonded together.

  • Subatomic Particles: Protons, neutrons, electrons.

Skills

  • Identify atomic structures and charges of subatomic particles.

  • Use the periodic table for element identification.

Practice

  1. Label an Atom Diagram.

  2. Identify Elements, Molecules, and Compounds.

  3. Explain HONC 1234 in terms of bonding.

Unit 2: Life on Earth - Plate Tectonics

Key Terms

  • Plate Boundary: Interface between tectonic plates.

  • Convection: Movement in fluids due to temperature differences.

Skills

  • Describe Earth's interior structure.

  • Explain convection currents and their effect on tectonic plate movement.

Practice

  1. Complete a Table with plate boundaries and associated geological features.

  2. Label Earth's Layers in a diagram.

Weather and Climate

Key Terms

  • Climate: Average weather over time.

  • Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions.

Skills

  • Explain differences between climate and weather.

  • Understand formation of convection currents in the atmosphere.

Practice

  1. Draw Convection Currents.

  2. Define Climate and Weather with real-world examples.

Biomes and Adaptations

Key Terms

  • Biome: Large ecological areas with distinct climate and life.

  • Adaptation: Traits that improve survival in specific environments.

Skills

  • Describe major biomes and their characteristics.

Practice

  1. Analyze a Climatograph and infer conditions.

  2. Describe plant and animal adaptations to the rainforest biome.

Cell Structure

Key Terms

  • Organelle: Specialized structures within cells.

  • Prokaryote/Eukaryote: Cell types with distinct characteristics.

Skills

  • Identify differences between plant and animal cells.

Practice

  1. Compare Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration through a table.

  2. Explain the importance of these processes in cells.

Disaster Preparedness

Key Terms

  • Scene Size Up: Initial assessment of an emergency situation.

  • Disaster Kit: Collection of essential supplies for emergencies.

Skills

  • Describe the importance of disaster preparedness in emergencies.

Practice

  1. Simulated Scenario Response: Detail actions in a gym emergency.

  2. Identify Injured Body Systems and treatment approaches.