Science Explorations Course Plan

Course Description:
Science Explorations is an integrated, thematically-designed science course. It serves as a
foundational course that provides the science skills and processes required to be successful
in future science courses such as biology, chemistry and principles of biomedical science.
The course is laboratory-based and focuses on scientific inquiry and data analysis. Content
areas explored include infectious and hereditary diseases, water resources-local and global,
energy resources, the sky-astronomy, climate, and air pollution.

Unit 1: Water
Objectives:
 You will be able to understand the structure of a water molecule and its effect
on its properties
o SCI.CC6.m
o SCI.PS1.A.h
 You will be able to test and appraise the properties of water compared to
other fluids
o SCI.CC6.m
o SCI.PS1.A.h
 You will be able to test water from the wetlands for phosphates, nitrates, pH,
and dissolved oxygen
o SCI.SEP3.A.h
 You will test hypotheses regarding groundwater movement
o SCI.ESS2.C.h
 You will be able to create maps using ArcGIS Online that involve
downstream tracing, watersheds, and join operations
o SCI.SEP4.A.h
 You will be able to determine the groundwater contamination susceptibility
of frac sand mines
o SCI.SEP4.A.h
 You will be able to compare the GWCS of frac sand mines to the rest of the
state
o SCI.SEP4.A.h

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 Science Explorations Course Plan

 You will be able to construct models and design experiments of concepts

covered in class
o SCI.CC4.h
o SCI.SEP2.A.h
 You will be able to read and explain a science article
o SCI.SEP8.A.h
Assessments:
 Formative
o Draw a Water Molecule
o I Can’t Handle the Tension Lab
o Water on Zork Lab
o Water Test Lab
o Color Me a Watershed Lab
o Groundwater Racing Lab
o Wetlands Mapping Lab
o Frac Sand Mine Lab
o Article Day
 Summative
o Water Quiz One
o Water Quiz Two
o Test or Optional Project

Unit 2: Ecology and Disease

Objectives:
 You will be able to make survivorship curves from recent existing data
o SCI.SEP2.A.h
 You will be able to compare survivorship curves between different species
and populations
o SCI.SEP4.A.h
 You will be able to construct a food web and analyze relationships between
prey and predator
o SCI.CC2.h
o SCI.LS2.A.m
 You will be able to categorize the remains of prey in owl pellets
o SCI.LS2.A.m
 You will be able to graph the remains of prey and variety of bones in owl
pellets
o SCI.LS2.A.m
 You will be able to infer how biomagnification affects different species

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 Science Explorations Course Plan

o SCI.CC2.h
 You will be able to demonstrate how diseases can spread
o SCI.SEP2.A.h
 You will be able to compare and contrast the effect of disinfectants on
bacterial and fungal cultures
o SCI.SEP3.A.h
 You will be able to distinguish between parts of animal and plant cells
o SCI.LS1.A.h
 You will be able to predict the probability of an offspring’s traits
o SCI.LS3.A.h
 You will be able to design an experiment of your choice
o SCI.SEP1.A.h
o SCI.SEP3.A.h
 You will be able to explain your experiment fully
o SCI.SEP8.A.h
Assessments:
 Formative
o Survivorship Curves Lab
o What’s Eating You?
o Owl Pellet Lab
o Hazardous Links
o Black Death Party
o Cell Scavenger Hunt
o Bacteria Fighters Class Experiment
o Pipe Cleaner Babies
 Summative
o Ecology Quiz
o Disease Quiz
o Experiment Project
o Test

Unit 3: Energy
Objectives:
 You will be able to calculate potential energy
o SCI.SEP5.A.h
o SCI.PS2.A.h
 You will be able to understand how potential energy can be changed by mass,
gravity, and height
o SCI.CC2.h

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 Science Explorations Course Plan

o SCI.PS2.A.h
 You will be able to calculate kinetic energy
o SCI.SEP5.A.h
o SCI.PS2.A.h
 You will be able to understand how kinetic energy can be changed by mass
and velocity
o SCI.CC2.h
o SCI.PS2.A.h
 You will be able to measure the effect of increased potential energy on kinetic
energy
o SCI.SEP5.A.h
 You will be able to understand how momentum can be changed by mass and
velocity
o SCI.CC2.h
 You will be able to calculate voltage, current, and resistance in series and
parallel circuits
o SCI.SEP5.A.h
 You will be able to build series and parallel circuits using paper and assorted
tools
o SCI.SEP6.A.h
 You will be able to create a dye-sensitized solar cell using organic materials
o SCI.PS3.D.h
 You will be able to construct models and design experiments of concepts
covered in class
o SCI.CC4.h
o SCI.SEP2.A.h
 You will be able to read and explain a science article
o SCI.SEP8.A.h
Assessments:
 Formative
o Potential Energy Notes
o NRG of a Golf Ball
o Energy Skate Park PhET
o Barbie Bungee Lab
o Kinetic Energy of a Golf Ball
o Momentum – Collision Carts Lab
o Fossil Riddles
o Solar Cell Lab
o Article Day

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 Science Explorations Course Plan

 Summative
o Energy Quiz
o Paper Circuits
o Test or Optional Project

Unit 4: Earth and Space Science

Objectives:
 You will be able to classify galaxies according to Hubble
o SCI.ESS1.A.h
 You will be able to design your own classification system for galaxies
o SCI.ESS1.A.h
 You will be able to create a model of the solar system
o SCI.CC4.h
o SCI.SEP2.A.h
 You will be able to calculate for the scale of the model
o SCI.CC3.h
 You will be able to arrange the stages of a star’s life cycle in order
o SCI.ESS1.A.h
 You will be able to evaluate where a star falls along the star gauge for color
and luminosity
o SCI.ESS1.A.h
 You will be able to graph stars’ luminosity against color to create an HR
diagram
o SCI.ESS1.A.h
 You will be able to distinguish climate from weather
o SCI.ESS2.D.3
 You will be able to explain how climate can change
o SCI.ESS3.D.m
 You will be able to develop a presentation to persuade an audience in an
effort to form an expedition to your chosen biome
o SCI.SEP7.A.h
 You will be able to explain weather systems using models and experiments
o SCI.ESS2.D.m
 You will be able to test minerals for specific characteristics
o SCI.ESS2.A.h
 You will be able to create maps using ArcGIS Online which convey important
information about natural resources and features of the Earth
o SCI.ESS3.C.h
 You will be able to analyze the process of recovering copper from malachite,
and how it can impact the environment

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 Science Explorations Course Plan

o SCI.ESS3.C.h
 You will be able to design an experiment of your choice
o SCI.SEP1.A.h
o SCI.SEP3.A.h
 You will be able to explain your experiment fully
o SCI.SEP8.A.h
Assessments:
 Formative
o Galaxy Sorting
o Solar System on a String
o Life Cycle of a Star
o How Old Are the Jewels?
o Build a Biome Project and Presentation
o Weather Stations Lab
o What’s that Mineral Lab
o ArcGIS Online Mapping Labs
o Recovery of Copper from Malachite Lab
 Summative
o Astronomy Quiz
o Earth Materials Quiz
o Experiment Project
o Test

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