Curriculum Guide

Unit One

8 wks

Exploring Physical Science

Universal themes of science,  History of Science, The Scientific Method, The Metric System, Dimensional Analysis, Laboratory Safety, General Properties of Matter,  Mass, Weight, and Inertia, The difference between mass and inertia, Weight and gravity, Volume and Density

Unit Two

6

Physical and Chemical Changes

Phases of Matter, Phase Changes, Chemical properties and changes, Classes of Matter, Solubility, Soluble, Insoluble, Saturated, Supersaturated, Elements and Atoms, Chemical symbols, Compounds, Chemical Equations and Balancing Chemical equations, Law of Conservation of Matter, electron, proton, neutron, isotope, mass number, energy levels, nucleus, atomic number, valence electrons, Periodic Table, patterns of periodic table to predict properties of fictional/proposed elements

Unit Three

4

Chemical Bonding and Reactions

atoms reach stability and the role of valence electrons in establishing stability, label the basic parts of a chemical formula: reactant, products, Explain the relationship between the conservation of mass and balancing chemical equations

Unit Four

3

Kinetics and Acid/ Base Chemistry

exothermic and endothermic reactions, activation energy

the properties of an acid and a base, Construct and draw electron-dot diagrams of hydrocarbons and substituted hydrocarbons

Unit Five

5

Describing Motion

 

solve complex word problems that require a working knowledge of the applications of speed, velocity, vectors, and acceleration,  Newton’s Three Laws of Motion as well as the Law of Universal Gravitation,  Apply the four laws to how objects travel in space (w/out friction), how they travel on the moon or other planets (less or more gravity), and how they travel on the earth (w/friction).

Unit Six

2.5

Applications of the Properties of Fluids

Explain how the four forces, gravity, thrust, drag, and lift affect the flight of an airplane,  the principle of fluid pressure and Bernoulli’s principle,  Explain how to manipulate an objects density by changing its mass or volume

Unit Seven

2

Work and Simple Machines

Solve complex word problems related to work, power, and mechanical advantage, Apply the concept of mechanical advantage to simple machines efficiency

Unit Eight

3

Heat and Energy

 

define the five types of energy and categorize examples according to their type,  Apply the concept of thermal expansion of most solids, liquids, and gases to different situations: including thermometers, wind currents, and convection currents