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Click on any standard to search for aligned resources. This data may be subject to copyright. You may download a CSV of the Georgia Science Learning Standards if your intention constitutes fair use.
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Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.
By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-12 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.
Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11-12 texts and topics.
Analyze how the text structures information or ideas into categories or hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or ideas
Analyze the authors purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, identifying important issues that remain unresolved.
Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem
Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.
. Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences
Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences the claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence
Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant data and evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both claim(s) and counterclaims in a discipline-appropriate form that anticipates the audiences knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.
Use words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented.
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes
Introduce a topic and organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audiences knowledge of the topic.
Use varied transitions and sentence structures to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.
Use precise language, domain-specific vocabulary and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the complexity of the topic; convey a knowledgeable stance in a style that responds to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers.
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation provided (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation
Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Students will analyze anatomical structures in relationship to their physiological functions
Apply correct terminology when explaining the orientation of body parts and regions.
Investigate the interdependence of the various body systems to each other and to the body as a whole.
Explain the role of homeostasis and its mechanisms as these relate to the body as a whole and predict the consequences of the failure to maintain homeostasis.
Relate cellular metabolism and transport to homeostasis and cellular reproduction.
Describe how structure and function are related in terms of cell and tissue types.
Students will analyze the interdependence of the integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems as these relate to the protection, support and movement of the human body.
Relate the structure of the integumentary system to its functional role in protecting the body and maintaining homeostasis
Explain how the skeletal structures provide support and protection for tissues, and function together with the muscular system to make movements possible.
Students will assess the integration and coordination of body functions and their dependence on the endocrine and nervous systems to regulate physiological activities.
Interpret interactions among hormones, senses, and nerves which make possible the coordination of functions of the body.
Investigate the physiology of electrochemical impulses and neural integration and trace the pathway of an impulse, relating biochemical changes involved in the conduction of the impulse.
Describe how the body perceives internal and external stimuli and responds to maintain a stable internal environment, as it relates to biofeedback.
Students will analyze the physical, chemical, and biological properties of process systems as these relate to transportation, absorption and excretion, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, excretory and immune systems.
Describe the chemical and physical mechanisms of digestion, elimination, transportation, and absorption within the body to change food and derive energy.
Analyze, and explain the relationships between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems as they obtain oxygen needed for the oxidation of nutrients and removal of carbon dioxide
Relate the role of the urinary system to regulation of body wastes (i.e. waterelectrolyte balance, volume of body fluids).
Examine various conditions that change normal body functions (e.g. tissue rejection, allergies, injury, diseases and disorders) and how the body responds.
Students will analyze the role of the reproductive system as it pertains to the growth and development of humans.
Explain how the functions of the reproductive organs are regulated by hormonal interactions.
Describe the stages of human embryology and gestation including investigation of gestational and congenital disorders (e.g. ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, cleft palate, hydrocephaly, fetal alcohol syndrome).
Describe the stages of development from birth to adulthood (i.e. neonatal period, infancy, childhood, adolescence and puberty, and maturity).
Students will explain the tools used by astronomers to study electromagnetic radiation to determine composition, motions, and other physical attributes of astronomical objects.
Explain the challenges faced by astronomers due to the properties of light and the vast distances in the cosmos.
Evaluate the types of telescopes used by astronomers for examining different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and compare and contrast the uses and advantages of each (e.g. radio, visible, gamma ray, reflector, and refractor).
Mathematically apply Newtonian gravity to celestial bodies to determine their masses and explain their motion (e.g. Keplers Laws)
Discuss how spectroscopy provides information about the inherent properties and motions of objects.
Quantitatively analyze data from telescopes (e.g. spectra, multi-wavelength photometry, and images) and/or other astronomical sources (e.g. tide tables, sky charts).
Students will describe the scientific view of the origin of the universe, the evolution of matter and the development of resulting celestial objects.
Outline the main arguments and evidence in support of the standard cosmological model. (e.g. elements, solar systems, and universe)
Describe the life cycle of a star and explain the role gravity and mass play in the brightness, life span, and end-stages of stars
Compare and contrast the major properties of the components of our solar system
Students will describe and explain the celestial sphere and astronomical observations made from the point of reference of the Earth.
Evaluate the effects of the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and sun on observable phenomena, e.g. phases of the moon, eclipses, seasons, and diurnal cycles
Describe how latitude and time of the year affect visibility of constellations.
Predict visibility of planets (major and minor) in the solar system based on relative orbital motion.
Students analyze the dynamic nature of astronomy by comparing and contrasting evidence supporting current views of the universe with historical views.
Evaluate the impact that technological advances, as an agent of change, have had on our modern view of the solar system and universe
Explain the relevance of experimental contributions of scientists to the advancement of the field of astronomy.
Students will evaluate the significance of energy transfers and energy transformations in understanding the universe.
Relate nuclear fusion reactions and mass-energy equivalence to the life cycle of stars
Explain the relationship between the energy produced by fusion in stars to the luminosity.
Analyze the energy relationships between the mass, power output, and life span of stars.
Describe energy transfers and transformations associated with the motion and interactions of celestial bodies (e.g. orbits, binary pulsars, meteors, black holes, and galaxy mergers).
Students will explore connections between cosmic phenomena and conditions necessary for life
Characterize the habitable zone in solar systems and habitable planetary bodies in our own and other solar systems
Describe the tools and techniques used to identify extrasolar planets and explore extrasolar planetary atmospheres.
Explain how astronomical hazards and global atmospheric changes have impacted the evolution of life on Earth.
Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells
Explain the role of cell organelles for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the cell membrane, in maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction.
Identify the function of the four major macromolecules (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids).
Explain the impact of water on life processes (i.e., osmosis, diffusion).
Students will analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
Explain the role of DNA in storing and transmitting cellular information
Using Mendels laws, explain the role of meiosis in reproductive variability.
Describe the relationships between changes in DNA and potential appearance of new traits including
Compare the advantages of sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction in different situations.
Examine the use of DNA technology in forensics, medicine, and agriculture.
Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
Explain the cycling of energy through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration
Compare how structures and function vary between the six kingdoms (archaebacteria, eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals)
Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystems.
Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.
Comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid.
Explaining the need for cycling of major nutrients (C, O, H, N, P)
Relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems
Assess and explain human activities that influence and modify the environment such as global warming, population growth, pesticide use, and water and power consumption.
Relate plant adaptations, including tropisms, to the ability to survive stressful environmental conditions
Relate animal adaptations, including behaviors, to the ability to survive stressful environmental conditions.
Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution
Explain the history of life in terms of biodiversity, ancestry, and the rates of evolution.
. Recognize the role of evolution to biological resistance (pesticide and antibiotic resistance).
Students will use current plant phylogenetic principles and describe the structural changes used to delineate the plant divisions
Describe the major structures and evolutionary changes of major organs, tissues, cells, and organelle types in nonvascular/seedless and vascular/seed plants
Identify and evaluate plant structures in relation to their functions
Use, compare, and contrast the methods and purposes of plant classification
Students will be able to identify and describe Georgias major physiographic provinces and their natural plant communities.
Identify and describe four major regions (mountain, piedmont, coastal plain, salt marsh), the aquatic systems [freshwater, estuaries, and marine]) systems, and their natural plant (oak-hickory-pine, oak-pine, long leaf pine-wire grass, cord grass, algal) communities of Georgia
Use taxonomic keys to identify local flora and recognize major representative groups of the southeast.
Explore the effects of nonnative invasive plants on natural communities
Investigate the factors that cause plants to become endangered and the effect that extinction has on natural communities.
Students will explore the structures and processes necessary for the mutual survival of plants and animals.
Describe and relate plant structures (organs, tissues, cells, organelles) to plant processes (photosynthesis, respiration, transport, growth, reproduction, dispersal).
Explore how flowering plants and animals have co-evolved in pollination, which confers genetic and evolutionary advantages.
Explore how fruit and seed adaptations help promote dispersal, which prevents competition between plants and helps in colonization.
Students will explore the defense systems of plants and recognize the impact of plant diseases on the biosphere.
Examine how plants respond to diseases caused by pathogens (i.e. insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses) and attempt to protect themselves from those disease causing agents.
Students will analyze the diversity of plant adaptations and responses to environmental extremes.
Describe the diversity of plants and their adaptations in relation to differing ecosystems and changing environments, both long term (climate) and short term (seasonal and diurnal).
Examine plant growth and development in relation to plant hormones and responses to external signals such as light, gravity, and touch.
Describe and relate plant adaptations to the ability to survive stressful environments (water extremes, saline environment, and extreme temperature)
Analyze how human activities impact plants and the sustainability of plant communities
Explain the role of plant processes in the biosphere (i.e. energy and cycling of major nutrients (C, O, H, N, and P).
Students will analyze the economic and ecological importance of plants in society.
Explain the uses and values of plants in different societies (agriculture, horticulture, industry, medicine, biotechnology).
Explain how plants impact the environment providing diverse habitats for birds, insects, and other wildlife in ecosystems.
Investigate ethical issues related to genetic engineering of plants.
Relate the role of nuclear fusion in producing essentially all elements heavier than helium
Predict formulas for stable ionic compounds (binary and tertiary) based on balance of charges.
Students will relate how the Law of Conservation of Matter is used to determine chemical composition in compounds and chemical reactions.
Experimentally determine indicators of a chemical reaction specifically precipitation, gas evolution, water production, and changes in energy to the system
Apply concepts of the mole and Avogadros number to conceptualize and calculate
Identify and solve different types of stoichiometry problems, specifically relating mass to moles and mass to mass.
Students will use the modern atomic theory to explain the characteristics of atoms.
Discriminate between the relative size, charge, and position of protons, neutrons, and electrons in the atom.
Use the orbital configuration of neutral atoms to explain its effect on the atoms chemical properties
Explain the relationship of the proton number to the elements identity.
Explain the relationship of isotopes to the relative abundance of atoms of a particular element.
Compare and contrast types of chemical bonds (i.e. ionic, covalent).
Relate light emission and the movement of electrons to element identification.
Students will use the organization of the Periodic Table to predict properties of elements.
Use the Periodic Table to predict periodic trends including atomic radii, ionic radii, ionization energy, and electronegativity of various elements.
Compare and contrast trends in the chemical and physical properties of elements and their placement on the Periodic Table.
Students will understand that the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs can be affected by changing concentration, temperature, or pressure and the addition of a catalyst.
Demonstrate the effects of changing concentration, temperature, and pressure on chemical reactions
Investigate the effects of a catalyst on chemical reactions and apply it to everyday examples.
Explain the role of activation energy and degree of randomness in chemical reactions.
Students will understand the effects motion of atoms and molecules in chemical and physical processes.
Compare and contrast atomic/molecular motion in solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas.
Collect data and calculate the amount of heat given off or taken in by chemical or physical processes
Analyzing (both conceptually and quantitatively) flow of energy during change of state (phase).
Students will characterize the properties that describe solutions and the nature of acids and bases.
Explain the process of dissolving in terms of solute/solvent interactions:
Observe factors that effect the rate at which a solute dissolves in a specific solvent,
Prepare and properly label solutions of specified molar concentration
Students will evaluate the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science
Recognize that different explanations often can be given for the same evidence.
Explain that further understanding of scientific problems relies on the design and execution of new experiments which may reinforce or weaken opposing explanations.
Students will use standard safety practices for all classroom laboratory and field investigations
Follow correct protocol for identifying and reporting safety problems and violations
Graphically compare and analyze data points and/or summary statistics
Evaluate whether conclusions are reasonable by reviewing the process and checking against other available information.
Students use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating scientific equipment and materials.
Develop and use systematic procedures for recording and organizing information
Use technology to develop, test, and revise experimental or mathematical models
Students will demonstrate the computation and estimation skills necessary for analyzing data and developing reasonable scientific explanations.
Trace the source on any large disparity between estimated and calculated answers to problems.
Express appropriate numbers of significant figures for calculated data, using scientific notation where appropriate.
Solve scientific problems by substituting quantitative values, using dimensional analysis and/or simple algebraic formulas as appropriate.
Students will communicate scientific investigations and information clearly.
Write clear, coherent laboratory reports related to scientific investigations.
Write clear, coherent accounts of current scientific issues, including possible alternative interpretations of the data.
Use data as evidence to support scientific arguments and claims in written or oral presentations.
Participate in group discussions of scientific investigation and current scientific issues.
The universe is a vast single system in which the basic principles are the same everywhere
. Universal principles are discovered through observation and experimental verification
From time to time, major shifts occur in the scientific view of how the world works. More often, however, the changes that take place in the body of scientific knowledge are small modifications of prior knowledge. Major shifts in scientific views typically occur after the observation of a new phenomenon or an insightful interpretation of existing data by an individual or research group.
Hypotheses often cause scientists to develop new experiments that produce additional data.
Testing, revising, and occasionally rejecting new and old theories never ends.
Testing, revising, and occasionally rejecting new and old theories never ends.
Students will understand important features of the process of scientific inquiry. Students will apply the following to inquiry learning practices:
Scientific investigators control the conditions of their experiments in order to produce valuable data.
Scientific researchers are expected to critically assess the quality of data including possible sources of bias in their investigations hypotheses, observations, data analyses, and interpretations.
Scientists use practices such as peer review and publication to reinforce the integrity of scientific activity and reporting.
The merit of a new theory is judged by how well scientific data are explained by the new theory
The ultimate goal of science is to develop an understanding of the natural universe which is free of biases.
Science disciplines and traditions differ from one another in what is studied, techniques used, and outcomes sought.
Read a minimum of 25 grade-level appropriate books per year from a variety of subject disciplines and participate in discussions related to curricular learning in all areas
Read both informational and fictional texts in a variety of genres and modes of discourse
Relate messages and themes from one subject area to messages and themes in another area.
Demonstrate an understanding of contextual vocabulary in various subjects
Explore understanding of new words found in subject area texts.
Discuss in both writing and speaking how certain words are subject area related
Determine strategies for finding content and contextual meaning for unknown words.
Students will analyze how biotic and abiotic factors interact to affect the distribution of species and the diversity of life on Earth.
Characterize the biotic and abiotic components that define various biomes and aquatic life zones
Explore how global climate patterns and biogeography affect the distribution and abundance of species on Earth
Investigate factors that lead to the species richness of an ecosystem and describe the importance of biodiversity.
Relate the role of natural selection to organismal adaptations that are specific to their habitats and describe some examples of coevolution.
Students will investigate factors influencing population density, dispersion, and demographics.
Evaluate factors that regulate population growth to include intraspecific competition in population growth and population density.
Describe the different life history and reproductive strategies that have evolved in organisms
Relate the rapid growth of human population to environmental problems.
Compare and contrast species interactions (e.g. predation, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, and competition) and adaptations that have evolved in response to interspecific selective pressures
Identify dominant, keystone, foundation, and endangered species and their roles in ecosystems and communities, locally and globally
Analyze species diversity as it relates to the stability of ecosystems and communities.
Evaluate ecological succession in terms of changes in communities over time and the impact of disturbance on community composition.
Students will analyze biogeochemical cycles and the flow of energy in ecosystems
Compare and contrast the carbon, water, oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, describing their flow through biotic and abiotic pools, including human influences
Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter to the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems
Predict the flow of energy in the living world by constructing food chains, webs and pyramids for various ecosystems.
Students will assess the impact of human activities on the natural world, and research how ecological theory can address current issues facing our society, locally and globally.
Describe the sources, environmental impacts, and mitigation measures for major primary and secondary pollutants.
Compare and contrast the ecological impact of sustainable and non-sustainable use of resources, including soil, timber, fish and wild game, mineral resources, and nonrenewable energy.
Evaluate the causes and impacts on ecosystems of natural and anthropogenic climate change
Explain the consequences of habitat fragmentation and habitat loss on biodiversity in relation to island biogeography, and apply island biogeography theory to the design of parks and nature preserves.
Research the ecological impact of agriculture (historical and modern) in the environment and its implications for feeding the worlds population.
Students will identify and analyze the roles of insects in ecosystems.
Illustrate the important function(s) of insects in diverse terrestrial and freshwater food webs (i.e., as herbivores, predators, and scavengers)
Compare species diversity and biomass in different terrestrial habitats and evaluate why insects are the dominant organisms worldwide by either measure.
Analyze the numerous ways that insects affect ecosystems (e.g., plant pollination, decomposers/recyclers of organic matter).
Discuss the importance of coevolution/coadaptation relationships between various insects and plants (e.g., how insects serve as pollen vectors of plants).
Explain how some groups of insects are used as water quality indicators because they are sensitive to habitat change
Investigate the insect body plan and compare and contrast to other arthropods (e.g., Arachnida, Crustacea).
Explain advantages of different insect life cycles (e.g., complete vs. incomplete).
Use morphological characteristics (e.g., wing structure) to recognize major insect orders
Compare and contrast how insect structure and function are integrated and reflect evolved adaptations to different environments.
Students will investigate the impact of insects on the production of food and other products.
Explain how humans use insect biology to make commercial products (e.g., silk, honey, lacquer, and dyes).
Evaluate the benefits of insects to ecosystem functioning for food production (e.g., pollinators of agricultural crops).
Evaluate the costs of insects as pests of crops, stored food, and housing (e.g., termites).
Analyze the economic impact that insects can have on livestock and pets (e.g., dog heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, and fleas are irritating pests).
Students will investigate the impact of insects on human and animal health
Relate the impact of insects that transmit serious diseases (e.g., malaria, yellow fever, plague, dengue fever, and West Nile virus) on public health.
Illustrate how insect-carried diseases have changed the course of human history (e.g., the Black Plague during the Middle Ages, and malaria in world history including Georgia)
Discuss how insects can affect human and animal health through allergic reactions (e.g., wasp stings, cockroach droppings, etc.).
Students will evaluate methods for the management of insect populations for the benefit of humans.
Explain how conventional spraying has caused the evolution of insect resistance, risks to human health and reduction of beneficial insect populations.
Explain how biological control of crop pests and undesirable plants is achieved through the use of beneficial insects (e.g., insect parasitoids, predators, and herbivores).
Evaluate the benefits and risks of using genetically modified crops to manage insect pests.
Discuss how Integrated Pest Management (IPM) limits evolution of insect resistance to chemical and other control means.
Research environmentally friendly ways in which humans can prevent or avoid many insect problems (e.g., repellents and traps)
Recognize how illness results when the bodys defense mechanisms fails to maintain homeostasis
Explain how the rapid evolution of microbes results in diseases that will continue to be a public health concern
Students will identify patterns of health and disease and formulate hypotheses
Identify the amount and distribution of disease within a population by person, place, and time
Students will gather and analyze data to make group comparisons and identify associations
Compare groups of people with and without exposure to determine if the exposure and disease are associated
Demonstrate awareness of the ethical issues in epidemiology and human trials
Students will be able to understand associations and judge causations of health and disease
Demonstrate that judgments about whether an exposure causes a disease are developed by examining a body of epidemiological evidence as well as evidence from other scientific disciplines
Students will interpret and critically analyze health related messages in the media to make informed public health decisions and establish life goals
Understand the emergent technology that may impact health and disease
Students will evaluate the use of a health related strategy to promote a healthy lifestyle
Students will investigate the composition and formation of Earth systems, including the Earths relationship to the solar system
Describe the early evolution of the Earth and solar system, including the formation of Earths solid layers (core, mantle, crust), the distribution of major elements, the origin of internal heat sources, and the mechanism by which heat transfer drives plate tectonics.
Explain how the composition of the Earths crust, mantle and core is determined and compare it to that of other solar system objects.
Describe how the decay of radioactive isotopes is used to determine the age of rocks, Earth, and solar system.
Identify the transformations and major reservoirs that make up the rock cycle, hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, and other important geochemical cycles.
Students will understand how plate tectonics creates certain geologic features, materials, and hazards.
Distinguish among types of plate tectonic settings produced by plates diverging, converging, and sliding past each other.
Relate modern and ancient geologic features to each kind of plate tectonic setting.
Relate certain geologic hazards to specific plate tectonic settings.
Associate specific plate tectonic settings with the production of particular groups of igneous and metamorphic rocks and mineral resources.
Explain how plate tectonics creates and destroys sedimentary basins through time.
Students will explore the actions of water, wind, ice, and gravity that create landforms and systems of landforms (landscapes).
Describe how surface water and groundwater act as the major agents of physical and chemical weathering.
Explain how soil results from weathering and biological processes acting on parent rock
Describe the processes and hazards associated with both sudden and gradual mass wasting.
Relate the past and present actions of ice, wind, and water to landform distribution and landscape evolution.
Explain the processes that transport and deposit material in terrestrial and marine sedimentary basins, which result, over time, in sedimentary rock.
Students will understand how rock relationships and fossils are used to reconstruct the Earths past.
Describe and apply principles of relative age (superposition, original horizontality, cross-cutting relations, and original lateral continuity) and describe how unconformities form
Interpret the geologic history of a succession of rocks and unconformities.
Apply the principle of uniformitarianism to relate sedimentary rock associations and their fossils to the environments in which the rocks were deposited.
Explain how sedimentary rock units are correlated within and across regions by a variety of methods (e.g., geologic map relationships, the principle of fossil succession, radiometric dating, and paleomagnetism).
Use geologic maps and stratigraphic relationships to interpret major events in Earth history (e.g., mass extinction, major climatic change, tectonic events).
Students will investigate the interaction of insolation and Earth systems to produce weather and climate.
Explain how latitudinal variations in solar heating create atmospheric and ocean currents that redistribute heat globally.
Explain the relationship between air masses and the surfaces over which they form.
Relate weather patterns to interactions among ocean currents, air masses, and topography.
Describe how temperature and precipitation produce the pattern of climate regions (classes) on Earth.
Describe the hazards associated with extreme weather events and climate change (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, El Nio/La Nia, global warming).
Relate changes in global climate to variation in Earth/Sun relationships and to natural and anthropogenic modification of atmospheric composition.
Students will explain how life on Earth responds to and shapes Earth systems.
Relate the nature and distribution of life on Earth, including humans, to the chemistry and availability of water.
Relate the distribution of biomes (terrestrial, freshwater, and marine) to climate regions through time.
Explain how geological and ecological processes interact through time to cycle matter and energy, and how human activity alters the rates of these processes (e.g., fossil fuel formation and combustion).
Describe how fossils provide a record of shared ancestry, evolution, and extinction that is best explained by the mechanism of natural selection.
Identify the evolutionary innovations that most profoundly shaped Earth systems: photosynthetic prokaryotes and the atmosphere; multicellular animals and marine environments; land plants and terrestrial environments.
Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and relate these phenomena to human society.
Interpret biogeochemical cycles including hydrologic, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon cycles. Recognize that energy is not recycled in ecosystems.
Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem, recognizing that entropy is a primary factor in the loss of usable food energy during movement up the trophic levels.
Relate food production and quality of nutrition to population growth and the trophic levels
Relate the cycling of matter and the flow of energy to the Laws of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process
Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem and describe how matter and energy move between these.
Students will demonstrate an understanding that the Earth is one interconnected system.
Describe how the abiotic components (water, air, and energy) affect the biosphere.
Recognize and give examples of the hierarchy of the biological entities of the biosphere (organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biosphere).
Characterize the components that define a Biome. Abiotic Factors to include precipitation, temperature and soils. Biotic Factors plant and animal adaptations that create success in that biome
Characterize the components that define fresh-water and marine systems. Abiotic Factors to include light, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, pH and substrate. Biotic Factors plant and animal adaptations characteristic to that system.
Describe interconnections between abiotic and biotic factors, including normal cyclic fluctuations and changes associated with climatic change (i.e. ice ages)
Explain succession in terms of changes in communities through time to include changes in biomass, diversity, and complexity.
Describe interactions between individuals (i.e. mutualism, commensalisms, parasitism, predation, and competition).
Students will understand and describe availability, allocation and conservation of energy and other resources
Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources including how different resources are produced, rates of use, renewal rates, and limitations of sources. Distinguish between natural and produced resources.
Describe how technology is increasing the efficiency of utilization and accessibility of resources.
Describe how energy and other resource utilization impact the environment and recognize that individuals as well as larger entities (businesses, governments, etc.) have impact on energy efficiency.
Describe the relationship of energy consumption and the living standards of societies.
Describe the commonly used fuels (e.g. fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, etc.) and some alternative fuels (e.g. wind, solar, ethanol, etc.) including the required technology, availability, pollution problems and implementation problems. Recognize the origin of fossil fuels and the problems associated with our dependence on this energy source.
Describe the need for informed decision making of resource utilization. (i.e. energy and water usage allocation, conservation, food and land, and long-term depletion)
Students will recognize that human beings are part of the global ecosystem and will evaluate the effects of human activities and technology on ecosystems.
Describe factors affecting population growth of all organisms, including humans. Relate these to factors affecting growth rates and carrying capacity of the environment.
Describe the effects of population growth, demographic transitions, cultural differences, emergent diseases, etc. on societal stability.
Explain how human activities affect global and local sustainability.
Describe the actual and potential effects of habitat destruction, erosion, and depletion of soil fertility associated with human activities.
Describe the effects and potential implications of pollution and resource depletion on the environment at the local and global levels (e.g. air and water pollution, solid waste disposal, depletion of the stratospheric ozone, global warming, and land uses).
Describe how political, legal, social, and economic decisions may affect global and local ecosystems.
Students will investigate current energy resources, the conversion of energy in ecological processes, the utilization of energy, and the environmental consequences of energy use.
Apply the Law of Conservation of Energy and Work-Energy Theorem to explain the flow of energy in ecological processes.
Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources including how different resources are produced, rates of use, renewal rates, and limitations of sources.
Describe the basic physics underpinning wind, hydroelectric and solar energies
Discuss the problems of energy demand and explain the possible contributions of renewables to energy supply, and availability
Students will understand how spectroscopy and detection technology may be used for monitoring environmental processes and pollutants.
Explain the processes that result in the production of electromagnetic waves.
Calculate energy, frequency and wavelengths according to the Planck-Einstein relationship
Qualitatively relate the energy of electronic transitions to the specific color of light observed.
Use analytical spectroscopy techniques to monitor environmental processes.
Explore the behavior of waves in various media in terms of reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
Demonstrate the transfer of energy through different mediums by mechanical waves.
Students will evaluate and discuss the fundamental processes that cause atmospheric circulation and create climate zones and weather patterns, and learn how carbon cycling between atmosphere, land, and ocean reservoirs helps to regulate the Earth's climate
Describe the composition, structure and dynamics of Earths atmosphere.
Describe the transport of solar radiation through the atmosphere to the Earths surface and subsequent radiation back through the atmosphere into space.
Students will recognize that human beings are part of the global ecosystem and will evaluate the effects of human activities and technology on ecosystems.
Explain the consequences of human activities on the atmosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere
Discuss the global energy budget and the reasons for current reliance upon fossil fuels
Describe how energy and other resource utilization impact the environment.
Describe the effects and potential implications of pollution and resource depletion on the environment at the local and global levels.
Provide a critical discussion of the causes and consequences of ozone depletion and global warming and discuss possible remedial actions
Explain how human activities affect global and local sustainability.
Students will recognize and classify various types of evidence in relation to the definition and scope of Forensic Science.
Compare and contrast the history of scientific forensic techniques used in collecting and submitting evidence for admissibility in court (e.g. Locards Exchange Principle, Frye standard, Daubert ruling).
Distinguish and categorize physical and trace evidence (e.g. ballistics, drugs, fibers, fingerprints, glass, hair, metal, lip prints, soil, and toxins).
Determine the proper techniques to search, isolate, collect, and record physical and trace evidence.
Evaluate the relevance of possible evidence at the site of an investigation
Organize relevant information to accurately develop and submit both scene and analysis reports.
Students will use various scientific techniques to analyze physical and trace evidence.
Identify and utilize appropriate techniques used to lift and evaluate readable, latent, plastic and visible fingerprints.
Evaluate how post mortem changes are used to determine probable time of death:
Identify methods used for the evaluation of handwriting and document evidence
Determine the appropriate uses of chromatography and spectroscopy in evidence analysis.
Students will analyze the use of toxicology, serology, and DNA technology in forensic investigations
Compare the effects of alcohol on blood alcohol levels with regard to gender, and according to the law
Differentiate the forensic techniques used to distinguish human and animal blood
Compare short tandem repeat patterns (STR) and relate to identifying the DNA of an individual
Students will evaluate the role of ballistics, tool marks and evidence of arson in forensic investigation.
Identify firearm lab tests used to distinguish the characteristics of ballistics and cartridge cases.
Analyze the physics of ballistic trajectory to predict range of firing
Recognize the forensic significance of tool marks, footwear and tire impressions in an investigation
Students will evaluate the role of Forensics as it pertains to Medicolegal Death Investigation.
Identify various causes of death (blunt force trauma, heart attack, bleeding, etc.)
Analyze evidence that pertains to the manner of death (natural, homicide, suicide, accidental, or undetermined).
Students will relate the formation, structure and composition of Earths atmosphere to the processes that cause weather.
Describe how atmospheric activity such as meteor bombardment, led to the formation of Earths early atmosphere.
Examine the chemical composition, location and characteristics of the layers of Earths present day atmosphere
Analyze the effect insulation has on the relative amount of heat energy in the atmosphere and how temperature differences give rise to phenomena such as Hadley cells and Ferrel cells
Analyze the influence that the Coriolis Effect has on the movement of Earths air masses.
Compare the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere to characteristic atmospheric conditions.
Students will investigate energy transfer to types of clouds formed, precipitation, and air masses
Explain the relationship between air masses and the areas over which they form.
Differentiate the four types of fronts, their structure, and the clouds and precipitation associated with each front.
Relate weather events to the energy transfer within the Earth's atmosphere.
Examine the role of energy transfer in the development of global weather patterns.
Predict weather for a specific location using knowledge of air mass, frontal, and cyclone movement.
Investigate and describe the formation of severe weather including severe thunderstorms, hurricane, tornadoes and their role in energy transfer.
Describe the role of technological advancements on weather forecasting and relate that to the improvement of weather watch/warning issuance.
Analyze the implications of severe weather events (droughts, floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter weather, hurricanes, etc.) on local, national, and global economies.
Interpret the relationship between weather and pollution (smog, ground level ozone, acid rain, etc.) and the impact of pollution on the economy, health, and the environment.
Analyze the concept of the urban heat island and its effects on weather and society
Compare and contrast the reasons for decreasing stratospheric ozone and its implications to humans.
Evaluate political, social, and economic decisions and their relationship to the development and/or reduction of acid rain, smog, and the urban heat island effect.
Students will differentiate the climates of Earth, how climate changes through time, and the theories regarding current climate change.
Evaluate the effects of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on climate.
Analyze current methods of climate prediction. (Predictions of ENSO, NAO, long-range outlooks, etc.)
Explore radiative equilibrium and demonstrate the differences between the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Judge the current theories explaining global warming and argue the potential implications of global warming on global weather patterns and severe weather events
Students will analyze different types of microorganisms and their defining characteristics.
Distinguish between different kinds of microorganisms based on cellular structure, molecular biology and biochemical composition.
Compare relative sizes of microorganisms, different types of cell shapes, and various methods used to visualize microorganisms.
Students will examine structural components of microbes and their functions.
Investigate structural properties of microbial membranes and functions associated with these membranes
Compare structures of prokaryotic cell envelope (e.g., cell membrane, wall and capsule and S-layers) and virus envelopes and their functions in providing support and protection.
Examine intracellular organization in microbes and explain how these structures play roles in energy generation, transcription, translation, DNA replication and cellular locomotion.
Students will examine different ways in which microbial cells generate energy for growth and reproduction.
Explain different types of energy generation used by microbes, including respiration, photosynthesis, and lithotrophy.
Describe how microorganisms differ with respect to their nutritional requirements for growth.
Students will investigate molecular mechanisms involved in gene expression in microbes.
Investigate molecular basis for transcription, translation, and DNA replication in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Describe how genetic transfer impacts microbial evolution and how it can be utilized in biotechnological applications.
Students will compare and contrast parameters affecting microbial growth, ways of controlling growth of microorganisms, and examine the effects that physicochemical factors can have on microbes.
Explain different growth phases of microbial in a batch cultures and the factors that influence these phases.
Describe environmental factors that influence microbial growth and how these factors vary for different species.
Compare various physical and chemical methods used to control or prevent microbial growth
Explain the various modes of action of specific antibiotics in preventing the growth of microorganisms
Describe how exposure to certain chemicals or radiation increase rates of heritable mutations in microorganisms.
Examine the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistant pathogens.
Students will analyze the impact of microorganisms in the environment and the use of microbes in biotechnology, agriculture, and industry.
Explain the prevalence and diversity of microbes in various environments (e.g., hot springs, arctic ice, hypersaline environments, alkaline soils, acid mine drainage.)
Relate biotic and abiotic factors to the development of microbial populations and diversity
Describe the importance of microorganisms in global nutrient cycling within both soil, freshwater, and marine habitats.
Describe applications of microbes in industry, biotechnology and food processing.
Relate water and soil quality to microbial contamination and its impact on human populations.
Students will analyze symbiotic and pathogenic relationships in host-microbe interactions
Describe examples of pathogenic microorganisms and how they cause disease in plants and animals.
Compare mechanisms of how communicable diseases are spread among individuals within a population and how genetic changes in pathogenic microbes (such as influenza virus) result in new outbreaks of disease
Explain animal host defense mechanisms for combating microbial invaders, including both adaptive and innate immune systems.
Describe plant-host defense mechanisms in response to microbial invasion
Describe symbiotic relationships between plants or animals and microorganisms and the importance of these relationships to both partners.
Students will identify characteristics, physical features, and boundaries of the oceans.
Explain how the dynamic events at plate boundaries influence oceans and continents.
Differentiate between features of the continental margins and the deep ocean basins
Identify the sources of the main types of marine sediments and describe how marine sediments are used in paleoceanography.
Students will relate how the oceans are integral to all life on earth and how biogeochemical processes in the oceans influence the entire planet.
Explain how the hydrologic cycle integrates the oceans and the land.
Distinguish between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis in ocean flora
Describe the limiting factors that influence the primary productivity of the oceans.
Students will analyze how weather and climate are influenced by the oceans.
Identify general global patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation including variations such as El Nino and monsoons.
Explain the influence of the Coriolis Effect on winds, ocean currents, and on weather and climate.
Describe the effects of tilt of the earth, solar energy inputs, and heat capacity of land and oceans on the resulting patterns of weather and climate.
Explain relationships between climate change, the greenhouse effect, and the consequences of global warming on the ocean.
Students will investigate waves and tides and analyze their influence on coastal processes.
Explain the role of the moon and the sun in the formation of tides and tide patterns
Describe the role of waves, tides, and sea level change on the physical structure of the coast
Investigate the relationship of tides and waves on the distribution and diversity of organisms in shallow water communities such as rocky intertidal zones and estuaries
Identify natural hazards (e.g., tsunamis, hurricanes, and sea level change) and their impact on coastal communities.
Students will analyze how the unique attributes of seawater determine the types of marine organisms and the ecology of marine food webs.
Compare and contrast the physical and chemical structure of pure water and seawater
Identify adaptations of marine organisms that allow them to live in seawater rather than on land.
Describe patterns and relationships between biotic and abiotic factors among marine ecosystems, including estuaries, coral reefs, open waters, and the deep ocean.
Explain the relationship between productivity, the flow of energy, and the structure of marine food webs
Students will identify how humans use the oceans for food, commerce, and energy and will evaluate the potential for abuse in the absence of responsible stewardship.
Describe how physical, geological, and biological resources are extracted from the oceans, and assess the consequences for marine ecosystems.
Explain how the oceans are used for recreation and transportation, and evaluate their impacts on marine ecosystems
Analyze issues, policies, and laws that promote responsible stewardship of the oceans, including trade, fisheries, transportation, and resources.
Students will analyze the relationships between force, mass, gravity, and the motion of objects.
Calculate average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration in a given frame of reference
Compare graphically and algebraically the relationships among position, velocity, acceleration, and time
Measure and calculate the magnitude of frictional forces and Newtons three Laws of Motion
Measure and calculate two-dimensional motion (projectile and circular) by using component vectors
Determine the conditions required to maintain a body in a state of static equilibrium.
Students will evaluate the significance of energy in understanding the structure of matter and the universe.
Relate the energy produced through fission and fusion by stars as a driving force in the universe.
Explain how the instability of radioactive isotopes results in spontaneous nuclear reactions.
Analyze, evaluate, and apply the principle of conservation of energy and measure the components of work-energy theorem by
Analyze the relationship between temperature, internal energy, and work done in a physical system.
Explain the processes that results in the production and energy transfer of electromagnetic waves.
Experimentally determine the behavior of waves in various media in terms of reflection, refraction, and diffraction of waves.
Explain the relationship between the phenomena of interference and the principle of superposition.
Demonstrate the transfer of energy through different mediums by mechanical waves.
Determine the location and nature of images formed by the reflection or refraction of light.
Students will evaluate relationships between electrical and magnetic forces.
Describe the transformation of mechanical energy into electrical energy and the transmission of electrical energy.
Determine the relationship among potential difference, current, and resistance in a direct current circuit
Determine the relationship between moving electric charges and magnetic fields.
The student will describe the corrections to Newtonian physics given by quantum mechanics and relativity when matter is very small, moving fast compared to the speed of light, or very large
Explain the differences in time, space, and mass measurements by two observers when one is in a frame of reference moving at constant velocity parallel to one of the coordinate axes of the other observers frame of reference if the constant velocity is greater than one tenth the speed of light.
Describe the gravitational field surrounding a large mass and its effect on a ray of light.
Students will investigate the properties of electricity and magnetism.
Investigate applications of magnetism and/or its relationship to the movement of electrical charge as it relates to
explain the relationship of the proton number to the elements identity.
Compare and contrast ionic and covalent bonds in terms of electron movement.
Students will explore the nature of matter, its classifications, and its system for naming types of matter
Calculate density when given a means to determine a substances mass and volume
Predict formulas for stable binary ionic compounds based on balance of charges.
Use IUPAC nomenclature for transition between chemical names and chemical formulas of
binary covalent compounds (i.e. carbon dioxide, carbon tetrachloride).
Demonstrate the Law of Conservation of Matter in a chemical reaction
Apply the Law of Conservation of Matter by balancing the following types of chemical equations:
Students will distinguish the characteristics and components of radioactivity.
Describe nuclear energy, its practical application as an alternative energy source, and its potential problems.
Use the Periodic Table to predict the above properties for representative elements.
Students will compare and contrast the phases of matter as they relate to atomic and molecular motion.
Compare and contrast the atomic/molecular motion of solids, liquids, gases and plasmas.
Relate temperature, pressure, and volume of gases to the behavior of gases.
Observe factors affecting the rate a solute dissolves in a specific solvent
Demonstrate that solubility is related to temperature by constructing a solubility curve.
Compare and contrast the components and properties of acids and bases.
Determine whether common household substances are acidic, basic, or neutral.
Students will relate transformations and flow of energy within a system.
Identify energy transformations within a system (e.g. lighting of a match).
Investigate molecular motion as it relates to thermal energy changes in terms of conduction, convection, and radiation
Determine the heat capacity of a substance using mass, specific heat, and temperature.
Explain the flow of energy in phase changes through the use of a phase diagram.
Students will determine relationships among force, mass, and motion.
Apply Newtons three laws to everyday situations by explaining the following:
Calculate amounts of work and mechanical advantage using simple machines.
Relate frequency and wavelength to the energy of different types of electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of electromagnetic and mechanical (sound) waves.
Investigate the phenomena of reflection, refraction, interference, and diffraction.
Students will derive the phylogeny of animal taxa (monophyletic clades in a cladogram) using informative characteristics.
Construct a classification of representative animal taxa including: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Rotifera, Mollusca, Arthropoda (Mandibulata, Chelicerata, and Crustacea), Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Echinodermata, Hemichordata, Urochordata, Cephalochordata, and Vertebrata
Place taxa in a phylogenetic (evolutionary) context and provide data to support hypotheses of relationships
Construct a graphical representation of animal evolution (cladogram)
Interpret graphical representations of animal evolution (cladograms)
Students will explain the evolutionary history of animals over the geological history of Earth
Outline the geological history of Earth and discuss the major environmental changes that have occurred over time
Explain the concepts evolution, adaptation, natural selection, convergence, and speciation
Describe the fossil record of the animals including discussing the Cambrian Explosion and major extinction events.
Students will compare form and function relationships within animal groups (clades) and across key taxa.
Explain the similarities and differences among major body plans (e.g., asymmetry, radial and bilateral symmetry).
Compare and contrast taxa based on morphological and genetic characters.
Dissect representative taxa and describe their internal anatomy and the function of major organ systems and organs and relate to cell specializations.
Students will assess how animals interact with their environment including key adaptations found within animal taxa.
Discuss morphological and physiological adaptations relative to ecological roles.
Relate animal adaptations, including behaviors, to the ecological roles of animals.
Explain various life cycles found among animals (e.g., polyp and medusa in cnidarians; multiple hosts and stages in the platyhelminthe life cycle; arthropod metamorphosis; egg, tadpole, adult stages in the amphibian life cycle).
Students will evaluate the relationships between humans and other animals
Describe the effects of human activities such as habitat destruction, over hunting, introduced species, and pollution on animal biodiversity.
Explain the importance of species diversity to the biological resources needed by human populations including food, medicine, and natural aesthetics
Compare and contrast how humans can preserve animal diversity in captive and natural environments with regard to habitat creation and conservation, research, legislation, animal enrichment, diet, medical, breeding programs and management of genetic diversity at local and global levels.
Investigate how moral, legal, societal, political, and economic decisions impact animal diversity with short-term and long-term effects.
