Timeline Week Marking Period 1 Week Marking Period 3 1 Scientific Practices 21 Ecology: Biomes and Ecosystems 2 Scientific Practices 22 Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Processes 3 Scientific Practices 23 Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Processes 4 24 Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Engineering Design Process Processes 5 25 Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Engineering Design Process Processes 6 26 Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Life Science: Organization and Development Processes 7 8 9 10 Life Science: Organization and Development Life Science: Organization and Development Life Science: Organization and Development Life Science: Organization and Development 27 Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Processes 28 Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction 29 Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction 30 Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction Week Marking Period 2 Week Marking Period 4 11 Ecology: Interactions of Life 31 Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction 12 Ecology: Interactions of Life 32 Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction 13 Ecology: Interactions of Life 33 Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction 14 Ecology: Interactions of Life 34 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity 15 Ecology: Populations and Communities 35 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity 16 Ecology: Populations and Communities 36 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity 17 Ecology: Populations and Communities 37 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity 18 Ecology: Populations and Communities 38 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity 19 Ecology: Biomes and Ecosystems 39 STEM 20 Ecology: Biomes and Ecosystems 40 STEM
Time Frame 5 Weeks Topic Science Practices / Engineering Design Process: Understanding Scientific Explanations; Generate Scientific Evidence through Active Investigations; Reflect on Scientific Knowledge; Participate Productively in Science Essential Questions How do we build and refine models that describe and explain the natural and designed world? What constitutes useful scientific evidence? How is scientific knowledge constructed? How does scientific knowledge benefit, deepen, and broaden from scientists sharing and debating ideas and information with peers? Enduring Understandings Measurement and observation tools are used to categorize, represent and interpret the natural world. Evidence is used for building, refining, and/or critiquing scientific explanations. Scientific knowledge builds upon itself over time. The growth of scientific knowledge involves critique and communication social practices that are governed by a core set of values and norms. In the United States, we use both Standard and Metric systems of measurements. Being able to measure accurately is important at school and at home, at work and when pursuing hobbies. Precision measuring tools are needed for accuracy, but tools must be used correctly to ensure accurate measurements are taken. Quality workmanship and accurate measurements with precise instruments are necessary to successfully solve problems. Alignment to NJCCCS 5.1.8.A.1-3 5.1.8.B.1-4 5.1.8.C.1-3 5.1.8.D.1-4 5.1.8.A.2 5.1.8.B.1 5.1.8.B.2 5.1.8.B.3 5.1.8.B.4 ETS1A ETS1B ETS1C Key Concepts and Skills Alignment to NGSS Core scientific concepts and principles represent the conceptual basis for model building and facilitate the generation of new and productive questions. Results of observation and measurement can be used to build conceptual based models and to search for core explanations. Predictions and explanations are revised based on systematic observations, measurements, and data/evidence. Carefully constructed evidence is used to construct and defend arguments. Predictions and explanations are revised to account more completely for available evidence. Instruments of measurement can be used to safely gather accurate information for making scientific comparisons of scientific objects and events. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved. Learning Activities Student Safety Contract Gummy Bear Lab Conducting a Scientific Investigation Scientific Cents False Assumptions Can Get You in Trouble Candle Observation Metric Olympics Consumer Challenge Simpson s Variables Support Challenge Structure Challenge Brain Safety Helmet Challenge Air-Racer (Skimmer) Reverse Engineering Project Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do now and Wrap-up participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Performance assessments Using Scientific Methods, Consumer Challenge 21 st Century Skills x Creativity x Critical Thinking x Communication x Collaboration x Skills x Information Literacy x Media Literacy Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies: A Lifetime of Discoveries Activity Language Arts: Open-Ended Real World Application Questions, Writing Predictions Activity, Lab Report Mathematics: Methods of finding averages, metric conversions, graphing results, significant figures Fine Arts: Creating scale models Technology Integration Scientific Inquiry PowerPoint Air-Racer Reverse Engineering PowerPoint Video-Streaming ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities
Time Frame 5 Weeks Topic Life Science: Organization and Development Essential Questions What are the characteristics do all living things share? What methods are used to classify living things into groups? Why does every species have a scientific name? How did microscopes change our ideas about living things? What are the types of microscopes and how do they compare? Enduring Understandings All living things share certain characteristics Systematics uses all evidence known about organisms to classify them Scientific names allow people all over the world to identify an organism The invention of microscopes allowed scientists to view cells which enabled them to further explore and classify life Alignment to NJCCCS 5.3.8.A.1-2 MS-LS1-1 Key Concepts and Skills Alignment to NGSS Organisms have cellular organization, maintain internal conditions, reproduce, grow and develop, use energy, respond to surroundings Organisms are classified into domains, kingdoms, phylums, classes, etc. Compare and contrast the two main types of microscopes, light and electron Use of scientific classification tools, such as dichotomous keys and cladograms Learning Activities Is it Alive? Please pass the bread. Taxonomic Keys: What a strange group. and Fun with Fictitious Animals. Comparing Plant and Animal Cells Creepy Critters Phylum Comparison Challenge Letter E Lab Classification Poster Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do Now and Wrap-Up Participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Projects/Performance Assessment: Classification Research Project 21 st Century Skills X Creativity X Critical Thinking X Communication X Collaboration Information X Skills X X Media Literacy Literacy Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies: Historical and Social Perspectives on Cell Theory and The Microscope
Mathematics: How Small is a Cell Language Arts: Open ended Real World Application Questions Fine Arts: Sketches of Microscopic Organisms Video-streaming Cells Alive Animations ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities Technology Integration
4 Weeks Time Frame Ecology: Interactions of Life Topic Essential Questions What are the non-living parts of the environment? How does matter move in ecosystems? How does energy move in ecosystems? How is the movement of energy in an ecosystem modeled? Enduring Understandings Abiotic factors are all the non-living things in an ecosystem Matter moves or cycles through ecosystems Energy flows through ecosystems from producers to consumers The transfer of energy in an ecosystem is modeled with food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids Alignment to NJCCCS 5.3.8. B.1-2 MS-LS2-3 Key Concepts and Skills Alignment to NGSS Abiotic factors include sunlight, climate, temperature, water, atmosphere, and soil Oxygen cycle, carbon cycle, water cycle, and nitrogen cycle Food chain shows transfer of energy Food web shows complex feeding relationships Energy pyramids show amount of energy available in each step of a food chain Learning Activities A day in the Life of a Carbon Atom Traveling Nitrogen Food Web Short Essay Food Web Poster Project / Mobile Lab: How does soil type effect plant growth? Levels of ecosystem cut and paste Ecosystem PBL Project Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do now and Wrap up participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Projects/Performance Assessment: Ecosystem PBL project 21 st Century Skills X Creativity X Critical Thinking X Communication X Collaboration Information X Skills X X Media Literacy Literacy Interdisciplinary Connections Mathematics: Use of Percentages in Calculation of Energy Lost Through the Energy Pyramid Language Arts: Open-Ended Real World Application Questions Fine Arts: Photosynthesis and Respiration Illustrations
Technology Integration Food Webs, Food Chains, and Energy Pyramids PowerPoint Video-Streaming ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities
4 Weeks Time Frame Ecology: Populations and Communities Topic Essential Questions What defines a population? What factors affect the size of a population? How do populations change? Why do human populations change? What defines a community? How do the populations in a community interact? Enduring Understandings A population is all organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time Population sizes vary due to environmental factors and available resources Populations change due to birth rate, death rate, and migration Communities are made up of habitats and niches 5.3.8.B.1 5.3.8.B.2 5.3.8. C.1 Alignment to NJCCCS Key Concepts and Skills Alignment to NGSS MS-LS2-1 MS-LS2-2 MS-LS2-4 Population size does not exceed the carrying capacity of an ecosystem Populations size increases when birth rates exceed death rates Population size decreases from natural disasters, disease, and predation Population size varies when organisms move from one place to another A habitat is a place within an ecosystem where an organism lives A niche is what an organism does in its habitat to survive Populations within communities interact in three types of relationships: predator-prey, cooperative, and symbiotic Learning Activities phet Virtual Lab Natural Selection Studying Populations in an Ecosystem: Snowshoe Hare vs. Lynx Virtual Lab (Glencoe): Population Biology Oh Deer! (Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors) Barnacle Competition Virtual Ecology Lab Ecosystems PBL Project Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do Now and Wrap-Up participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Performance Assessment: Ecosystems PBL Project & Endangered Species Local Action Plan 21 st Century Skills x Creativity X Critical Thinking X Communication X Collaboration X Skills X Information Literacy x Media Literacy
Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies: Environmental Viewpoints Debate, Historical and Social Perspectives on Environmental Concerns Mathematics: Graphing Population trends Language Arts: Open Ended Real World Application Questions Fine Arts: Biome Illustrations and Symbiotic Relationship Songs PowerPoint presentations Video-streaming ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities Technology Integration
3 weeks Time Frame Ecology: Biomes and Ecosystems Topic Essential Questions How do Earth s land biomes differ? How do Earth s aquatic ecosystems differ? How do land and aquatic ecosystems change over time? Enduring Understandings Land biomes have distinct climates and the animals and plants living there have adapted to the environment Earth s aquatic ecosystems include freshwater and salt water ecosystems The process of ecological succession changes land ecosystems; small plants to larger plants to trees until a climax community forms Aquatic succession changes freshwater ecosystems; a body of water becomes nutrient rich through the process of eutrophication 5.3.8.B.1 5.3.8.B.2 5.3.8. C.1 Alignment to NJCCCS MS-LS2-1 MS-LS2-2 Key Concepts and Skills Humans affect land biomes through agriculture, construction, and other activities Humans affect aquatic ecosystems through construction, fishing, and other activities Wetlands contain salt water or fresh water The salinity of estuaries varies Learning Activities Debate: Environmental Viewpoints Ecosystem Virtual Museum Problem Based Learning Project Google Slide Show Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do Now and Wrap-Up participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Performance Assessment: Develop your own Biome Food Web 21 st Century Skills X Creativity X Critical Thinking X Communication X Collaboration Information X Skills X X Media Literacy Literacy Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies: Environmental Viewpoints Debate, Historical and Social Perspectives on Environmental Concerns Mathematics: Graphing Population trends Language Arts: Open Ended Real World Application Questions Fine Arts: Biome Illustrations and Songs
Technology Integration Biomes PowerPoint Video-Streaming Symbiotic Relationships Animation ELMO Demonstrations Students Generated Biome PowerPoint Project SciLinks Activities
Time Frame 6 Weeks Topic Life Science: Cell Structure, Functions, and Processes What basic substances make up a cell? What do the structures within a cell do? How do materials enter and leave the cell? How do cells obtain energy? How do some cells make food molecules? Essential Questions Enduring Understandings All living things are composed of cells that are composed similar chemical components Materials are transported through the cell membrane via passive and active transport Cells obtain energy via photosynthesis, respiration, and fermentation Alignment to NJCCCS 5.3.8.A.1-2 5.3.8.B.1-2 Alignment to NGSS MS-LS1-1 MS-LS1-2 Key Concepts and Skills The Cell Theory In multicellular organisms, cells and their organelles are specialized to perform specific functions Examples of passive transport are osmosis, diffusion, facilitated diffusion Examples of active transport are endo- and exo- cytosis, engulfing, use of transport proteins Autotrophs use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose Heterotrophs convert the glucose with use of oxygen into ATP, water, and carbon dioxide Photosynthesis and respiration are equal and opposite reactions Learning Activities CSI Macromolecule Lab Organelle War Campaign Plant and Animal Cell Models Help Wanted Poster Photosynthesis vs. Respiration Lab Move It! Potato Lab Egg-Speriment Diffusion/Osmosis Labs and Demonstrations Yeast on the Rise: Cellular Metabolism Lab Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do Now and Wrap-Up Participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Projects/Performance Assessment: Cell City 21 st Century Skills X Creativity X Critical Thinking X Communication X Collaboration Information X Skills X X Media Literacy Literacy
Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies: Historical and Social Perspectives on Cell Theory and The Microscope Mathematics: How Small is a Cell Language Arts: Open ended Real World Application Questions Fine Arts: Creating a Plant and Animals Cell Model out of Recycled Material Cell PowerPoint Video-streaming Cells Alive Animations ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities Technology Integration
6 Weeks Time Frame Life Science: Heredity and Reproduction Topic Essential Questions How do organisms change as they go through their life cycle? Enduring Understandings Organisms reproduce, develop, have predictable life cycles, and pass on some traits to their offspring. Organisms contain genetic information that influences their traits, and they pass this on to their offspring during reproduction. Alignment to NJCCCS 5.3.8.D.1-3 MS-LS1-5 MS-LS3-1 MS-LS3-2 Key Concepts and Skills Alignment to NGSS Some organisms reproduce asexually. In these organisms, all genetic information comes from a single parent. Some organisms reproduce sexually through which half of the genetic information comes from each parent. The unique combination of genetic material from each parent from sexually reproducing organism results in the potential for variation. Characteristics of organism are influenced by heredity and/or their environment. Genetic advances allow scientists to test, screen, diagnose and treat thousands of possible genetic disorders in humans Learning Activities Note-packets and corresponding PowerPoint presentations Probability and Heredity Experiment Bikini Bottom Genetics Genetics with a smile Genetically Superior-Hero Project The Test cross X-linked Genes Pedigree Investigator How are Genes on Sex Chromosomes Inherited Experiment DNA s Secret Code Protein Synthesis Activity Pedigree Investigator: A case of Addiction Karyotyping Activity: Webquest Genetic Disorders Research Project Genetics Testing Viewpoint Activity Click and Clone Genetics! Cloning Man s Best Friend Make the Right Call Case Study Scenario s Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do Now and Wrap-Up participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation
Writing Tasks/Lab Reports Performance assessments: Genetics with a Smile, Tracing Traits and Modern Genetics Classroom Debate / Genetic Disorders Problem Based Learning Project 21 st Century Skills x Creativity x Critical Thinking x Communication x Collaboration Information x Skills x x Media Literacy Literacy Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies historical perspectives of genetics, genetics debate Language Arts Open ended real world application questions, Genetics creative short story Mathematics probability and statistics of inheritance patterns Fine Arts genetics rap, genetics with a smile activity Technology Integration Genetics PowerPoint presentations Video-streaming Mendel s peas animation ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities
5 Weeks Time Frame Life Science: Evolution and Diversity Topic Essential Questions In what ways are organisms of the same kind different from each other? How does this help them survive and reproduce? Enduring Understandings Sometimes differences between organisms of the same kind give advantages in surviving and reproducing in different environments. These selected differences may lead to dramatic changes in characteristics of organisms in populations of extremely long periods of time. Alignment to NJCCCS 5.3.8. E.1-2 MS-LS4-1 MS-LS4-2 MS-LS4-3 MS-LS4-4 MS-LS4-5 MS-LS4-6 Key Concepts and Skills Alignment to NGSS Individual organisms with certain traits are more likely than others to survive and have offspring in particular environments. The advantages or disadvantages of specific characteristics can change when the environment changes. Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the characteristics of a species are insufficient to allow survival. Anatomical evidence supports evolution and provides additional detail about the sequence of branching of various lines of decent. Learning Activities The Natural Selection of the Wooleybooger Two theories of Evolution Enrichment Activity Evidence for Evolution WebQuest What Killed the Dinosaurs? Web Activity Why Birds of a Beak Eat Together Lab Activity Worms Under Attack Pickworm Lab Evol-Ocean Island Lab Squirrel Island Project Chimera Activity The Great Dig Thumbs up for Thumbs! Activity Becoming Human Webquest Your Inner Fish series Assessments Topic Worksheets Section Quizzes and Tests Journal Entries: Do Now and Wrap-Up participation. Observational Assessment/ Lab Participation Writing Tasks/Lab Reports
Performance Assessment: Examine an Evolutionary Tree and Draw Conclusions about how Function and Ancestry Influence the Order and Structure of the Forelimbs of Animals. 21 st Century Skills X Creativity X Critical Thinking X Communication X Collaboration Information X Skills X X Media Literacy Literacy Interdisciplinary Connections Social Studies: Evolution Viewpoints Debate, Historical and Social Perspectives on Evolutionary Change Mathematics: Calculating the rates of decay using radioactive dating Language Arts: Open ended Real World Application Questions Fine Arts: Creating a Branching Tree to Model Evolutionary Relationships and Evolution Songs Evolution PowerPoint Video-streaming Fossil Animation ELMO Demonstrations SciLinks Activities Technology Integration