Ms. Reiner – Annual Plan
CHEMISTRY / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESEP / Define mass. Define volume. Give appropriate units for each.
Demonstrate that you can use a multiple beam balance to determine the mass of various objects. Record the value of an object’s mass in a manner consistent with the limit of precision of the balance.
Represent class data using a histogram; use the histogram to interpret trends in the data.
Develop, from experimental evidence, the law of conservation of system mass.
Relate the volume of a container (in cm3) to the volume of liquid it contains (in mL).
Recognize that instruments have a limit to their precision; relate the data recorded to the quality of the measurement.
Round off calculated values to the appropriate number of significant figures.
Given a graph of mass vs. volume of a substance, write the equation of the line and state the meaning of the slope.
Recognize that density is a characteristic property of matter.
Use density as a conversion factor between mass and volume; show examples of converting mass to volume and vice-versa.
Use particle diagrams to represent solids, liquids and gases in a way that is consistent with their densities.
/ Identify and describe the regions of Earth in which living things are found.
Describe the three main types of rocks that make up the lithosphere.
Explain why fresh water is a valuable resource for organisms.
Diagram the layers of the atmosphere.
Describe the characteristics of each layer of the atmosphere.
Describe the regions of the biosphere.
Explain how organisms interact with the biosphere.
Explain why there is always uncertainty in science.
Distinguish between a hypothesis and a guess.
Describe the steps involved in conducting a scientific experiment.
Give examples of how parts of the environment interact.
Explain how science influences decision-making processes.
Describe ways in which the three layers of the biosphere change over time.
List factors that affect an area’s ability to support life.
Predict how changes in the environment might affect organisms.
Describe the structure of an ecosystem.
Relate the concept of habitat destruction to the loss of biodiversity.
OCT / Finish September Objectives
Relate observations of diffusion to particle motion and collision in the gas and liquid phases.
Relate observations regarding the addition of energy by warming to increased particle motion.
Describe the characteristics of solids, liquids and gases in terms of particles and their arrangement: use particle diagrams to account for motion and density differences; describe the process of how the arrangement of particles changes during phase changes.
Relate temperature to the thermal energy (Eth) of particles in motion.
Explain, at the particle level, how a thermometer measures the temperature of the system.
Explain the basis for the Celsius temperature scale.
State the basic tenets of the Kinetic Molecular Theory (KMT).
The 3 variables P, V and T are interrelated. Any factor that affects the number of collisions has an effect on the pressure. You should be able to:
· Predict the effect of changing P, V or T on any of the other variables.
· Explain (in terms of the collisions of particles) why the change has the effect you predicted.
· Explain the basis for the Kelvin scale. Use the absolute temperature scale to solve gas problems.
Use factors to calculate the new P, V or T. Make a decision as to how the change affects the variable you are looking for. / Identify the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Explain the concept of the trophic level.
Describe food chains and food webs.
Examine how ecosystem structure is related to population changes the transfer of pollutants.
Investigate the movement of energy through an ecosystem.
Define ecological pyramid, and explain its relationship to energy in an ecosystem.
Explain the water cycle, the carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle.
Describe the concept of the niche. Examine how interactions between a species and its environment define the species’ niche.
Explain how a species adapts to its niche.
Describe convergent evolution and coevolution, and relate each to the concept of niche.
Explain how populations of organisms grow.
Describe the factors that limit the growth of a population.
Identify the shapes of growth curves that represent populations of different organisms.
Explain the relationship between population sizes of predator and prey.
Define symbiosis and describe several symbiotic relationships.
Contrast primary and secondary succession.
Describe the sequence of ecological succession in a lake and on an island.
Explain the concept of ecosystem stability.
Characterize the effects of disturbances on ecosystems.
Explain the concept of the biome, and name the eight major land biomes.
Illustrate where each of the major land biomes occurs.
NOV / Finish October Objectives
Relate observations regarding the addition of energy by warming to increased particle motion
Describe the characteristics of solids, liquids and gases in terms of particles and their:
· Arrangement: use particle diagrams to account for motion and density differences; describe the process of how the arrangement of matter particles changes during phase changes.
Attractions: infer the necessity of an attractive force between particles at close range from observations of differences in cohesiveness of the three phases
Define energy; describe the ways in which it is stored in a system.
Describe three ways in which energy is transferred between system and surroundings.
Draw energy bar charts to account for energy storage and transfer in all sorts of changes. Make up a sample situation and sketch the bar chart.
Given a heating/cooling curve for a substance, identify what phase(s) is/are present in the various portions of the curve, and what the melting and freezing temperatures for the substance are.
Given a heating/cooling curve for a substance, identify which energy storage mode is changing for the various portions of the curve.
Given a situation in which a substance at a given temperature undergoes a change (in temperature, phase or both), sketch a heating/cooling curve that represents the situation.
State the physical meaning of the heat of fusion (Hf) and heat of vaporization (Hv) for a given substance. Use these factors to relate the mass of a substance to the energy absorbed or released during a phase change (at the melting or boiling temperature).
State the physical meaning of the heat capacity (c) of a substance and use this factor to relate the mass and temperature changes to the energy absorbed or released during a change in temperature (with no phase change). / Describe the characteristics of a desert.
Explain how desert organisms are adapted to live in their environment.
Illustrate the processes that cause deserts to form.
Describe why the characteristics of the tundra make it a fragile ecosystem.
Compare the characteristics of tundra organisms with those of their relatives in warmer climates.
Describe the characteristics of grasslands.
Identify where grasslands are located.
Compare and contrast a steppe and a prairie.
Describe the importance of steppes and prairies in agriculture.
Describe Savannas, and state where they are located.
Explain how organisms have adapted to survive on the savanna.
Describe the characteristics of the coniferous forest.
Explain the adaptations that enable organisms to survive in coniferous forests.
Identify the characteristics of deciduous forests.
Describe the organisms that inhabit deciduous forests.
Describe the characteristics of the tropical zone and of the rain forest.
Illustrate the complexity and diversity of the rainforest ecosystem.
Describe the factors that characterize the various types of aquatic biomes.
Identify the characteristics of different types of standing-water ecosystems.
Explain the value of wetlands and the reasons for their decline.
Describe how abiotic factors of gravity, erosion, and sedimentation affect stream ecosystems.
Locate the major ocean zones based on their relationship to the shore.
Describe the flow of water through the world ocean and the characteristics of ocean water in different parts of the world.
Describe the factors that define a neritic zone.
Compare and contrast two types of neritic zone ecosystems.
Explain the processes that contribute to the formation of salt marshes and mangrove swamps.
List several human activities that damage intertidal habitats.
DEC / Finish November Objectives / Describe how Earth as a network of systems and connections.
Explain how Earth is closed with respect to matter, and open with respect to energy.
Identify hunter-gatherer, agricultural, and industrial societies.
Describe how the impact of humans on the environment has increased over time.
Define the frontier ethic and the sustainable development ethic.
Contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Describe the major events that have affected the rate of human population growth throughout history.
Identify factors that affect the size of a population.
Compare and contrast population growth trends in developing and industrialized nations.
Relate overpopulation to use of natural resources, energy demands, and biodiversity.
Hypothesize about the effect of availability of resources on population growth.
List the major groups of nutrients and the amount of energy provided by each type.
Explain the effects of economics on the production of food.
Describe how farming techniques have changed during the past 50 years.
Describe the basic components of sustainable agriculture, and explain why they are desirable.
JAN / Distinguish between a pure substance and a mixture by
· properties
· separation techniques
· composition (macro- and microscopically)
Describe how to use characteristic properties to separate the components of a mixture:
· identify the separation technique (name, equipment)
· identify the property used in the separation
Cite evidence for the presence of “compounded” matter particles;
Describe the differences between elements and compounds
(Learn the names and symbols for common elements)
State Avogadro’s Hypothesis (AH) and the evidence that led to this hypothesis.
Use AH along with combining volumes of gases to deduce the composition of some compounds
State features of Dalton’s model of the atom.
State the Law of Definite Proportion and the Law of Multiple Proportions.
Show how the mass composition of compounds provides evidence for these two laws. / Explain how changes in human societies have changed the demand for energy.
Describe the structure of organic fuels.
List the stages of coal formation and describe the characteristics of each stage.
Locate the major coal deposits on a map of the United States.
Describe the processes of petroleum formation and extraction.
List several uses for petroleum and natural gas.
Describe some of the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels.
Compare biomass fuels to fossil fuels, and give an example of a bioconversion technique.
Describe the structure of the atom and the atomic nucleus.
Explain how unstable nuclei become stable by releasing radiation.
Illustrate the fission chain reactions that power nuclear and breeder reactors.
Diagram the structure and function of a nuclear reactor.
Define radioactive waste, and explain the dangers that arise from it.
State the problems involved in the safe disposal of radioactive waste.
Explain the importance of the sun in supplying energy to Earth. Describe how solar energy can be used to heat buildings and generate electricity.
Describe two ways that moving water can be used to produce electricity.
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of producing electricity through the use of hydroelectric power.
Explain how the energy in wind can be used to produce electricity.
Describe some advantages and disadvantages of using wind energy.
Describe how geothermal energy is used.
Explain how nuclear fusion could be a valuable source of energy in the future.
FEB / State evidence for Avogadro’s Hypothesis. Use Avogadro’s Hypothesis and experimental data to determine the relative mass of molecules.
Use experimental data to determine the relative mass of two objects.
Use experimental data to determine the number of items in a sample without actually counting them.
Given the chemical formula of a substance, determine the molar mass.
Given the mass of a substance, determine
a. the number of moles of the sample
b. the number of atoms or molecules in the sample
Given the number of moles of a substance, find
a. the mass of the sample
the number of atoms or molecules in the sample
Given the formula of a compound, determine its % composition.
Given data about the % composition of a sample, determine the empirical formula of the compound.
Given the empirical formula and information about the molar mass of the compound, determine the molecular formula. / Describe minerals and identify some of their characteristics.
List several ways that minerals are used.
Describe methods for extracting minerals.
Identify and explain ways in which extraction methods may affect the environment.
Identify different soil types and how they influence soil characteristics.
Describe the relationship between climate and soil formation.
Identify causes of soil mismanagement.
Predict possible outcomes from such mismanagement.
List examples of soil wastes, and identify their sources
Describe past and present methods used to dispose of solid wastes.
Identify problems associated with hazardous wastes.
Classify hazardous wastes according to their characteristics.
Identify ways in which soil is lost.
Describe the methods used in agriculture to prevent soil erosion.
Identify and explain four methods for reducing the volume of wastes.
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of various forms of waste disposal.
Describe the ways in which people use water.
Relate how water use affects ecosystems.
Explain ways in which fresh water is naturally stored as a resource.
Predict the effects of the depletion of an aquifer.
Explain why fresh water in many parts of the world is not potable.
Trace the sequence of events involved in the purification of water.
Explain the link between water pollution and human disease.
Identify the major types of water pollutants and their sources.
Examine the sources and effects of inorganic and organic toxic chemicals.
Describe the process of eutrophication and its effects on lake ecosystems.
Explain the problems of radioactive and thermal water pollution.
Identify government attempts to control water pollution.
Describe the problems involved in enforcing laws regarding water pollution.
Describe air pollution.
Identify common outdoor and indoor air pollutants.
Identify the effects of air pollution on human health.
Describe the effects of air pollution on plants and animals.
Identify the effects of acid precipitation and ozone depletion.