Physics Curriculum Map

Lisa Craig/LeeAnn Salisbury Riverton High School

Subject / Walkaway Concepts / Time Frame / Activities/Labs/Assignments Common Assessments
Nature of Science / I can :
•Identify a problem.
•Formulate a research question and
hypothesis.
•Identify variables and describe
relationships between them.
•Plan procedures to control
independent variables.
•Collect data on the dependent
variable(s).
•Select the appropriate format (e.g.,
graph, chart, diagram) to summarize
data obtained.
•Analyze data, check for accuracy, and
construct reasonable conclusions.
•Prepare written and oral reports of
investigations. / 2-3 weeks / Cartesian diver activity
Graphing Practice
Bottle Rocket Investigation
Quiz
Motion / I can:
•Describe the motion of an object in
terms of position, time, and velocity.
•Analyze the motion of an object in
terms of velocity, time, and
acceleration.
•Relate the motion of objects to a
frame of reference.
•Describe and calculate the
acceleration of an object infree fall.
•Collect, graph and interpret data to
describe the motion of an object. / 5 weeks / Velocity of a Tumble Buggy
Match the Graph CBR activity
Consumer Reports Auto Analysis (Acc.)
Motion Maps Worksheet
“What Made This Graph”?
Quiz
Test
Newton’s Laws / I can:
•Use Newton's first law to explain the
motion of an object.
•Analyze forces acting on an object.
•Using Newton’s second law, relate
the force, mass and acceleration of an
object.
•Explain that forces act in pairs as
described by Newton’s third law. / Last 2 weeks of Quarter 1 and First 4 weeks of Quarter 2 / Discovering Newton’s First
Forces Webquest
Quiz
Skateboard (Force, Mass, Acceleration) Lab
Test
Bottle Cars
Universal Law of Gravitation / I can:
•Relate the strength of the
gravitational force to thedistance between
two objects and the mass of the objects / 2 weeks / Quiz
Cool Gravity Topics
Energy / I can:
•Determine kinetic and potential energy in a
system.
•Identify various types of potential
energy (i.e., gravitational, elastic,
chemical, electrostatic, nuclear).
•Describe conservation of energy in
terms of systems.
•Relate the transformations between
kinetic and potential energy in a
system
•Gather data and calculate the
gravitational potential
energy and the kinetic energy of an
object
•Describe common energy
transformations and the
effect on availability of energy.
•Evaluate social, economic, and
environmental issuesrelated to the
production and transmission of
electrical energy.
•Investigate the transfer of heat
energy by conduction,convection,
and radiation. / 5 weeks / Online energy transfer
Pie Chart Energy Graphs
Golf Ball Lab
K to G Lab
Energy Calculations
Quiz
Power Plant Debate
Waves
(Mechanical Waves) / I can:
•Demonstrate an understanding of
mechanical waves
in terms of general wave properties.
(period, frequency, wavelength, and
amplitude)
•Identify the relationship between the
speed, wavelengthand frequency of a
wave.
•Explain the observed change in
frequency of awave coming from a
moving object as it approaches
and moves away (i.e., Doppler effect).
•Provide examples of waves commonly
observed in nature and/or used in
technological applications. / 3-1/2
weeks / Wave stations lab
Wave Worksheet 1 (Vocab)
Wave Quiz
Wave Worksheet 2 (Calculations)
Wave Demos (reflectiom, interference)
Sound Stations lab
Doppler Effect
Speed of Sound lab/online
Electromagnetic spectrum and light / I can:
•Describe the relationship of energy to
wavelength or frequency for
electromagnetic radiation.
•Distinguish between the different
parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum (e.g., radio waves and x-
rays or visible light and microwaves).
•Explain that the different parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum all travel
through empty space and at the same
speed.
•Provide examples of the use of
electromagnetic radiation in
everyday life (e.g., communications,
lasers, microwaves, cellular phones,
satellite dishes, visible light).
•Investigate and compare reflection,
refraction, and diffraction of
electromagnetic waves / 2-1/2 weeks / Online EMS webquest
EMS Poster
Light Demos (in groups: reflection, refraction, diffraction)
Test
Electrostatics / I can:
•Describe the factors that affect the
electric force (i.e., Coulomb’s
law). (amount of charge and
distance) / Worksheets:
Charge
Charge Interactions
Coulomb’s law
Quiz