Department: Science

Course: Integrated Science

Grade Level: 9
Course Description: This Integrated Science course is designed to provide students with
the foundations for future science courses. The course is a study of physical and life
sciences, matter, energy, cells, ecology, astronomy, and human impact on climate.

SEMESTER ONE

Unit #1: Content Assessment Resources

PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASICS
4 weeks
Understandings:
Scientific inquiry involves asking
questions, collecting evidence,
forming explanations, connection to
knowledge and theory, and
communicating results.
--------------------------------
Essential Questions:
How do people use the process of
science to investigate questions
about the natural world?
Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
Next Generation Science  Measuring & the Metric System Unit 1 Exam
n/a  Distance vs. Time Graphs
 Acceleration Performance Task
Math Precision of Measuring: Students will use
CCSS.Math.HSN.Q.A.1, various measuring instruments to
CCSS.Math.HSF.IF.B.6, determine the length of several
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1, classroom objects
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4
Tumble Buggy Lab: This inquiry activity
Informational Texts
will introduce variables, real world
Reading  “Testing the Five-Second Rule” measurement applications, and velocity
RST.9-10.4 by Kelli Plasket through a discovery based lesson
 “What Makes the Colors in
Writing Fireworks” by Larry Scheckel Other Evidence
WHST.9-10.9 Wingspan: This activity serves to
introduce graphing, allows students to
gain more practice measuring length,
inputting data in graphs and tables, and
identifying the patterns within a graph

District Benchmarks
Course Pre-Assessment
 Unit #2: Content Assessment Resources
FORCES & MOTION Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
4 weeks Science  Mass & Acceleration
HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-3  Friction (weight, varying materials)
Understandings:  Kinetic Energy (work, collisions)
There are a variety of forces acting Performance Task
upon objects at all times, affecting Reading
motion. RST.9-10.2

-------------------------------- Writing Informational Texts

WHST.9-10.4 Other Evidence
Essential Questions:
What makes objects move?

District Benchmarks
n/a

Unit #3: Content Assessment Resources

MATTER & ENERGY Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
4 weeks Science  Volume & Density
HS-PS3-2, HS-PS3-3, HS-  Heat & Temperature
Understandings: PS3-4  Convection, Conduction, and
Radiation Performance Task
--------------------------------  States of Matter
Reading  Melting & Boiling Points
Essential Questions: RST.9-10.3

Writing Other Evidence

WHST.9-10.5

Informational Texts

District Benchmarks
n/a
 Unit #4: Content Assessment Resources
THE NATURE OF MATTER Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
4 weeks Science  Classification of Matter (e.g.,
HS-PS1-1, HS-PS2-6 compounds, elements)
Understandings:  Chemical & Physical Properties
 Properties of Atoms Performance Task
-------------------------------- Reading  Periodic Table (organization,
RST.9-10.5 symbols)
Essential Questions:
Writing
WHST.9-10.7 Informational Texts Other Evidence

District Benchmarks
Semester 1 EOCA

SEMESTER TWO

Unit #5: Content Assessment Resources

CELLS Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
3 weeks Science  Using Microscopes
HS-LS1-2, HS-LS1-5  Cell Theory
Understandings:  Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
All organisms share similar  Organelles & Functions (plants vs. Performance Task
characteristics and basic needs, but Reading animal cells)
they also have differences that RST.9-10.6
allow people to identify, describe,
and classify them. Writing
WHST.9-10.6 Other Evidence
--------------------------------

Essential Questions: Informational Texts

What are characteristics of living
things?

In what ways is there unity and District Benchmarks

diversity in life? Semester Pre-Assessment
 Unit #6: Content Assessment Resources
ECOLOGY Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
4.5 weeks Science  Biotic vs. Abiotic
HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-4, HS-  Levels of Organization
Understandings: LS2-6, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS2-  Biomes
8  Food Chain & Webs Performance Task
--------------------------------  Energy Pyramid
 Symbiotic Relationships
Essential Questions: Reading  Water & Carbon Cycle
RST.9-10.8
Informational Texts Other Evidence
Writing
WHST.9-10.8

District Benchmarks
n/a

Unit #7: Content Assessment Resources

HUMAN IMPACT ON Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
CLIMATE Science  Climate Change
4.5 weeks HS-ESS2-4, HS-ESS3-1,  Desertification
HS-ESS3-4, HS-ESS3-5  Insolation
Understandings:  Heat/Energy Budget Performance Task

-------------------------------- Reading
RST.9-10.7
Essential Questions:
Writing Other Evidence
WHST.9-10.7

Informational Texts

District Benchmarks
n/a
 Unit #8: Content Assessment Resources
ASTRONOMY Focus Standards Acquisition of Knowledge & Skills Summative Assessments
4 weeks Science  History of Solar System
HS-ESS1-1, HS-ESS1-2,  Characteristics of Stars
Understandings: HS-ESS1-3  Types of Galaxies
 Big Bang Theory Performance Task
--------------------------------
Reading
Essential Questions: RST.9-10.9

Writing Informational Texts Other Evidence

WHST.9-10.10

District Benchmarks
Semester 2 EOCA