Unit 1:  Scientific Methods and Measurement

·          Scientific method overview

·          Designing an experiment

·          Identifying manipulated (independent), responding (dependent) and controlling variables

·          Making detailed, accurate observations

·          Creating graphs

·          Analyzing results

·          Drawing conclusions

·          Project: Reaction Time Lab

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 2: Measurement

·          Metric Units vs English Units

·          Metric prefixes

·          Converting metric units

·          Measuring length, volume (of liquids, blocks, and irregular solids), and mass

·          Significant digits

·          Calculating density of water and various metals

·          Lab Practical: Calculating Density

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 3:  Introduction to Cells

·          Cell theory

·          Unicellular vs multicellular organisms

·          Endosymbiotic theory

·          Cell parts

·          Plant vs. Animal

·          Project:  Cell Analogy Project

·          Lab: Eggsperiment

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 4: Microscope

·          Types of microscopes

·          Parts and functions

·          Microscope work (elodea, human cheek cells, protists, measuring with a microscope)

·          Lab Practical: Using a Microscope

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 5:  Photosynthesis and Respiration

·          Chemical equations

·          Comparisons

·          Basic stoichiometry

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 6:  Cell Cycle

·          Phases

·          Exponential growth

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 7:  Genetics

·          Gregor Mendel’s Experiments

·          Punnett Squares

·          DNA (replication, transcription and translation)

·          Genetic Disorders

·          Pedigrees

·          Sex-linked vs autosomal traits

·          Blood types

·          Project:  GMO Research/Persuasive Essay (in conjunction with Language Arts)

·          Lab:  Blood Typing

·          Unit Quiz

Unit 8:  Evolution

·          Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection

·          Evidence of evolution

·          Branching tree diagrams

·          Project:  Timeline

·          Unit Quiz

*Students will also be assigned one current event report each quarter.   The due dates on these will be staggered so that 5-6 students will give a report each week.