SYLLABUS
TOPICS
AND TIMELINE OF STUDIES
SCIENCE
Mrs.
L. Curtis
1st
semester: August-December: Physical and Earth Science
Chemical
and Physical properties of Matter: A
substance has characteristic properties which
are independent of the amount of the sample. A mixture of substances can often
be separated into the original
substances by using one or more of these
characteristic properties.
Chemical
Reactions: Substances react chemically in
characteristic ways with other substances to form new substances (compounds)
with different characteristic properties. In chemical reactions, the total mass
remains the same, i.e.,it is conserved. Substances are often placed in
categories or groups if they react in similar ways.
Compounds:
Chemical elements do not break down during normal laboratory reactions. Elements
combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds.
Lithosphere:
The
earth is layered with a thin crust, a hot mantle and a dense core.
Constructive
and Destructive Forces: Land forms are the result of
a combination of constructive and destructive forces. Patterns of
earthquakes, volcanoes, and deposition, (constructive forces) and weathering and
erosion (destructive forces) are observable.
Rock
Cycle: Materials found near the surface of the
earth are constantly being changed in a continuous process called the rock
cycle. Rates of change depend on different surface materials.
Soils:
One product of the rock cycle is weathered
rock, which when combined with organic material, produces soil. Soils are often
found in layers each having a different chemical composition and texture, which
are influenced by living organisms.
Evidence
of change through Fossils:
Fossils provide important evidence of how
environmental conditions have changed.
2nd
Semester: January-May: Earth and Life Science
Capacity
of Environment to Support Life: Human activites
change the earth’s land, water and atmosphere. Some of these changes decrease
the capacity of the environment to support life forms.
Interrelationship
of Humans and Resources: Earth resources
exist in limited quantities.. The use of the earth’s natural resources may
effect the environment and society. Recycling and conservation methods can have
an impact on the long-term survival of humankind and the quality of life.
Relationship
between Structure and Function: Living systems
at all levels of organization are cells, tissues, organs, organ systems,
organisms and ecosystems.
Single-celled,
multicellular organisms: All organisms
are composed of cells, the fundamental unit of life. Most organisms are single
cells; other organisms, including humans are multicellular.
Cell
functions that sustain Life: Cells carry on
the many functions needed to sustain life.
Cell
specialization: Groups of specialized cells
cooperate to form tissue Different tissues are in turn grouped together to form
organs. Each type of cell, tissue and organ has a distinct structure and set of
functions that serve the organism as a whole.
Continuation
of Species: Reproduction is a characteristic of
all living systems and id essential to the continuation of every species. Some
organisms reproduce asexually; others reproduce sexually.
Development
of a new individual: In species that reproduce sexually,
including humans, an egg and sperm, each carrying genetic information, unite to
begin the development of a new individual.
Genetic
information for new individuals: Every organism
requires a set of instructions for specifying its traits. Heredity is the
passage of these instructions from one generation to another.