Dr. Michael J. Passow	INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCIENCE
1. MODELS OF OUR PLANET
Core Concepts	Suggested Activity
1.1c. The Sun and the planets that revolve around it are the major bodies in the solar system. Other members include comets, moons, and asteroids. Earth's orbit is nearly circular.
1.1e. Most objects in the solar system have a regular and predictable motion. These motions explain such phenomena as a day, a year, phases of the Moon, eclipses, tides, meteor showers, and comets.
1.1h. The apparent motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars across the sky can be explained by Earth's rotation and revolution. Earth's rotation causes the length of one day to be approximately 24 hours. The rotation also causes the Sun and Moon to appear to rise along the eastern horizon and to set along the western horizon. Earth's revolution around the Sun defines the length of the year as 365 1/4 days.	Use a magnetic compass to find cardinal directions.
1.1i. The tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and the revolution of Earth around the Sun cause seasons on Earth. The length of daylight varies depending on latitude and season.
1.1j. The shape of Earth, the other planets, and stars is nearly spherical.	General and interpret field maps including topographic maps.
1.1f. The latitude/longitude coordinate system and our system of time are based on celestial observations.	Given the latitude and longitude of a location, indicate its position on a map, and determine the latitude and longitude of a given location on a map.
2.1a. Nearly all the atmosphere is confined to a thin shell surrounding Earth. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases.
2.1c. The rock at Earth's surface forms a nearly continuous shell around Earth called the lithosphere.
2.1d. The majority of the lithosphere is covered by a relatively thin layer of water called the hydrosphere.
2. MATTER, MINERALS, AND ROCKS
Core Concepts	Suggested Activity
3.3a. All matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are far too small to see with a light microscope.
3.3e. The atoms of any one element are different from the atoms of other elements.
3.3 f. There are more than 100 elements. Elements combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds that account for all living and nonliving substances. Few elements are found in their pure form.
3.3g. The periodic table is one useful model for classifying elements. The periodic table can be used to predict properties of elements (metals, nonmetals, noble gases.)	Using the periodic table, identify an element as a metal, nonmetal, or noble gas.
3.3c. Atoms may join together in well-defined molecules or may be arranged in regular geometric patterns.
3.2b. Mixtures are physical combinations of materials and can be separated by physical means.
3.2d. Substances are often placed in categories if they react in similar ways. Examples include metals, nonmetals, and noble gases.
3.1a. Substances have characteristic properties. Some of these properties include phase at room temperature, density, hardness, color, odor, heat and electrical conductivity, solubility, and boiling and freezing points.	Determine the identify of an unknown element, using physical and chemical properties.
3.1g. Characteristic properties can be used to identify different materials and separate a mixture of substances into its components. For example, iron filings can be removed from a mixture by means of a magnet. An insoluble substance can be separated from a soluble substance by such processes as filtration, settling, and evaporation.	Using appropriate resources, separate the parts of a mixture.
3.3b. Atoms and molecules are perpetually in motion. The greater the temperature, the greater the motion.
3.1c. The motion of particles helps to explain the phases (states) of matter, as well as changes from one phase to another. The phase in which matter exists depends on their attractive forces among its particles.
3.1e A liquid has definite volume, but takes the shape of a container.
3.1d. Gases have neither a determined shape nor a definite volume. Gases assume the shape and volume of a closed container.	Determine the density of liquids, and regular- and irregular-shaped objects
3.1h. Density can be described as the amount of matter that is in a given amount of space. If two objects have equal volume, but one has more mass, the one with more mass is denser.	Determine the volume of a regular- and an irregular-shaped solid, using water displacement.
3.1i. Buoyancy is determined by comparative densities.
3.1b. Solubility can be affected by temperature, surface area, stirring, and pressure.
3.2a. During a physical change a substance keeps its chemical composition and properties. Examples of physical changes include freezing, melting, condensation, boiling, evaporation, tearing, and crushing.
3.3d. Interactions among atoms and/or molecules result in chemical reactions.
3.2c. During a chemical change, substances react in characteristic ways to form new substances with different physical and chemical properties. Examples of chemical changes include burning of wood, cooking of an egg, rusting of iron, and souring of milk.
3.2e. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that during an ordinary chemical reaction matter cannot be created or destroyed. In chemical reactions, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.	Using identification tests and a flow chart, identify mineral samples.
2.1e. Rocks are composed of minerals. Only a few rock-forming minerals make up most of the rocks of Earth. Minerals are identified on the basis of physical properties such as streak, hardness, and reaction to acid.	Using identification tests and a flow chart, identify rock samples.
2.2g. Rocks are classified according to their method of formation. The three classes of rocks are sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. Most rocks show characteristics that give clues to their formation conditions.	Use a diagram of the rock cycle to determine the geological processes that led to the formation of a specific rock type.
2.2h  The rock cycle model shows how types of rock or rock material may be transformed from one rock type to another.
3. SHAPING THE EARTH'S SURFACE
Core Concepts	Suggested Activity
2.1g.  The dynamic processes that wear away Earth's surface include weathering and erosion.
2.1h.  The process of weathering breaks down rocks to form sediment.  Soil consists of sediment, organic material, water, air, and living organisms.
3.2a.  During a physical change, a substance keeps its chemical composition and properties.  Examples of physical changes include freezing, melting, tearing, and crushing.	Study the effects of shaking pieces of various rocks, with and without water.
4.2d.  Most substances expand when heated and contract when cooled.  Water is an exception, expanding when changing to ice.
3.2c.  During a chemical change, substances react in characteristic ways to form new substances with different physical and chemical properties.	Study examples of chemical changes, such as the rusting of steel wool.
4.2e.  Temperature affects the solubility of some substances in water.	Study reaction rates when an effervescent tablet is dropped into waters of different temperatures and acidity.
2.1i.  Erosion is the transport of sediment.  Gravity is the driving force behind erosion.  Gravity can act directly or through agents such as moving water, wind, and glaciers.
4. PLATE TECTONICS
Core Concepts	Suggested Activity
2.2a.  The interior of Earth is hot.  Heat flow and movement of material within Earth cause sections of Earth's crust to move. This may result in earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the creation of mountains and ocean basins.
2.2b.  Analysis of earthquake wave data (vibrational disturbances) leads to the conclusion that there are layers within Earth. These layers--the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core--have distinct properties.	Make a drawing or physical model showing the Earth's layers and their general characteristics.
2.2c.  Folded, tilted, faulted, and displaced rock layers suggest past crustal movement.	Use models to study possible crustal movements.
2.2d.  Continents fitting together like puzzle parts and fossil correlations provided initial evidence that continents were once together.
2.2e.  The theory of Plate Tectonics explains how the "solid" lithosphere consists of a series of plates that "float" on the partially molten section of the mantle. Convection cells within the mantle may be the driving force for the movement of the plates.
2.2f.  Plates may collide, move apart, or slide past each other. Most volcanic activity and mountain building occur at the boundaries of these plates, often resulting in earthquakes.	Plot the location of recent earthquake and volcanic activity on a map and identify patterns of distribution.
5. EARTH HISTORY
Core Concept	Suggested Activity
21.f.  Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rocks.  Fossils can be used to study past climates and environments.	Study representative fossils and identify by phylum and/or class.
2.2d.  Continents fitting together like puzzle parts and fossil correlations provided initial evidence that continents were once together.
From "Living Environment":
3.2b  Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient to permit its survival.  Extinction of species is common.  Fossils are evidence that a great variety of species existed in the past.
3.2c  Many thousands of layers of sedimentary rock provide evidence for the long history of Earth and for the long history of changing lifeforms whose remains are found in the rocks.  Recently deposited rock layers are more likely to contain fossils resembling extinct species.
7.1b.  The environment may be altered through the activities of organisms.  Alterations are sometimes abrupt.  Some species may replace others over time, resulting in long-term gradual changes (ecological succession.)	Study models of evolutionary relationships.
6. WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Core Concepts	Suggested Activity
2.2i. Weather describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a given location for a short period of time.
2.2j.  Climate is the characteristic weather that prevails from season to season and year to year.
4.1a.  The Sun is the major source of energy for Earth. Other sources of energy include nuclear and geothermal energy.
4.1d.  Different forms of energy include heat, light, electrical, mechanical, sound, nuclear, and chemical. Energy is transformed in many ways.
4.4a.  Different forms of electromagnetic energy have different wavelengths.  Some examples of electromagnetic energy are visible light, infrared heat, ultraviolet waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays.	Study the ESRT diagram.
4.1c.  Most activities in everyday life involve one form of energy being transformed into another.	Trace energy flow from the Sun through plants to animals to heat released by motion.
4.2b.  Heat can be transferred through matter by the collisions of atoms and/or molecules (conduction) or through space (radiation). In a  liquid or gas, currents will facilitate the transfer of heat (convection.)	Conduct simple demonstrations of radiation, conduction, and convection.
4.2a.  Heat moves in predictable ways, flowing from warmer objects to cooler ones.
2.2k.  The uneven heating of Earth's surface is the cause of weather.
1.1i.  The tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and the revolution of Earth around the Sun cause seasons. The length of daylight varies depending on latitude and season.	Use computer-based resources to compare daylength and solar radiation at different locations and times.
2.1a.  Nearly all the atmosphere is confined to a thing shell surrounding Earth. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases.  The atmosphere is stratified into layers, each having distinct properties. Nearly all weather occurs in the lowest layer of the atmosphere.	Make a scale drawing of the layered atmosphere.
2.1b.  As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.	Study Stuve diagrams.
2.1j.  Water circulates through the atmosphere. lithosphere, and hydrosphere in what is known as the water cycle.	Evaporation/condensation investigations.
2.2l.  Air masses form when air remains nearly stationary over a large section of Earth's surface and takes on the conditions of temperature and humidity from that location. Weather conditions at a location are determined primarily by temperature, humidity, and pressure of air masses over that location.	Predict the characteristics of an air mass based on the origin of the air mass.
2.2m.  Most local weather condition changes are caused by movements of air masses.	Measure weather variables such as wind speed and direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, etc.
2.2n.  The movement of air masses is determined by prevailing winds and upper air currents.	Use computer-based resources to find how satellites and radar can observe surface and upper air conditions.
Fronts are boundaries between air masses. Precipitation is likely to occur at these boundaries.	Generate and interpret field maps including weather maps.
2.2p.  High-pressure systems generally bring fair weather.  Low-pressure systems usually bring cloudy, unstable conditions. The general movement of highs and lows is from west to east across the United States.	Use Internet sites to compare conditions at different locations.
2.2q. Hazardous weather conditions include thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, and blizzards.  Humans can prepare for and respond to these conditions if given sufficient warning.	Use computer-based and printed resources to create a class presentation about one kind of severe weather, including plans for emergency preparedness.
2.2r.  Substances enter the atmosphere naturally and from human activity.  Some of these substances include dust from volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water. These substances can affect weather, climate, and living things.	Use computer-based and printed resources to investigate possible short- and long-term term climate changes that may result from variations in these atmospheric substances.