Course Content
A. Science Practices and Tools
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A.01. Identify common laboratory tools and their functions
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A.02. Describe the process of scientific inquiry
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A.03. Recognize and apply laboratory safety procedures
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A.04. Identify and locate laboratory safety equipment
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A.05. Design a simple experiment to test a hypothesis using appropriate tools
B. Atoms and Molecules
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B.01. Define atoms and chemical elements
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B.02. Describe how substances are represented by chemical formulas and models
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B.03. Identify chemical formulas from ball-and-stick models
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B.04. Describe the atomic composition of molecules
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B.05. Classify elementary substances and compounds using chemical formulas
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B.06. Classify elementary substances and compounds using models
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B.07. Compare and contrast the properties of different types of molecules
C. Density
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C.01. Define density and its units
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C.02. Calculate density using mass and volume
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C.03. Calculate mass using density and volume
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C.04. Calculate volume using density and mass
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C.05. Apply density to explain why some objects float and others sink
D. Solutions
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D.01. Define the terms solute, solvent, and solution
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D.02. Compare concentrations of different solutions qualitatively
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D.03. Explain the process of diffusion across membranes
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D.04. Predict the direction of diffusion based on concentration gradients
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D.05. Describe real-world applications of solutions and diffusion
E. Designing Experiments
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E.01. Identify the experimental question
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E.02. Identify independent and dependent variables
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E.03. Identify control and experimental groups
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E.04. Identify constants in an experiment
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E.05. Analyze and interpret experimental data to draw conclusions
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E.06. Understand an experimental protocol about plant growth
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E.07. Understand an experimental protocol about diffusion
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E.08. Understand an experimental protocol about evaporation
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E.09. Design a controlled experiment to test a hypothesis
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E.10. Evaluate the validity and reliability of experimental results
F. Engineering Practices
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F.02. Evaluate different tests of engineering design solutions
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F.03. Use data from tests to compare and contrast engineering design solutions
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F.04. Describe the importance of iteration in the engineering design process
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F.05. Apply the engineering-design process to real-world problems, such as going to the Moon
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F.06. Design and build a prototype to solve a specific problem
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F.01. Identify the steps of the engineering design process
G. Chemical Reactions
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G.01. Identify reactants and products in a chemical reaction
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G.02. Count atoms and molecules in chemical reactions to balance equations
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G.03. Describe the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction
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G.04. Compare physical and chemical changes
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G.05. Describe energy changes in chemical reactions (exothermic vs. endothermic)
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G.06. Calculate amounts of reactants or products in chemical reactions
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G.07. Explore chemical structure and properties: soap-making
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G.08. Explore chemical structure and properties: food flavours
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G.09. Explain the importance of synthetic materials
H. Force and Motion
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H.01. Define force, mass, and acceleration
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H.02. Identify whether objects are accelerating
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H.03. Describe how mass affects force and acceleration, according to Newton’s Second Law
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H.04. Define balanced and unbalanced forces
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H.05. Predict forces using Newton’s Third Law of Motion
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H.06. Apply Newton’s Laws to explain real-world phenomena
I. Kinetic and Potential Energy
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I.01. Define kinetic and potential energy
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I.02. Identify changes in gravitational potential energy
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I.03. Use tables and graphs to identify patterns about kinetic energy
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I.04. Explore energy transformations: roller coaster ride
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I.05. Explore energy transformations: bike ride
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I.06. Calculate the kinetic energy of a moving object
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I.07. Relate kinetic and potential energy in various systems
J. Thermal Energy
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J.01. Define thermal energy and temperature
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J.02. Predict heat flow and temperature changes between objects
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J.03. Compare thermal energy transfers through conduction, convection, and radiation
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J.04. Explain how different materials conduct heat
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J.05. Describe the relationship between temperature and molecular motion
K. Particle Motion and Energy
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K.01. Describe how particle motion affects temperature
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K.02. Explain how particle motion relates to changes of state (solid, liquid, gas)
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K.03. Describe how particle motion affects gas pressure
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K.04. Identify how particle motion affects temperature and pressure
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K.05. Relate particle motion to the concept of absolute zero
L. Electricity and Magnetism
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L.01. Describe electric forces and fields
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L.02. Compare magnitudes of magnetic forces
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L.03. Explain the relationship between electricity and magnetism
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L.04. Describe the properties of magnets and magnetic fields
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L.05. Identify everyday applications of electromagnets
M. Waves
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M.01. Differentiate between transverse and longitudinal waves
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M.02. Describe the properties of waves: amplitude, wavelength, frequency
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M.03. Explain transmission, reflection, and absorption of waves
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M.04. Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and its various waves
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M.05. Identify applications of infrared waves
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M.06. Relate wave properties to energy transfer
N. Classification and Scientific Names
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N.01. Identify common and scientific names of organisms
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N.02. Explain the origins of scientific names
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N.03. Use scientific names to classify organisms within the Linnaean system
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N.04. Explain the importance of using scientific names
O. Photosynthesis
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O.01. Describe the process of photosynthesis
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O.02. Identify the photosynthetic organism
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O.03. Explain how plants use and change energy during photosynthesis
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O.04. Write the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis
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O.05. Discuss the importance of photosynthesis to ecosystems
P. Biochemistry
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P.01. Describe the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions
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P.02. Explain the chemistry of cellular respiration
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P.03. Identify the main types of organic macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids)
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P.04. Explain the functions of the main organic macromolecules in cells
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P.05. Discuss the importance of water for life
Q. Cells
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Q.01. Describe the basic structure and function of a cell
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Q.02. Identify functions of plant cell parts
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Q.03. Identify functions of animal cell parts
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Q.04. Plant cell diagrams: label parts
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Q.05. Animal cell diagrams: label parts
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Q.06. Compare cells and cell parts
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Q.07. Describe the stages of cell division (mitosis)
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Q.08. Explain the importance of cell differentiation
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Q.09. Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
R. Anatomy and Physiology
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R.01. Describe the levels of organization in the human body
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R.02. Describe the functions of the circulatory and respiratory systems
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R.03. Describe the functions of the digestive system
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R.04. Describe the functions of the excretory system
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R.05. Describe the functions of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
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R.06. Science literacy: how does the nervous system produce phantom pain?
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R.07. Explain how different body systems interact to maintain homeostasis
S. Plant Reproduction
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S.01. Describe the life cycle of angiosperms
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S.02. Describe the life cycle of conifers
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S.03. Describe the life cycle of mosses
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S.04. Describe the life cycle of ferns
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S.05. Compare sexual and asexual reproduction in plants
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S.06. Explain the importance of pollination
T. Fossils
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T.01. Define fossils and explain how they are formed
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T.02. Compare ages of fossils in a rock sequence using relative dating
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T.03. Describe different types of fossils
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T.04. Explain how fossils provide evidence for evolution
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T.05. Describe the limitations of the fossil record
U. Ecosystems
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U.01. Define population, community, and ecosystem
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U.02. Identify different types of ecosystems
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U.03. Describe the characteristics of different ecosystems
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U.04. Explain the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem
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U.05. Describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem
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U.06. Analyze the impact of climate change on ecosystems
V. Ecological Interactions
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V.01. Describe how matter moves in food chains
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V.02. Interpret food webs I
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V.03. Interpret food webs II
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V.04. Use food chains to predict changes in populations
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V.05. Classify symbiotic relationships (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism)
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V.06. Investigate primary succession on a volcanic island
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V.07. Analyze the impact of invasive species on an ecosystem
W. Conservation
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W.01. Define biodiversity and its importance
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W.02. Coral reef biodiversity and human uses: explore a problem
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W.03. Coral reef biodiversity and human uses: evaluate solutions
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W.04. Explain the importance of conservation efforts
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W.05. Describe the role of humans in protecting ecosystems
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W.06. Investigate the impact of pollution on a local ecosystem
X. Natural Resources and Human Impacts
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X.01. Identify different types of natural resources
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X.02. Evaluate claims about natural resource use: fossil fuels
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X.03. Describe the impact of human activities on the environment
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X.04. Explain the concept of sustainability
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X.05. Propose solutions to reduce human impact on the environment
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X.06. Analyze the relationship between economic development and environmental protection
Y. Rocks
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Y.05. Describe the processes that form each type of rock
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Y.06. Explain how the rock cycle contributes to the formation of soil
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Y.01. Introduction to the rock cycle
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Y.02. Classify rocks as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic
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Y.03. Label parts of rock cycle diagrams
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Y.04. Select parts of rock cycle diagrams
Z. Earth’s Features
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Z.01. Label Earth layers
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Z.02. Label Earth features at tectonic plate boundaries
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Z.03. Describe tectonic plate boundaries around the world
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Z.04. Explain the theory of plate tectonics
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Z.05. Describe the causes of earthquakes and volcanoes
AA. The Water Cycle
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AA.01. Label parts of water cycle diagrams
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AA.02. Select parts of water cycle diagrams
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AA.03. Describe the processes involved in the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation)
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AA.04. Explain the importance of the water cycle for life on Earth
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AA.05. Analyze the impact of human activities on the water cycle
BB. The Atmosphere
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BB.01. Explore air masses
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BB.02. Identify and compare air masses
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BB.03. How do air masses form?
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BB.04. Describe the layers of the atmosphere
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BB.05. Explain the importance of the atmosphere for life on Earth
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BB.06. Discuss the causes and effects of air pollution
CC. Weather and Climate
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CC.01. Use data to describe climates
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CC.02. Factors affecting climate: latitude
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CC.03. Factors affecting climate: altitude
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CC.04. Factors affecting climate: distance from the ocean
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CC.05. Differentiate between weather and climate
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CC.06. Explain the causes of different types of weather phenomena
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CC.07. Describe the effects of climate change
DD. Astronomy
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DD.01. Analyze models of the Earth-Sun-Moon system
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DD.02. Identify phases of the Moon
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DD.03. Solar eclipses
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DD.04. Lunar eclipses
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DD.05. What causes the seasons on Earth?
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DD.06. Analyze data to compare properties of planets
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DD.07. Identify constellations
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DD.08. Describe the characteristics of different types of stars and galaxies
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DD.09. Explain the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe
EE. Units and Measurement
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EE.01. Choose appropriate units of distance, mass, and volume for different measurements
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EE.02. Abbreviate time, length, speed, and acceleration units
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EE.03. Abbreviate mass and volume units
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EE.04. Abbreviate force, energy and electricity units
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EE.05. Convert between different units of measurement within the metric system
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EE.06. Explain the importance of using standardized units of measurement
