Science
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Earth & Water
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Electricity & Magnetism
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Plant & Animal Studies
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Scientific Process
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Natural Resource/Energy
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The Water Cycle
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Slow Processes
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Rapid Processes
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Weather
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Vocabulary
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Weathering and Erosion
Read the lessons found at the two links below. Answer these questions in your notebook.
- What is weathering? (short definition)
- How many types of weathering are there?
- Name each type of weathering.
- Give the definition of each type of weathering.
- Give an example of each type of weathering.
- Is the weathering process fast or slow? Explain
Rapid (fast) processes that change the Earth's Surface
- Read the information found at the link below.
- Write a summary of what kind fast processes can change the Earth's surface.
- Can you think of any of fast or rapid processes that change the Earth's surface?
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Electric Circuits
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Magnetism
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Scientists
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Vocabulary/Assesment
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An electric circuit is like a pathway made of wires that electrons can flow through. A battery or other power source gives the force (voltage) that makes the electrons move. When the electrons get to a device like a light bulb, your computer, or a refrigerator, they give it the power to make it work. The word “circuit” sounds like “circle,” and a circuit needs to be circular to work. The wires have to go from the power source to the device and back again, so that the electrons can go out and come back. Many circuits have a switch so that they can be turned on and off. When the switch is off, it makes a gap in the circuit and the electrons are not able to flow around. When the switch is turned on, it closes the gap and the electricity is able to move and make the device work.
Introduction
Take a look at this train in Figure below. It looks very futuristic. What do you notice about it? Did you notice that the train has no wheels? How can a train have no wheels? It doesn't need wheels. It actually floats, or levitates, just above the track. Magnets enable the train to do this. This is not a normal train. This is a maglev train. The word "maglev" stands for "magnetic levitation." Because it has no wheels, there is no friction. Some magnets hold the train up. Other magnets are used to move the train forward. This train can go very fast. It can reach speeds up to 480 kilometers (300 miles) per hour! Magnets are pretty cool. What exactly is a magnet? How is it able to exert such force?
Take a look at this train in Figure below. It looks very futuristic. What do you notice about it? Did you notice that the train has no wheels? How can a train have no wheels? It doesn't need wheels. It actually floats, or levitates, just above the track. Magnets enable the train to do this. This is not a normal train. This is a maglev train. The word "maglev" stands for "magnetic levitation." Because it has no wheels, there is no friction. Some magnets hold the train up. Other magnets are used to move the train forward. This train can go very fast. It can reach speeds up to 480 kilometers (300 miles) per hour! Magnets are pretty cool. What exactly is a magnet? How is it able to exert such force?
Properties of Magnets
A magnet is an object that can attract other objects. You may have seen a bar magnet. If not, you can see one in Figure below. Magnets have a north and south pole. Magnets only attract certain types of objects. They can attract objects that contain iron. Paper clips are made of iron and are attracted to magnets. Magnets do not attract every type of metal. Magnets only attract iron, nickel, and cobalt. Aluminum or copper are not attracted to magnets. Try this for yourself.
A magnet is an object that can attract other objects. You may have seen a bar magnet. If not, you can see one in Figure below. Magnets have a north and south pole. Magnets only attract certain types of objects. They can attract objects that contain iron. Paper clips are made of iron and are attracted to magnets. Magnets do not attract every type of metal. Magnets only attract iron, nickel, and cobalt. Aluminum or copper are not attracted to magnets. Try this for yourself.
Magnetic Poles
All magnets have two magnetic poles. The poles are regions where the magnet is strongest. The poles are called north and south. They have these names because they always line up with Earth’s north-south axis. The Earth rotates, or spins, around this imaginary line, or axis. What do you suppose would happen if you cut the bar magnet in Figure above in half along the line between the north and south poles? Both halves would also have north and south poles. What if you cut each of them in half again? That's right! All of those pieces would have north and south poles as well. Pieces of a magnet always have both north and south poles.
Magnetic Force
Magnets are able to cause a change. They are able to make some other objects move. They do this by creating a force. This force is called a magnetic force. There are different types of forces. Some forces require objects to touch. For example, you push a book across a table. You are touching the book as it moves. Think back on the levitating train. It wasn't touching the track. How could it move?
Magnets too can produce change. They can produce motion just like you do. Unlike you, magnets do not need to touch the other object. That's right, there is a force without making contact. A magnetic force does not require objects to touch. A magnet can push or pull certain items without ever touching them. That's how the maglev train works.
Do you know another type of force that does not require objects to touch? These forces are known as non-contact forces. Another type of non-contact force you may be familiar with is gravity. Gravity, too, can cause changes in motion. Gravity holds our Moon in orbit without touching it. So how do these forces play a role in magnets?
What happens when two magnets are next to each other? You know a force will be present. What type of motion do you think will occur? Will it be a push or a pull? It all depends on how the poles align. North and south poles of two magnets attract each other. Two north poles or two south poles repel each other.
Magnetism and Materials
You probably have magnets on your refrigerator. You can see some in Figure below. You probably know they stick to a metal door. This might be what holds your homework up. Do magnets stick to all materials? Of course not. Magnets do not stick to many other surfaces. They do not stick to wooden doors. They do not stick to glass windows. What else can you find that they do not stick to?
All magnets have two magnetic poles. The poles are regions where the magnet is strongest. The poles are called north and south. They have these names because they always line up with Earth’s north-south axis. The Earth rotates, or spins, around this imaginary line, or axis. What do you suppose would happen if you cut the bar magnet in Figure above in half along the line between the north and south poles? Both halves would also have north and south poles. What if you cut each of them in half again? That's right! All of those pieces would have north and south poles as well. Pieces of a magnet always have both north and south poles.
Magnetic Force
Magnets are able to cause a change. They are able to make some other objects move. They do this by creating a force. This force is called a magnetic force. There are different types of forces. Some forces require objects to touch. For example, you push a book across a table. You are touching the book as it moves. Think back on the levitating train. It wasn't touching the track. How could it move?
Magnets too can produce change. They can produce motion just like you do. Unlike you, magnets do not need to touch the other object. That's right, there is a force without making contact. A magnetic force does not require objects to touch. A magnet can push or pull certain items without ever touching them. That's how the maglev train works.
Do you know another type of force that does not require objects to touch? These forces are known as non-contact forces. Another type of non-contact force you may be familiar with is gravity. Gravity, too, can cause changes in motion. Gravity holds our Moon in orbit without touching it. So how do these forces play a role in magnets?
What happens when two magnets are next to each other? You know a force will be present. What type of motion do you think will occur? Will it be a push or a pull? It all depends on how the poles align. North and south poles of two magnets attract each other. Two north poles or two south poles repel each other.
Magnetism and Materials
You probably have magnets on your refrigerator. You can see some in Figure below. You probably know they stick to a metal door. This might be what holds your homework up. Do magnets stick to all materials? Of course not. Magnets do not stick to many other surfaces. They do not stick to wooden doors. They do not stick to glass windows. What else can you find that they do not stick to?
Lesson Summary
- A magnet is an object that attracts certain materials, such as iron.
- All magnets have two magnetic poles, north and south.
- Magnets have a magnetic field. It is this magnetic field that exerts a force on some materials. Opposite magnetic poles attract each other. Like poles repel each other.
- Magnetism is the ability to be attracted by a magnet. Only some metals are attracted to magnets. These metals include: iron, cobalt, and nickel. When these materials are magnetized, they become temporary or permanent magnets. Magnetite is a natural permanent magnet.
Lesson Review Questions
Recall
- What is a magnet?
- Give examples of objects that are attracted by magnets.
Apply Concepts
- Explain what type of motion will occur between the two magnets pictured below if you slide these close to each other?
Magnets and their Poles
What does "attract" mean?
What does "repel" mean?
Earth’s Magnetic Poles
Although a compass always points north, it doesn’t point to Earth’s geographic north pole, which is located at 90° north latitude (see Figure below). Instead, it points to Earth’s magnetic north pole, which is located at about 80° north latitude. Earth’s magnetic south pole is also located several degrees of latitude away from the geographic south pole.
Summary
- Earth's magnetic field is like a bar magnet through the planet, with the south magnetic pole nearly aligned with the north geographic pole and vice versa.
- The magnetic field is generated by convection in the liquid outer core.
- Occasionally the magnetic field flips, with the north pole becoming the south pole and the south pole becoming the north pole.
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Making an electromagnet
Watch the videos to find out how they work!
Does the number of coils make a difference in how strong the magnet becomes?
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Electromagnet motors
Watch the videos to find out how they work!
Michael Faraday was one of the most famous scientists in history, and is known as the ‘Father of Electricity’.
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Classification/Structures
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Adaptations
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Ecosystems/Habitats
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Vocabulary
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Scientists
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Vertebrates What are vertebrates? Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or spinal column, also called vertebrae. Are there a lot of vertebrate species? There are currently around 65,000 known species of vertebrate animals. This sounds like a lot, but vertebrates are only around 3% of all the animals on Earth. Most of the animal species are invertebrates. What are some vertebrate animals? Fish - Fish are animals that live in the water. They have gills that allow them to breathe under water. Different species of fish may live in fresh water or salt water. Some examples of fish include the brook trout, the great white shark, lionfish, and the swordfish. Birds - Birds are animals that have feathers, wings, and lay eggs. Many, but not all, birds can fly. Some examples of bird species include the bald eagle, the cardinal, the flamingo, ostriches, and the red-tailed hawk. Mammals - Mammals are warm-blooded animals that nurse their young with milk and have fur or hair. Some examples of mammals include humans, dolphins, giraffes, horses, and spotted hyenas. Amphibians - Amphibians are cold-blooded animals. They start out their lives living in the water with gills just like fish. Later they develop lungs and can move to dry land. Amphibians include frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. Reptiles - Reptiles are cold-blooded animals which lay eggs. Their skin is covered with hard and dry scales. Reptile species include alligators, crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles. Fun Facts about Vertebrates The only mammals that lay eggs are monotremes such as the platypus and spiny anteater. There are reptiles that live on every continent except Antarctica. Most fish have skeletons made of bone, they are called bony fish. Other fish have skeletons made of cartilage. These include sharks and rays. Frogs can breathe through their skin. The shortest childhood of any mammal is the hooded seal. They are considered adults when they are just four days old. Vertebrates tend to be much more intelligent than invertebrates. |
Invertebrates
What are invertebrates? Invertebrates are animals that do not have backbones, also called vertebrae or spinal bones. Are there a lot of invertebrate species? Since vertebrates make up less than 4% of the total animals species, over 96% of all the animal species on Earth are invertebrates. What are some invertebrate animals? Marine Invertebrates - There are a wide variety of interesting ocean animals that are invertebrates. These include sponges, corals, jellyfish, anemones, and starfish. Mollusks - Mollusks have a soft body that is covered by an outer layer called a mantle. Many mollusks live inside a shell, but not all of them. Some examples of mollusks include squid, snails, slugs, octopuses, and oysters. Crustaceans - Crustaceans are a type of arthropod, meaning that they have jointed legs. They also have an exoskeleton (their bones are on the outside like a shell). Some examples of crustaceans are crabs, lobster, shrimp, and barnacles. Worms - The term "worm" is not a scientific word, but is often used to refer to invertebrate animals that don't have legs. Worms may live in the soil, in the water, or even inside other animals as parasites. Some examples include the tapeworm, the leech, and the earthworm. Insects - Insects are part of the Earth's largest animal phylum, the arthropods. There are over 1 million species of insects including such animals as the grasshopper, dragonfly, yellow jacket, butterfly, and praying mantis. Spiders, Centipedes and Scorpions - These animals are all part of the arthropod phylum. Spiders and scorpions are arachnids because they have eight legs. Centipedes and millipedes are myriapods and have lots of legs. Some myriapods have as many as 750 legs. Some example species include the tarantula and black widow, which are both spiders. Fun Facts about Invertebrates Around 23% of all marine organisms are mollusks. The only hard body part of an octopus is a hooked beak at the end of its tentacles. Some invertebrates, such as echinoderms, do not have heads. There are likely millions of invertebrates living in your house right now. They are called dust mites and you can't see them. When a crustacean outgrows its shell, it sheds the shell and grows a new one. Lobsters, crabs, and shrimp all have 10 legs. The front two legs have pincers they can use to catch food and fight off predators. Some scorpion mothers protect their young by carrying them on their backs. Centipedes are carnivores which eat insects and worms. They have a poisonous bite to help them kill their prey. Millipedes are herbivores who eat plants and rotting material. |
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Plants
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Animals
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Desert plants tend to look very different from plants native to other regions. They are often swollen, spiny, and have tiny leaves that are rarely bright green. Their strange appearance is a result of their remarkable adaptations to the challenges of the desert climate. Aridity is the sole factor that defines a desert and is the primary limitation to which desert organisms must adapt.
Desert plants have developed three main adaptive strategies: succulence, drought tolerance and drought avoidance. Each of these is a different but effective suite of adaptations for prospering under conditions that would kill plants from other regions.
Succulents (store water) Usually has chunky, thick leaves.
Succulent plants are plants that have adapted to very dry climates. They have adapted in such a way that they can store water, either in their leaves, stemsor roots. Very often, they look different than plants that do not do this. Their leaves may look more fleshy. A very good example of succulents are the cacti. Almost all cacti are succulents. Not all succulents are cacti though. Other plant families with this property are the agavaceae (Agave family), Azioaceae and Crassulaceae. Other well-known succulents are the Aloe and the Bottle tree.
And this is an Echeveria. Notice that this particular plant has hairy leaves. This is another way to help save water. The hairs on the leaves trap dew, which runs down the leaves towards the roots. All Echeverias come from America and many of them grow in Mexico.
Some Agave plants are the largest leaf succulents. The leaves grow in a giant rosette. Some of the very largest plants can have leaves of up to 2m long. Although they live for a long time – one type of agave is called the Century Plant – most agaves will only flower once before they die. The flowers are produced on long spikes – the very tallest ones can be as much as 12m tall. Agaves grow wild in America but they are often seen growing outside in other areas which are warm and dry, where they have been introduced by man. The picture shows a giant agave flowering in a botanic garden. How tall do you think that flower spike is? Most agaves grow into large plants, but there are some which remain small for many years. The very smallest types might only be 12-15cm across, and you might well be able to grow these at home. |
Century Plant |
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Plants
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Animals
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Non-Renewable
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Renewable
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Impact on Environment
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Vocabulary
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I can describe ways various resources (e.g., air, water, plants, animals, soil) are utilized to meet the needs of a population.
All materials, energy, and fuels that humans use are derived from natural sources, and their use affects the environment in multiple ways. Some resources are renewable over time, and others are not.
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These circle graphs or "pie charts" shows what percentage of non-renewable vs. renewable resources we use in the United States vs. the world.
Do we use more non-renewable or renewable energy resources? What fuel source do we use the most? What are some common uses for this fuel source? Why do you think we use so much? Do you think it is a problem? Why/Why not? Who uses more of each fuel? The US or the world? |
What are some uses for minerals?
Do you think we can live without them? Why/Why not?
(copper is a mineral that is not listed here)
Coal is a mineral found in the earth. Coal mining conditions have improved over the years. However, it is still a dangerous and dirty job. Mines have collapsed on top of miners and they become sick with "black lung" from breathing in the coal dust. Other gases are also present during the mining process. It also affects the environment negatively. "Coal production is a major contributor to global warming: burning coal generates large quantities of carbon dioxide and mining operations can release methane, a known greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The coal mining industry is working to improve its public image." (Wikipedia) For further reading, click the link button below.
Workers drill down deep into the earth to find oil. Then they pump it out. After that, it is sent to an "oil refinery" to be made into petroleum products such as gas for cars and many other items.
Do you think companies can substitute other materials besides oil and natural gas to make their products? Explain your thinking. What if they cannot? Plastic is a very popular material. How would our lives change without plastic? How would our lives be different without many of these products? Are these products a "need" or a "want" for the most part?
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These are oil refinery plants.
How do you think they affect humans? Negative ways? Positive ways?
Questions to Consider:
Why do you think oil, natural gas, coal and other minerals are called Fossil Fuels?
How did they come to be in the earth?
Why are they called "non-renewable" resources?
Will they eventually run out?
How would our lives change without them?
Are there alternative fuel/energy sources we can use in their place?
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Human conservation of available resources, renewable and non-renewable, plays a vital role in sustaining healthy ecosystems.
Essential Questions:
How can a local action have a global effect?
How does the human population’s use of resources affect the environment?
Why is it important to be aware of human impact on the environment?
Can you, alone, make an impact on the environment?
Further questions to ponder:
What is pollution?
Is it only in the air?
What causes pollution?
What affect does it have on our environment, on humans, on wildlife?
Vocabulary Words to Know
- Environment
- Sustainable
- Energy
- Impact
- Limited
- Population
- Community
- Substitute
- Alternative
- Agriculture
- Industry
- Conservation
- Consume/Consumption
- Derived
- Renewable
- Non-renewable
- Resource
- Ecosystem
- Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
- Pollution
- Emissions
- Sewage
- Petroleum
- Coal
- Solar Power
- Wind Power
- Hydroelectric