Descriptions of the Reporting Categories Science

The following descriptions outline what you should know and be able to do in this subject.

The Nature of Science

This topic includes basic skills necessary for understanding science. It requires us to understand the use of scientific evidence. We propose testable hypotheses and design valid investigations to test them, using appropriate tools and quantitative measurements. We critique investigations and designs. We become familiar with the impact of knowledge and inventions on society and culture. We describe how parts of a system interact and predict how changes to a part of the system will affect the whole. We analyze parts of a system and predict changes, and use models to represent complex systems.

How well do different household cleaners work? Come up with hypotheses about different household cleaners (you can find recipes for low-cost, natural cleaners on the Internet). Design an experiment to test a hypothesis and get a parent or guardian’s permission to carry it out. Once you have collected the data, determine from your results which cleaner you would recommend to your family. Write a brief “consumer report” and present your recommendation in a clear, convincing graphic. (CAUTIONS: Do not inhale or ingest any cleaning product! DO NOT mix bleach with ammonia, as this will produce a toxic gas!)

Biological Sciences (HS)

This topic requires us to characterize living things and the interactions between the living and nonliving environment. We categorize living things based on structure and function at different levels of organization and understand cellular processes (photosynthesis, respiration, cell division, etc.). We identify how adaptations to the environment are shaped through natural selection and how genetic information is inherited. We analyze how biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem interact, and predict how natural and human-made changes will affect populations. We must also understand how human-made systems impact natural resources and the environment.

Nearly all organisms, single-celled and multi-celled, must solve the same set of problems: bringing energy, water, and oxygen to their cells, removing waste products from their cells, and reproducing. Try to notice different organisms, both around you and in books and the media. What structures and strategies do they use to solve these basic problems? The solutions are often adaptations to new environments. Here are some examples: Some grasses and trees produce large amounts of pollen that is carried by wind to maximize the chances of it landing on a female plant. Animals move around, so they can find other animals to mate with. Aquatic animals can fertilize eggs outside their bodies because their watery environment is not harmful to eggs, and it facilitates fertilization. Most land animals fertilize eggs inside their bodies to protect them.

Physical Sciences

This topic requires us to characterize matter and energy and understand the interplay between force and motion. We characterize matter according to chemical properties and atomic structure and use these qualities to predict how substances will react. We should recognize different forms of energy and the ways energy is converted, transferred, and conserved, including through a circuit. We evaluate the consequences of using different natural resources. We also understand concepts of motion and force and apply them to real-world situations.

If you play or watch any type of sport (e.g., softball, soccer, figure skating, or gymnastics), you are observing physical science in action. The next time you watch a sport, try to think of the energy transfers, forces, and motion at work. For example, where does the energy used to kick a soccer ball come from? How is the force applied to the ball different if the player wants it to roll on the ground versus fly through the air? What forces cause the ball to slow or drop back down? Why does it take more energy to move a heavier ball the same speed and distance than a lighter one?

Earth and Space Sciences

This topic requires us to understand the processes that cause changes to Earth’s features, systems, and cycles. We explain how the rock cycle, tectonic plate movements, and erosion and deposition shape Earth’s surface, as well as the role of water systems in shaping ecosystems and landforms. We understand how human-made systems impact natural resources and the environment. We identify interactions between Earth’s surface and atmosphere, and their role in climate, weather, and seasonal changes. We describe the origins and behavior of planets, stars, and the universe.

Examine daily weather maps, either online or in your local newspaper. Notice the movements of air masses and fronts through your area. Try to describe these regions of air in terms of temperature and density. (For example, warmer air is less dense and rises above cooler air.) Look at air pressure information on your map, and see if you can associate changes in pressure with weather changes.