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    Grade/Semester

    Semester Science Content

     Focus
    K Fall ‌Patterns: Observe, record and analyze patterns observed in local weather and plant life throughout the Alaskan seasons.  The needs of living things are explored through the investigation of the plant life cycle. Scientific Inquiry
    K Spring Forces & Motion: Investigate the basic interactions of forces that result in motion through pushes, pulls, collisions and ramps and design a machine that uses pushes and pulls to perform a given task.  Engineering Design
    1st Fall Alaskan Animals: Investigate how the characteristics of Alaskan animals can be very different and have adapted to allow for survival in specific Alaskan ecosystems with particular conditions.  Engineering Design
    1st Spring Light, Sound & Coding: Explore and record how sound and light waves travel through different substances and how waves are used to communicate.  Introduction to computer science and coding.  Scientific Inquiry
    2nd Fall Properties of Matter: Collect data to classify materials by their characteristics and investigate physical changes of material and the different suitability of different materials for different purposes.  Scientific Inquiry
    2nd Spring Earth Systems: Model and record the interactions of the moon, Earth and sun and the fast and slow land changes that impact Alaska (earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, weathering, erosion). Engineering Design 
    3rd Fall Observing Seasonal Variation: Conduct weather observations, model the water cycle, explore cloud formation and identification, and observe how trees interact with their environment. Engineering Design 
    3rd Spring Analyzing Seasonal Variation: Identify and analyze patterns in weather, explore the factors that result in Alaskan weather and climate, and investigate how heat energy is transferred. Scientific Inquiry
    4th Fall Energy & Computer Science: Investigate the forms that energy can take; create series and parallel circuits, and design a circuit-based application; create numbers, letters and images using binary code. Engineering Design 
    4th Spring Interdependence: Model the interactions of Earth systems, focusing on the movement of water and soil through Alaskan watersheds and the interconnectedness of organisms within these ecosystems.  Scientific Inquiry
    5th Fall Dynamic Earth: Explore and model Earth's spheres and the processes that impact the geosphere (plate tectonics, weathering and erosion); analyze earthquake and volcano data and design a structure to limit damage from these events.  Scientific Inquiry
    5th Spring Space Science: Investigate the forces that affect the movements of objects, focusing on unbalanced forces and the patterns caused by these forces; design space technology using this understanding.

     Engineering Design
    6th Fall Ecosystems: Explore the interactions that occur in Alaskan ecosystems and investigate the biotic and abiotic interactions of ecosystems by creating and monitoring a bottle-based ecosystem model. Scientific Inquiry 
    6th Spring Energy: Investigate energy forms and conversions, explore alternate energy resources and design sustainable energy solutions that rely on energy transformations. Engineering Design