Life Systems
      Human Organ Systems

• Cell as the basic unit of life
• Basic structure and function of the major organs in the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, and nervous systems
• Using models and simulations, describe ways in which the skeletal, muscular, and
  nervous systems work together to produce movement
• Skin as an organ and explain its purpose
• What happens to excess nutrients not immediately used by the body
• Components of the body’s system of defense against infections

Matter and Materials
      Properties of and changes in matter

• Reversible and Irreversible reactions
• Changes in the properties of materials when they interact with each other
• Interactions between materials that result in the production of a gas
• 3 Different states of matter– solid, liquid, and gas – with examples
  of each state
• Characteristic properties of each of the three states of matter and group materials on the basis of these properties
• Melting and evaporation require heat
• Use of a thermometer to measure the temperature of a material
• Melting, freezing, condensation and evaporation as changes of state that can be reversed
• Nonreversible changes that occur when some materials are heated
• Changes in the relative volume, shape and temperature of materials when pressure is applied to them

Energy and Control
      Conservation of Energy

• Renewable and Non-renewable sources of energy
• Energy can be stored for later use (e.g., mechanical energy is stored in an elastic band or steel spring; chemical energy is stored in a battery)
• Energy storage and transfer in a given device or system
• Energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be changed from one form into another
• Operation of a mechanical device or system that uses a sensory or time-based input and describes how energy is transferred to a specified output.

Structures and Mechanisms
      Forces acting on Structures and Mechanisms

• Forces acting on a structure and their application
• Parts of a structure that are under tension and those that are under compression when subjected to a load
• Force needed to lift a load manually with the force required to lift the load with a simple machine
• Advantages and disadvantages of using different types of mechanical systems
• Turning force (torque) of different combinations of gears
• Force required by different pulley systems

Earth and Space Systems
      Weather

• Weather and climate and the factors that influence these systems
• Large-scale and local weather systems
• Predicting local weather patterns using data from their own observations of weather and from weather reports
• Formation of clouds and the effects of different cloud formations on weather and climate
• Water cycle in terms of evaporation, condensation and precipitation
• Patterns in air movement
• Ways in which energy from the sun affects weather conditions
• Effects of air pressure
• Comparison of outdoor air movement with indoor air movement

*All academic plans will be customized to accommodate the student’s individual needs.