Physical/Chemical Changes
What are some physical changes?
What is Melting Ice – Ice turns into water, but it remains H₂O.
Boiling Water – Water turns into steam without changing chemically.
Freezing Juice – Liquid juice turns into a solid popsicle.
Cutting Paper – The size and shape change, but it's still paper.
Breaking Glass – A shattered window is still made of glass.
Dissolving Sugar in Water – Sugar dissolves, but it doesn’t change chemically.
Chopping Wood – The pieces are smaller, but the wood’s chemical makeup is unchanged.
Cutting paper
Question: What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator? (Choose the correct answer.)
A) A conductor stops electricity, and an insulator lets electricity flow.
B) A conductor lets electricity flow, and an insulator stops electricity.
C) A conductor and an insulator both stop electricity.
Answer: B) What is conductor lets electricity flow, and an insulator stops electricity.
What is the difference between constructive and destructive processes, and how do they shape Earth's surface features?
What is constructive processes build up Earth's surface by adding material, such as through deposition, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation. Destructive processes break down Earth's surface through erosion, weathering, and natural disasters like earthquakes.
These processes work together to constantly reshape landforms such as deltas, sand dunes, mountains, and volcanoes.
What is an microorganism?
What is a microorganism is a tiny living organism that can only be seen under a microscope. Examples include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.
What is an instinct? What is a learned behavior?
What is an instinct is a behavior an animal is born with. It happens automatically and doesn’t need to be taught.
What is a learned behavior is something an animal learns by watching, practicing, or being taught.
Compare and contrast mixing sand with water versus mixing salt with water. How do their physical changes differ?
What is when sand is mixed with water, it does not dissolve; instead, it settles at the bottom. This is a suspension.
When salt is mixed with water, it dissolves completely, forming a solution.
Question: Look at this list: wood, plastic, copper, rubber, and aluminum. Which are conductors and which are insulators?
What is Conductors: Copper, Aluminum Insulators: Wood, Plastic, Rubber
Analyze how erosion and deposition work together to form a delta. How does this demonstrate both constructive and destructive forces?
what is erosion breaks down rock and soil from land and carries it downstream through rivers. As the river slows down near the mouth, deposition occurs, where sediment is dropped and accumulates, forming a delta. This demonstrates destructive forces (erosion removing material) and constructive forces (deposition building up land).
Compare beneficial and harmful microorganisms.
What is beneficial microorganisms help with processes like digestion, food production, and decomposition. Harmful microorganisms can cause diseases and spoil food. For example, E. coli can be harmful, while Lactobacillus is beneficial.
What is one way that an instinct is different from a learned behavior? What is one way they are similar?
Different: What is instincts happen without teaching, but learned behaviors require training or experience.
Similar: What is Both are behavior patterns that help animals survive and adapt to their environment.
if you mix flour and water, then let the water evaporate, what happens to the flour? What does this tell you about physical changes?
What is the flour remains after the water evaporates, showing that it was not chemically changed, only physically mixed with the water. This confirms that a physical change does not alter the substance's chemical identity.
Question: You tested a metal spoon and a wooden spoon in a circuit. The light bulb turned on with the metal spoon but not the wooden one. Why?
Answer: What is the metal spoon is a conductor, so it lets electricity flow. The wooden spoon is an insulator, so it stops electricity.
Construct an argument using scientific evidence to explain how a volcanic eruption can lead to both constructive and destructive changes to Earth's surface over time.
What is a volcanic eruption can be destructive because lava flows, ash clouds, and pyroclastic flows destroy ecosystems, homes, and landscapes. However, over time, the cooling lava hardens and creates new landforms, such as islands, mountains, or rich volcanic soil that supports plant growth. An example is the formation of the Hawaiian Islands, where repeated eruptions have built landmass over millions of years.
Using at least two pieces of scientific evidence, construct an argument that supports the claim that some microorganisms are beneficial to human health.
What is many microorganisms are essential to human health. For example, gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium help digest food and produce vitamins such as B12. Studies show that probiotics can improve digestion and strengthen the immune system. Therefore, not all microorganisms are harmful; some are vital for our well-being.
Why do animals need both instincts and learned behaviors to survive in their environment?
What is animals need instincts to do important things like breathing, hiding from predators, or finding food right after birth. They need learned behaviors to adapt to new environments or situations—for example, a bear learning which areas have the most food.
Develop a step-by-step procedure for separating a mixture containing sand, salt, and iron filings. Justify why you chose each separation method and how it demonstrates physical changes.
What is Step 1: Use a magnet to remove the iron filings (magnetism).
Step 2: Add water to the sand and salt mixture. The salt will dissolve while the sand remains.
Step 3: Use filtration to separate the sand from the saltwater solution.
Step 4: Evaporate the water to retrieve the salt.
Justification: Each step relies on a physical property (magnetism, solubility, and evaporation) without changing the chemical composition of the materials.
Question: Plan an experiment to test if different objects are conductors or insulators. What materials will you need? What steps will you take?
Answer (Example Plan):What is gather materials: battery, wires, light bulb, different objects (penny, rubber band, paperclip, plastic spoon). Connect the circuit with the battery, wires, and light bulb. Test each object by placing it in the circuit. Observe if the light bulb turns on (conductor) or stays off (insulator).
Construct an argument using scientific evidence to explain how both constructive and destructive processes have interacted to shape a well-known surface feature, such as the Grand Canyon or a volcanic island?
Destructive Forces:
What is one of the biggest ways the Grand Canyon was shaped is erosion. The Colorado River has been flowing through this area for millions of years, slowly carving away the rock and making the canyon deeper and wider. Rain, wind, and ice also help break the rocks apart. When water gets into cracks and freezes, it expands like a balloon, making the cracks bigger until chunks of rock break off.
Constructive Forces:
What is before erosion could do its job, the land had to be lifted up. This happened because of tectonic uplift, which is when forces deep inside the Earth push land higher. The Colorado Plateau, where the Grand Canyon is located, was raised over millions of years. This made the river flow faster, helping it carve the canyon even deeper.
Design an investigation or multimedia presentation that presents an argument, supported by scientific evidence, showing how microorganisms can be used in environmental cleanup efforts
What is students could create a video presentation explaining how certain bacteria, like Pseudomonas putida, are used to break down oil in marine environments. The presentation would include data from case studies (e.g., the Deepwater Horizon spill) and interviews or quotes from environmental scientists, showing how these microbes reduce pollution and support ecosystem recovery.
Create an interview with a zookeeper, wildlife expert, or pet owner. Include at least 3 questions about animal instincts and 3 about learned behaviors. Afterward, explain how the answers help you compare and contrast the two types of behavior.
Instincts
What is a behavior your animal does without being taught?
Are all animals of that species born with the same behavior?
How does that behavior help the animal survive?
Learned Behaviors
What is something you taught your animal to do?
How long did it take the animal to learn it?
What tools or techniques helped with training?