Author:
Carissa Haug, MECHELLE LALANNE
Subject:
Physical Science, Chemistry
Material Type:
Activity/Lab, Assessment, Full Course, Lesson, Module, Unit of Study
Level:
High School
Tags:
  • Ambitious Science Teaching
  • ClimeTime
  • Phenomenon
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Downloadable docs

    Education Standards

    High School Integrated Physics and Chemistry Course

    High School Integrated Physics and Chemistry Course

    Overview

    The High School Integrated Conceptual Science Program (ICSP) is a NGSS-aligned curriculum that utilizes the conceptual progressions model for bundling of the NGSS, High School Conceptual Model Course 1 and strategies from Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) to focus on teaching practices needed to engage students in science discourse and learning. 

    Course 1 is the High School Integrated Physics and Chemsitry Course.   The goal of these units is to encourage students to continue in STEM by providing engaging and aligned curriculum. The focus of this year long course is on the first year of high school (freshman).  While the course is designed to be taught as a collection of the units, each unit could be taught as a separate unit in a science course.  

    A video about the new course shared its unique approach to learning and teaching. Wenatchee School District, one of the participating districts, wanted a way to share the program with the community. https://youtu.be/9AGk19YUi2o

    Course 1 of the ICSP development was funded by Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline (NESSP) which is funded through the NASA Science Mission Directorate and housed with Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium at the University of Washington.

    Course 1 Bundle 1: Colliding Galaxies

    Image of space galaxies

    In this unit students observe the phenomenon of collision between objects in space.  As they seek to make sense of the phenomenon, they will engage in activities to learn about Newton's Laws of Motion, Keplar's Laws, Doppler Effect, light waves, and galaxy motion.

    Course 1 Bundle 2: Dissolving Bodies

    The Yellowstone National Park hot spring

    In this unit students explore the phenonmenon of a person disappearing after falling into a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park.  As students make sense of this phenomenon, they engage in activities to learn about atoms, bonding, solubility, and the conservation of matter.

    Course 1 Bundle 3: Boat on a Building

    A tsunami wave crashing over the wall.

    In this unit students explore how a large boat ended up on top of a house. In 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Tōhoku, Japan. After the earthquake, a massive and devastating tsunami occurred that caused extensive damage to coastal areas in Japan and elsewhere.  As studnets make sense of this phenomenon, they will engae in activities to learn about plate tectonics, energy transfer, convection currents, and radioactive isotope decay.

    Course 1 Bundle 4: Giant Sequoia

    Icon image of evergreen trees with a mountain background.

    In this unit students explore the phenomenon of how a massive tree can grow from a tiny seed.  As students make sense of this phenomenon, they engage in activities to learn about photosynthesis, glucose, conservation of matter and energy, and bonding.

    Course 1 Bundle 5: Biolite

    The Biolite campstove

    In this unit students explore the Biolite campstove that cooks food while also charging a cellphone.  As students make sense of this phenomenon, they engage in activities to learn about the conservation of energy, the flow of energy into, out of, and within a system, and how to evaluate and design a solution to a complex, real-world problem. 

    Course1 Bundle 6: Snapchat

    Image of the Snapchat icon

    In this unit students explore how an image can be sent to and from a cell phone.  As they make sense of this phenomenon they will engage in activities to learn about waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, photons, and the photoelectric effect.