FOSS

The idea of a system is one of the grand integrating (crosscutting) concepts that pervades all of science. In the Living Systems Module, students start by looking at Earth as the interaction of four Earth systems or subsystems—the geosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the biosphere. The focus of the module then turns to the biosphere as students explore the phenomenon of ecosystems and organisms in terms of their interacting parts. The driving question for the module is how can show more we describe Earth’s biosphere as a system of interacting parts? show less

Provides firsthand experiences in physical science dealing with the anchor phenomenon of energy. The five investigations focus on the concepts that energy is present whenever there is motion, electric current, sound, light, or heat, and that energy can transfer from one place to other.

Investigations that focus on the anchor phenomenon that animals and plants interact with their environment and with each other. The driving question for the module deals with structure and function—How do the structures of an organism allow it to survive in its environment?

The guiding questions for the module are how is water involved in weather, and are weather conditions the same around the world and throughout the year? Students explore the properties of water, the water cycle, and interactions between water and other earth materials. Students learn how humans use water as a natural resource