Driving Question: How can we design a roller coaster that is both thrilling and safe using principles of force and motion?

Week 1: Intro, Research and Team Building

Week 2: Design and Experimentation

Week 3: Testing and Revision

Week 4: Presentation and Reflection

Assessments include

• Quiz: Basic questions on force and motion concepts, such as defining key terms and identifying Newton's Laws of Motion.

• Worksheet: Solve problems involving calculations of speed, acceleration, and force using given data.

• Design Analysis: Write a short essay analyzing how different forces impact the motion of their roller coaster and justify design choices.

• Project Report: Create a comprehensive report detailing the entire design process, experiments, data analysis, and reflections on how theoretical knowledge was applied in practice.

Week 1: Intro, Research and Team Building

Week 2: Design and Experimentation

Week 3: Testing and Revision

Week 4: Presentation and Reflection

Assessments Include

• DOK Level 1: Recall and Reproduction

  • Quiz: Identify states of matter, define key terms, and recall basic properties of matter and common chemical reactions.

• DOK Level 2: Skills and Concepts

  • Worksheet: Analyze scenarios to classify materials as physical or chemical changes, and solve problems involving basic calculations of matter properties.

• DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

  • Design Analysis: Write an essay explaining how the properties of matter were considered in their packaging design and how these properties influence environmental impact.

• DOK Level 4: Extended Thinking

  • Project Report: Develop a comprehensive report detailing the design process, experiments conducted, data analysis, and reflections on how chemical principles were applied to create eco-friendly solutions.

Week 1: Intro, Research and Team Building

Week 2: Design and Experimentation

Week 3: Testing and Revision

Week 4: Presentation and Reflection

Assessments include:

• DOK Level 1: Recall and Reproduction

  • Quiz: Identify components of electric circuits and define key terms related to electricity and magnetism.

• DOK Level 2: Skills and Concepts

  • Worksheet: Solve problems involving circuit diagrams, calculate electrical properties (such as current, voltage, and resistance), and interpret simple electromagnetism scenarios.

• DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

  • Design Analysis: Write an essay explaining how the principles of electricity and magnetism were applied in their vehicle design and how these principles influence efficiency and sustainability.

• DOK Level 4: Extended Thinking

  • Project Report: Develop a comprehensive report detailing the design process, experiments conducted, data analysis, and reflections on how electrical and magnetic principles were applied to create eco-friendly solutions.

_{Driving Question: How can personal narratives and storytelling help us understand and express our identities and experiences?}

_{Week 1: Intro to storytelling & Identity}

_{Week 2: Developing Personal Narratives}

_{Week 3: Revising and Finalizing Narratives}

_{Week 4: Storytelling Presentation and Reflection}

Launch Idea: Watch The Martian (2016) :)

Week 1: Intro, Research and Team Building

Week 2: Design and Experimentation

Week 3: Testing and Revision

Week 4: Presentation and Reflection

Assessments Include

• DOK Level 1: Recall and Reproduction

  • Quiz: Identify key astronomical terms and concepts, such as types of celestial bodies, phases of the moon, and basic characteristics of the solar system.

• DOK Level 2: Skills and Concepts

  • Worksheet: Analyze data and images from telescopes or missions, interpret orbital diagrams, and solve problems involving basic calculations of distances and gravitational forces.

• DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

  • Mission Proposal: Write a proposal explaining the mission’s objectives, target celestial body, and scientific experiments, using evidence and reasoning to justify their choices.

• DOK Level 4: Extended Thinking

  • Mission Report: Develop a comprehensive report detailing the mission design process, experiments conducted, data analysis, and reflections on how astronomical principles were applied to create a viable space mission.

How can we design a sustainable biofuel using chemical principles to address energy challenges?

Week 1: Intro, Research and Team Building

Week 2: Design and Experimentation

Week 3: Testing and Revision

Week 4: Presentation and Reflection

Assessments Include

• DOK Level 1: Recall and Reproduction

  • Quiz: Identify key terms and concepts related to biofuel chemistry, such as fermentation, transesterification, and combustion.

• DOK Level 2: Skills and Concepts

  • Worksheet: Analyze chemical equations related to biofuel production, calculate energy content, and interpret data on biofuel efficiency.

• DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

  • Design Proposal: Write a proposal explaining the design and production process of their biofuel, using scientific evidence and reasoning to justify their choices.

• DOK Level 4: Extended Thinking

  • Project Report: Develop a comprehensive report detailing the biofuel production process, experiments conducted, data analysis, and reflections on how chemical principles were applied to create a sustainable energy solution.

Week 1: Introduction in understanding community and sustainability

Week 2: Identifying Community Needs and Opportunities

Week 3: Developing Community Action Plans

Week 4: Presentation and Community Engagement

Week 1: Understanding Mars and Mission Planning

Week 2: Rocket Science and Getting to Mars

Week 3: Surviving on Mars

Week 4: Exploring and Potentially Colonizing Mars

Assessment/ Evaluation

DOK Level 1 - Recall and Reproduction

1. Mars Fact Quiz:

   - Multiple-choice questions about Mars' basic characteristics

   - Matching key terms related to space travel and Mars exploration

2. Timeline Test:

   - Ordering major Mars missions chronologically

   - Fill-in-the-blank questions about specific mission names and dates

DOK Level 2 - Skills and Concepts

1. Newton's Laws Application:

   - Short answer questions explaining how Newton's laws apply to rocket launches

   - Calculating simple rocket trajectories using given formulas

2. Mars Environment Analysis:

   - Interpreting graphs of Mars' atmospheric composition

   - Comparing and contrasting Mars and Earth environments using a Venn diagram

DOK Level 3 - Strategic Thinking

1. Mars Mission Patch Design Evaluation:

   - Rubric-based assessment of student-designed mission patches, focusing on symbolism and relevance to the mission

   - Written explanation of design choices and their significance

2. Life Support System Plan:

   - Rubric-based assessment of life support system designs, focusing on feasibility and addressing key challenges of Mars environment

   - Peer evaluation of designs, with justification for feedback

DOK Level 4 - Extended Thinking

1. Mars Colony Design Project:

   - Comprehensive rubric evaluating the final Mars colony design on criteria such as:

     * Integration of multiple concepts learned throughout the unit

     * Innovative problem-solving for Mars-specific challenges

     * Consideration of long-term sustainability

     * Addressing scientific, engineering, and human factors

   - Student-led presentation and defense of their colony design, including answering in-depth questions from peers and teacher

2. Reflective Journal Evaluation:

   - Holistic assessment of student journals, looking for:

     * Connections made between different concepts

     * Critical reflections on the challenges and ethics of Mars exploration

     * Questions raised and independent research conducted

     * Personal growth and changing perspectives over the course of the project

Coding- creating your own game- Roblox

Space- virtual tour and in person

Get Lit- Poetry slams

Jacob Teen Challenge- PACT

Mathematical model- using equations that model life i.e. growth of bacteria

Space Project- historical perspective and cold war element and civil rights movement & to the indigenious people's navigation of the stars... (Hidden Figures movie) (Jack Black's mother connection...); literature connection as well

Storytelling- power of story