This course offers several distinctive components: an in-depth examination of the biological functions of vision and sound in relation to physical laws; the impact of scientific discoveries on technology and society; and an overview of natural hazards, including the impact of humans on the environment. The Physical Science course covers the fundamentals of chemistry, matter, energy, and various scientific fields. The lessons are designed to move the student beyond the level of basic knowledge into critical thinking and learning activities.
840L
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Curriculum Planning Manual (CPM) –
Contains Teachers’ Guide and Scope and Sequence |
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• Physical Science is presented as a semester-long high school elective course.
• All thirty-one lessons contain a study guide, a practice and mastery test, and an essay or constructed response.
• Lessons include a variety of essay types, such as descriptive, persuasive, and expository. Directions for essays and rubrics for grading are provided for each of the writing assignments. Students will also complete a self-evaluation form to assess their performance.
• Lessons sold within the A+ PowerPack include Cambridge University Press (CUP) Learning Objects.
• The reading level of Physical Science is certified by MetaMetrics® with a Lexile® score.
• In addition, the A+ PowerPack includes Encyclopedia Britannica (EB) workspaces that may contain articles, videos, or interactive media.
• The content in this course is based on specific standards developed by the National Science Education Standards (NSES).
• Requirements identified in the following standards under the Course Content section are: Science Inquiry, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Science and Technology, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, and History and Nature of Science.
• Students learn the basics of chemistry and acquire the ability to understand and perform methods of scientific inquiry.
• Personal, social, and historical perspectives of science are observed in the areas of community, environment, and technology.
• Lessons explore the nature of scientific knowledge and elements of earth and space science, including the origin and evolution of the universe and earth system.
• Due to the interactive nature of the A+ PowerPack, there are a few specific software requirements:
• Some CUP and EB interactive activities require a web browser equipped with the Adobe® Flash® plug-in.
Available at: www.adobe.com
(select Get ADOBE® FLASH® PLAYER)
• Some EB video clips utilize Quicktime™. Your workstations will need to have the Quicktime Video Player installed. Available at: www.apple.com/quicktime/download
• Some EB components deliver RealPlayer® videos. Your workstations will need to have the RealPlayer installed.
Available at: www.real.com
(select Get RealPlayer - Free)
• Some EB videos require the Windows Media® Player. Your workstations will need to have the Windows Media Player installed. Available at: www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download
• Two links to the Internet are provided as a resource for further exploration.
An Internet connection is not required for completion of this course, but it is required to utilize the CUP and EB components of the A+ PowerPack.
• The Physical Science course requires students to read resources that are linked to the lessons. The vast majority of these documents are provided as Portable Document Files (PDFs). As a result, students will need Adobe Acrobat® Reader® available on their workstations.Available at: www.adobe.com, select the Get Adobe Reader button.
• Students are required to complete the essay section for lesson mastery. This setting must be enabled on the “Settings for Assignment of A+LS Lesson” dialog box. The default setting does not require the completion of the essay for assignment mastery. The circled item shows the proper setting.
Cambridge Learning Objects are animations and interactive activities that enhance the curriculum concepts presented within the Physical Science lessons. Founded in 2003, Cambridge-Hitachi is the result of a joint venture between Cambridge University Press and Hitachi Software Engineering. Cambridge-Hitachi is committed to innovation in e-learning and applies information and communication technologies as powerful tools to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.
Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition has over 450 Teacher Resources and Student Learning Materials. The materials include a wide range of interactive lessons, research projects, animations, and worksheets that support the Physical Science curriculum. Physical Science contains Encyclopedia Britannica workspaces, and each may contain an article, diagram, study guide, video, or interactive media.
The lessons in the Physical Science course are divided into ten domains of study.
- Unit 1 - Introduction to Physical Science
- Unit 2 - Science Applications
- Unit 3 - Matter's Building Blocks
- Unit 4 - Structure and Properties of Matter
- Unit 5 - Matter and Motion
- Unit 6 - Energy and Work
- Unit 7 - Electricity and Magnetism
- Unit 8 - Waves, Sound, and Light
- Unit 9 - Physical Science and Society
- Unit 10 - The Physical Universe
Content Based On Specific NSES Standards
The lessons in the A+nyWhere Learning System Physical Science course will enable the student to evaluate, describe, summarize, define, characterize, or demonstrate an understanding of the NSES standards listed below:
| NSES Standards |
Lessons That Address NSES Standards |
| Science As Inquiry Standards |
A+LS Physical Science Lessons |
• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Understandings about scientific inquiry |
• Scientific Method |
| Science and Technology Standards |
A+LS Physical Science Lessons |
• Technological design
• Science and technology |
• Experiments and Data Collection
• Interpreting and Presenting Data
• Physical Science and Technology |
| History and Nature of Science Standards |
A+LS Physical Science Lessons |
• Science as a human endeavor
• Nature of scientific knowledge
• Historical perspectives
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• What Is Physical Science?
• History of Physical Science |
| Physical Science Standards |
A+LS Physical Science Lessons |
• Structure of atoms
• Structure and properties of matter
• Chemical reactions
• Motions and forces
• Conservation of energy and increase in disorder
• Interactions of energy and matter |
• Atoms
• Elements
• Chemical Compounds, Mixtures, and Solutions
• Chemical Reactions
• Properties and States of Matter
• Introduction to Motion and Forces
• Forces and Laws of Motion
• Forces in Materials
• Math in Forces and Motion
• Energy
• Heat
• Work and Simple Machines
• Electricity
• Electric Current and Circuits
• Magnetism
• Electronics
• Waves
• Sound
• Light and the EM Spectrum
• Vision and Light Technology |
| Earth and Space Science Standards |
A+LS Physical Science Lessons |
• Energy in the earth system
• Geochemical cycles
• Origin and evolution of the earth system
• Origin and evolution of the universe |
• Earth Science
• Climate and Weather
• Astronomy Basics |
| Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standards |
A+LS Physical Science Lessons |
• Personal and community health
• Population growth
• Natural and human-induced hazards
• Environmental quality
• Natural resources
• Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges |
• Careers in Physical Sciences
• Natural Hazards |
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