This lab-based course covers the foundational principles of modern life science as outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It also includes approximately a third of the Earth and Space Science standards, primarily those connected to environmental science and ecology. The course emphasizes all three dimensions of the NGSS, with special attention to the crosscutting concepts of Patterns and Energy and Matter. Additionally, scientific inquiry and engineering design practices are emphasized throughout the course. The course is designed to follow a chemistry course and so builds on student understandings of molecules as they explore the biomolecular underpinnings of life's functions, the evolution of life, and the interactions of life in ecosystems. Technological, historical, political, and environmental aspects of biology will also be addressed. Critical thinking, data analysis, and argumentation from evidence are also emphasized.

Anchoring Phenomenon: A baby is born and seems perfectly healthy, but after a few days starts to exhibit strange symptoms that could lead to physical impairment or even death. What is causing the problem? Can the baby be saved? Unit Essential Question: How and why do cells make the molecules they need and get rid of the molecules they don’t need? What happens if steps in this process aren’t working?

For this unit plan, see the old unit calendar (link on left sidebar, click ALT3 tab at the bottom).  Once we update this unit to the new Doc template, we will post it here. This is now unit 3, but it used to be unit 2 (we will update file and folder numbering as we continue to revise the units). Thanks for your patience as we work hard this year to update all of the materials to the new unit template and unit/standards arrangements.

Anchoring Phenomenon: Identical twins have the same DNA yet one was diagnosed with breast cancer and the other was not?? One about diabetes? Unit Essential Question: Why are some people diagnosed with diabetes and breast cancer while others are not?

For this unit plan, see the old unit calendar (link on left sidebar, click ALT5 tab at the bottom).  Once we update this unit to the new Doc template, we will post it here. This is now unit 5, but it used to be unit 6 (we will update file and folder numbering as we continue to revise the units). Thanks for your patience as we work hard this year to update all of the materials to the new unit template and unit/standards arrangements.

This unit is under construction and should be ready by January 2019. Some of the materials for this unit will be taken from the former Unit 4 (Ecosystems Matter and Energy) but will also contain new material. Here is some of the source material that will be in the new unit when we get to it.

For this unit plan, see the old unit calendar (link on left sidebar, click ALT7 tab at the bottom).  Once we update this unit to the new Doc template, we will post it here. This is now unit 7, but it used to be unit 4 (we will update file and folder numbering as we continue to revise the units). Thanks for your patience as we work hard this year to update all of the materials to the new unit template and unit/standards arrangements.

Suggestions are made on how to use the resources featured in the issue of Beyond Weather and the Water Cyle in a unit on the greenhouse effect. Hands-on experiences and nonfiction text are provided to help students answer the question "How is Earth like a greenhouse?" Suggestions are also made for formative and summative assessments.

Unit plans for Grades K-2 and 3-5 are a regular feature of the magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle. The plans draw on articles and resources in a themed issue and are aligned with national science and language arts standards. This unit is designed to provide elementary students with the opportunity to investigate how the annual rings in trees help scientists learn about past climates. It uses hands-on experiences and nonfiction text to answer the unit question: How do trees help scientists learn about the past?

Four unit plans provide opportunities for in-depth explorations of important foundational climate concepts -- weather, water as a solid, liquid and gas, and the water cycle -- that are appropriate for K-2 and 3-5 learners. These unit plans incorporate many of the lessons highlighted in other articles in this issue of the online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle. The magazine is structured around the essential principles of the climate sciences.

This unit is part of Gilder Lehrman’s series of Common Core State Standards–based teaching resources. These units were developed to enable students to understand, summarize, and analyze original texts of historical significance. Through a step-by-step process, students will acquire the skills to analyze any primary or secondary source material.

President Nixon claimed executive privilege and refused to hand over the tapes. President Nixon’s incomplete compliance with the special prosecutor’s demands was challenged and eventually taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court decided that executive privilege is not limitless, and the tapes were released. This resource includes teacher materials, guides, and activities for teaching about this Supreme Court case.

This website provides resources for teachers to support creativity in the classroom. It contains lesson plans, professional development opportunities, creative challenges, and much more.

This is a week long mini-unit to help guide students in their research while also providing some choice with high interest topics. This is intended to be done the week of Halloween so you can share the final product in a gallery walk.The overivew is that your students will be researching a specific chosen urban legend and creating a wanted poster for their "monster." This allows the student to use Utah's Online School Library to research as well as allows students to use Canva.com for their final product.

Students analyze the concepts of identity, stereotyping, and discrimination by reading picture books; identify how these concepts are dealt with in each book; and discuss concrete actions to stop discrimination.

Working in small groups, students read and discuss Elie Wiesel's memoir "Night" and then take turns assuming the teacher role, as the class works with four different comprehension strategies.

In Lesson 1, students focus on the first stave of the novel as they identify the meanings of words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to them. This activity facilitates close examination of and immersion in the text and leads to an understanding of Scrooge before his ghostly experiences. In Lesson 2, students examine Scrooge’s experiences with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and discover how Dickens used both direct and indirect characterization to create a protagonist who is more than just a stereotype. In Lesson 3, students focus on stave 5 as they identify and articulate themes that permeate the story.

In this unit of study, students will learn about and experience the fundamentals of using the Scrum framework for product development. This unit was applied to a VEX robotics team. This unit integrates nine STEM attributes and was developed as part of the South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership's Teacher Leadership Team. Any instructional materials are included within this unit of study.

In this lesson, students will research, organize and create a 2-3 minute digital story about 1 of 3 different cultures that have influenced Utah's culture. They can choose from the Fremont People, the Ute Indians, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Pioneers. There are some background lessons and information that will need to be covered in order to finish this final project for 4th grade Utah Social Studies Standard 2 Objective 1. These lessons are linked and highlighted in the Teacher Background section of this lesson plan.There are a few worksheets and mini-lessons (that can be taught in a synchronous manner) associated with this final project that could take 2-3 days to complete and then the digital story can be finished in an hour or two. The final presentation and the mini assignments could all include small group discussions, whole class instruction, and could easily be tailored to teach to students learning virtually.The mini-lessons and supplimental information were found through the UEN website and a youtube video by Nick Epling. Other articles and sources are listed in the materials.

This unit of resources contains links to election websites, voting and elections book lists, fact-opinion writing rubric, timeline tools, persuasive writing maps, activities,