UNIFYING CONCEPTS
TOPICS
Constancy & Change
Form & Function
K to 2
3 to 4
5 to 6
7 to 8
Weather
Seasons &
changes
Rock cycle
Properties of
Earth’s materials
Rate of Earth’s
processes
States of water &
mass
Extinction
Day and night
Weather patterns
States of Earth’s
materials
Water cycle
Living things
response to
change
Erosion & tectonic
activity
Physical &
chemical change
Composition of
Earth’s surface
Shadows & tide
Adaptation
Evolution
Fossils
Climate
Effect of weather
on climate
Effect of water
cycle on weather
Layers of Earth
Competition
Extinction
Effect of change
on living things
Fossil evidence of
evolution
Chemical reactions
Nuclear reactions
Conservation of
matter
Conservation of
energy
Survival features
Sense organs
Living & non-living
things
Physical
structures
Basic needs
Classification of
living things
Comparison of
different
organisms
Organization of
living systems
Animals vs. plants
Genetic
information
Reproduction
Environmental
impact on
characteristics
Coordination of
living systems
Cells
Similarities &
differences of
living things
Sexual & asexual
reproduction
Genetic expression
9 to 12
Biogeochemical
cycles
Tectonics
Mutation &
natural selection
Evolution
Human impact &
evolutionary
trends
Darwin
Stoichiometry,
chemical
properties &
changes
Periodic table &
reactions
Physical &
chemical
properties &
changes
Conservation of
energy
Mitosis & meiosis
DNA
Anatomy &
physiology
Comparative
anatomy &
classification
Phylogeny
Mendel
Systems & Energy
Organism
response
Species around
the world
Resources
Natural vs. manmade
Waste disposal
Interdependence
Recycling
Sun, moon,
planets & stars
Orbits
Energy
Closed systems
Populations &
ecosystems
Water quality
Renewable vs.
non-renewable
Observed from
space
Energy sources
Digestion
Transfer of energy
Sound waves
Electric currents
Atoms & elements
Properties of
matter
Motion & change
in motion
Environmental
factors affecting
living & non-living
things
Biodiversity
Photosynthesis &
respiration
Reduce impact of
material use
Moon phases &
eclipses
Movement of
planets & universe
formation
Energy & material
flow
Kinetic/potential
energy
Wavelengths
Energy sources &
heat transfer
Molecules &
compounds
Classification of
matter
Gravity
Newton’s laws
Models & Explanations
Proper nutrition &
exercise
Introduction to
Use of tools
Agriculture
Man’s
improvement
History of
technology
Use of tools to
Feeding
relationships, food
chains/webs &
limiting factors
Biological systems
(micro & macro)
Biotic & abiotic
factors,
photosynthesis, &
chemosynthesis
Metabolism &
homeostasis
Biomes
Interdependence
Global availability
Local facilities
Conservation
ecology
Energy flow
Electromagnetic
energy
Wave phenomena
Organic vs.
inorganic
Electronic
configuration
Forces
Thermodynamics
Motion, forces &
Newton’s laws
Biotechnology
Logical
interpretation of
tools
using materials
Scientific use of
tools
improve society
scientifically
collected data
Modeling atomic
structure
Electron
configuration
Cutting-edge
science & current
events
Medical
advancements