SkillsTutor Science I Classroom Guide
Table of Contents Getting Started... 1 Science I Lessons... 2 Quizzes...2 Tests...2 Science I Lesson Summaries... 3 Life Science...4 Physical Science...6 Earth Science...8 Assignment Sheets... 9 2001 Achievement Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Digital Imagery copyright 2001 PhotoDisc, Inc. Photographs and images for portions of SkillsTutor are copyrighted by Johannes Lieder.
Getting Started SkillsTutor Science I is a comprehensive resource for diagnosing and remediating students basic skills in Middle School Science. The SkillsTutor management system (OTS) provides several important features: Tests students skills, providing both pretests and posttests to make initial assessments and gauge student progress Makes assignments, based on students pretest results Monitors student scores and completion of activities Produces reports for individual students Provides online documentation This guide outlines the content and activities of SkillsTutor Science I. Information on the management system (OTS) is provided under separate cover in the SkillsTutor User s Guide. 6 1 6
Science I Lessons Each lesson begins with one or more tutorial screens that review a concept. Lessons continue with a number of multiple-choice questions to reinforce the student s understanding of the topic, as illustrated below. These instructions will help the student take full advantage of the features of SkillsTutor lessons: Use the mouse to answer questions: click on the correct answer. Click Hint for help in answering a question. If a question is missed, the student will be told why the answer is wrong. The student should read the response carefully, and try again. The student cannot move to the next question until the current question is answered correctly, so reading and answering carefully will save time. The student may review the instructional material at any time during the lesson by clicking Review. By clicking Review, students are taken to the first tutorial screen. From there, students can go step-by-step through the tutorial screens. To go back to previous tutorial screens one at a time, click Go Back. Clicking Return allows students to return to the page where they originally began. After reviewing the tutorial screens, the student returns to the question that was being answered before the review. The student may return to the question before completing the review by clicking Resume. There may be times when the student needs to exit the program before completing an activity. To end an activity, close the activity window. When the student finishes answering all of the questions in an activity, a score is displayed. The score, expressed as a percent, is the number of questions answered correctly out of all the questions attempted. Quizzes Quizzes operate similarly to lessons. However, quizzes have no introductory instructional material, and they do not require you to answer each question correctly before moving to the next question. Questions are presented in multiple-choice format. Detailed feedback is provided for all questions. Tests SkillsTutor offers content-area pretests and posttests modeled on standardized tests. Pretests and posttests have no introductory instructional material. Like the questions for quizzes, the test questions are presented in multiple-choice format to give students practice in answering standardized-test questions. After each test, students have the opportunity to review the questions they missed. Feedback is provided for each missed question. 6 2 6
Science I Lesson Summaries SkillsTutor Science I contains 27 lessons, 3 quizzes, and 6 tests in a hierarchical arrangement designed to continually reinforce the concepts presented. On the following pages, there is a description and example for each basic skills lesson. The lessons are arranged in the following content areas: Life Science Physical Science Earth Science 6 3 6
Life Science Lesson Number Lesson Title Lesson Summary Examples 1 The Cell I In this lesson, students will learn that the cell is the basic structure of all living things. Cell structure, function, and reproduction are discussed. In which organelle are proteins made? 2 The Cell II differences in specific types of cells. Examples of the function of specialized cells are given, and cells are categorized according to their specific function. Both plant and animal cells have. 3 Life Processes I In this lesson, students will learn that the smallest unit of life is the cell. What two products are produced during photosynthesis? 4 Life Processes II In this lesson, students will learn that normal body cells reproduce by a process called mitosis and that sex cells reproduce by a process called meiosis. Cell growth and repair are also discussed. During which phase of mitosis do chromosomes separate? 5 Genetics In this lesson, students will learn how traits are passed from parents to offspring. Why do a lot of people look like one of their parents? 6 Mechanisms of Change In this lesson, students will learn how living organisms change over time. What factors determine whether a living organism survives or dies? 7 Classification In this lesson, students will learn how classification systems are used to organize living things. Carolus Linnaeus developed the first of these in the 1700 s. 6 4 6
Life Science Lesson Number Lesson Title Lesson Summary Examples 8 Animal Life major characteristics of animal life. Animals can be classed into two major categories: those that do not have backbones, called invertebrates, and animals that have a backbone, called what? 9 Plant Life In this lesson, students will learn that plants are the source of our food and the oxygen we breathe. Photosynthesis is explained, and plant characteristics are described. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off what substance? 6 5 6
Physical Science Lesson Number Lesson Title Lesson Summary Examples 1 Measurements two basic systems of measurement used in science: the metric system and the British system. The two systems are compared and contrasted, and a brief history is given. Which unit measures the volume of an eyedropper of cherry cough syrup? 2 Matter composition and structure of the atom the basic building block for all matter. What determines the chemical properties of an element? 3 The Periodic Table In this lesson, students are introduced to the periodic table as a way of classifying the existing elements that make up all matter. Students are shown how the table groups elements according to their similarities and differences and explains what all of the symbols and numbers in the table mean. What do the elements in each horizontal row have in common? 4 States of Matter characteristics of solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. Where in the solar system would you find plasma? 5 Chemical Reactions In this lesson, students will learn about composition and decomposition reactions. They will also be introduced to chemical formulas and equations that represent how matter is rearranged during these reactions. What is an oxidation number? 6 Energy In this lesson, students will learn the definition of energy and the characteristics of the two types of energy: potential and kinetic. Which state of matter has the most kinetic energy? 7 Force and Motion In this lesson, students will learn about and use Newton s Laws of Motion to explain how things move and what prevents things from moving. Which of Newton s Laws explains the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration? 6 6 6
Physical Science Lesson Number Lesson Title Lesson Summary Examples 8 Sound In this lesson, students will learn about how sound travels and what gives sound its unique characteristics. Why can a dog hear a dog whistle and his owner can t? 9 Light and Illumination In this lesson, students will investigate the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The nature of light is discussed, and examples of its behavior are given. Why do we see some objects as red? 6 7 6
Earth Science Lesson Number Lesson Title Lesson Summary Examples 1 The Universe In this lesson, students will learn about galaxies and the evolution of stars in the universe. What type of galaxy is our galaxy, the Milky Way? 2 The Solar System characteristics of the 9 planets and other objects that make up our solar system. The planet Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to possess. 3 Earth and Space In this lesson, students will learn how day and night are caused by the spinning of the earth on an imaginary line called an axis. When the earth s shadow falls on the moon, a occurs. 4 The Atmosphere atmosphere, the differences between warm air and cool air, the different types of winds, and how our weather is affected by these differences. The ozone layer is important because it blocks. 5 Weather and Climate In this lesson, students will learn how global patterns of air movement influence local weather. The main factor affecting the climate of any location is its. 6 Oceans In this lesson, students will learn how the ocean is an important storehouse of natural resources. The outer edge of the continental shelf is called the. 7 Water In this lesson, students will learn the molecular structure and unique characteristics of water. At sea level, water freezes at 0 degrees C and boils at what temperature? 8 Dynamic Earth structure of the earth, the types of changes that are constantly occurring within this structure, and the forces that cause them. The theory of Plate Tectonics states that a number of rigid plates float on the dense upper mantle. Do these plates move or are they stationary? 9 Rocks and Minerals characteristics and how to classify rocks and minerals. The Rock Cycle is explained. When molten magma cools and becomes solid, what is formed? 6 8 6
Assignment Sheets: Science I A c t i v i t y Date A s s i g n e d Date Completed S c o re / P ro g re s s Life Science Pretest on Life Science 1 The Cell I 2 The Cell II 3 Life Processes I 4 Life Processes II 5 Genetics Q1 Quiz 6 Mechanisms of Change 7 Classification 8 Animal Life 9 Plant Life Posttest on Life Science Physical Science Pretest on Physical Science 1 Measurements 2 Matter 3 The Periodic Table 4 States of Matter 5 Chemical Reactions Q1 Quiz 6 Energy 7 Force and Motion 8 Sound 9 Light and Illumination Posttest on Physical Science
Assignment Sheets: Science I A c t i v i t y Date A s s i g n e d Date Completed S c o re / P ro g re s s Earth Science Pretest on Earth Science 1 The Universe 2 The Solar System 3 Earth and Space 4 The Atmosphere 5 Weather and Climate Q1 Quiz 6 Oceans 7 Water 8 Dynamic Earth 9 Rocks and Minerals Posttest on Earth Science