Chelan High School

Agriculture Education Department

Physical Science/

Agriscience and Technology

Course Description

Agriscience and Technology , the 9th grade science offering for the Chelan High School Agriculture Education Department, is a curriculum designed to meet the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) in Science as set forth by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and integrate the agriculture education teaching approach and agriculture industry applications of the sciences involved. The curriculum is designed to meet the benchmarks identified for Physical and Earth Science.

In the physics unit, students will receive instruction in work, power, motion, simple machines, mechanical advantage, thermal energy, electrical energy, and compression power. Instruction will consist of lecture, demonstration, and laboratory exercises. The curriculum will use the Principles of Technology teaching materials and laboratory activities.

In the chemistry unit, students will receive instruction in states of matter; properties of matter; kinds of matter; chemical bonding; chemical reactions; solutions and suspensions; acids, bases and salts; chemical changes; and measurements in chemistry. Instruction will consist of lecture, demonstration, and laboratory exercises.

In the earth science unit, students will receive instruction on the earth’s surface; the earth’s interior; the earth’s atmosphere; movements of the earth in the solar system; weathering; weather; temperature; air pressure; wind; humidity; precipitation; climates; primary and secondary succession; nitrogen cycle; hydrologic cycle, and carbon cycle. Instruction will consist of lecture, demonstration, and laboratory exercises.

In the soil science unit, students will receive instruction in origin of soils; soil formation; soil taxonomy; soil texture; soil structure; soil ecosystems; soil profile; soil water; soil pH; soil salinity; soil erosion--causes and control; and land classifications.

Students will also receive instruction in the following areas: plate tectonics; geologic time; solar system; and stars and galaxies.

Students will develop and implement a Supervised Agriculture Experience project (SAE). Student will receive leadership training through involvement in the FFA and FFA activities.

Throughout the duration of course students will develop, implement, conduct, and present an Agriscience research project. This project will better help students learn and apply the scientific method. Findings will be presented in both written and verbal formats.