Standards and Competency Indicators
Life Skills 2
Focus: Earth/Physical Science
Standards
The student will demonstrate an
understanding of technological
design and scientific inquiry,
including process skills,
mathematical thinking,
controlled investigative design
and analysis, and problem
solving.
Indicators
 Design a controlled
scientific investigation.
 Recognize the importance
of a systematic process for
safely and accurately
conducting investigations.
 Construct explanations and
conclusions from
interpretations of data
obtained during a
controlled scientific
investigation.
 Generate questions for
further study on the basis
of prior investigations.
 Explain the importance of
and requirements for
replication of scientific
investigations.
 Use appropriate tools and
instruments (including
convex lenses, plane
mirrors, color filters,
prisms, and slinky springs)
safely and accurately when
conducting a controlled
Activities/Materials
ALL UNITS –Science Readers
 Earth and Space Science
Readers
Leveled Text Readers- Unit 1
Investigating Storms (Reading
Level-4.5), Weather Scientists
(Reading Level- 3.8),Unit 2 The
World or Rocks & Minerals
(Reading Level- 4.5), The First
Geologists (Reading Level- 3.8),
Unit 3 Inside the Water Cycle
(Reading Level-4.5), Water
Scientists (Reading Level-3.8),
Unit 4 Investigating Landforms
(Reading Level- 4.7), Pioneers of
Earth Science (Reading Level- 3.8)
Unit 5 Investigating Plate Tectonics
(Reading Level- 4.9), Alfred
Wegener Uncovering Plate
Tectonics (Reading Level- 3.9),
Unit 6 The Wonder of Our Solar
System (Reading Level 4.6) ,
Astronomers Through Time
(Reading Level – 3.9), Unit 7 The
Wonder of Outer Space (Reading
Level- 4.9), From Hubble to Hubble
(Reading Level- 3.9), Unit 8
Spaceship Earth (Reading Level4.9) and Rachel Carson Nature’s
Assessments
Unit 1-8
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments

scientific investigation.
Use appropriate safety
procedures when
conducting investigations.
Guardian (Reading Level- 3.9).
Life Science ReadersLeveled Text Reader- Unit 7
Investigating the Human
Body(Reading Level- 4) and
Hippocrates Making the Way for
Medicine (Reading Level-3)
Physical Science Readers
Leveled Text Reader- Unit 1 Inside
the World of Matter (Reading Level4.5), Max Planck Uncovering The
World of Matter (Reading Level3.8), Unit 2 Investigating the
Chemistry of Atoms (Reading Level4.6), Marie Curie Pioneering
Physicists (Reading Level- 3.8),
Unit 3All About Energy (Reading
Level-4.7), Albert Einstein Gentle
Genius (Reading Level-3.9), Unit 4
Investigating Forces and Motion
(Reading Level-4.8), Isaac Newton
and the Laws of the Universe
(Reading Level-3.9),Unit 5
Investigating Electromagnetism
(Reading Level-4.9), Thomas
Edison and the Pioneers of
Electromagnetism (Reading Level3.9),Unit 6 All About Mechanical
Engineering (Reading Level- 4.9),
Making It Go: The Life and Work of
Robert Fulton (Reading Level-3.9),
Unit 7 All About Light and Sound
(Reading Level-4.9), Pioneers of
Unit 7 Life Science Reader
and Unit 1-8 Physical
Science Reader
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments
The student will demonstrate an
understanding of materials that
determine the structure of Earth
and the processes that have
altered this structure.
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Summarize the three layers
of Earth-crust, mantle, and
core- on the basis of
relative position, density,
and composition.
Explain how scientists use
seismic waves-primary,
secondary, and surface
waves-and Earth’s
magnetic fields to
determine the internal
structure of Earth.
Infer an earthquake’s
epicenter from
seismographic data.
Explain how igneous,
metamorphic, and
sedimentary rocks are
interrelated in the rock
cycle.
Summarize the important
of minerals, ores, and fossil
fuels as Earth resources on
the basis of their physical
and chemical properties.
Explain how the theory of
Light and Sound (Reading Level3.9), Unit 8 The World of Elements
and Their Properties (Reading
Level- 4.9) and Antoine Lavoisier
Founder of Modern Chemistry
(Reading Level- 3.9)
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
Science Readers Earth and Space
Science
Units 2,4,5 and 8
Leveled Text Readers- Unit 2 The
World or Rocks & Minerals
(Reading Level- 4.5), The First
Geologists (Reading Level- 3.8),
Unit 4 Investigating Landforms
(Reading Level- 4.7), Pioneers of
Earth Science (Reading Level- 3.8)
Unit 5 Investigating Plate Tectonics
(Reading Level- 4.9), Alfred
Wegener Uncovering Plate
Tectonics (Reading Level- 3.9), Unit
8 Spaceship Earth (Reading Level4.9) and Rachel Carson Nature’s
Guardian (Reading Level- 3.9).
AGS Earth Science
AGS General Science Chapters 917
Steck Vaughn GED Skill Book
Unit 2,4,5 and 8
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments
AGS Earth Science and
General Science
Assessments can be utilized
throughout instruction
PRE GED and GED
Materials will be used by
the teacher to develop
assessments.
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The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the
relationship between Earth’s
atmospheric properties and
processes and its weather and
climate.
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plate tectonics accounts for
the motion of the
lithospheric plates, the
geologic activities at the
plate boundaries, and the
changes in landforms areas
over geologic time.
Illustrate the creation and
changing of landforms that
have occurred through
geologic processes
(including volcanic
eruptions and mountainbuilding forces).
Explain how earthquakes
result from forces inside
Earth.
Identify and illustrate
geologic features of South
Carolina and other regions
of the world through the
use of imagery (including
aerial photography and
satellite imagery) and
topographic maps.
Compare the composition
and structure of Earth’s
atmospheric layers
(including the gases and
differences in temperature
and pressure within the
layers).
Summarize the
Science-Physical Science, Earth
and Space Science
Lesson 5 pages 15-17
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
Science Readers Earth and Space
Science
Units 1,3,5 and 8
Unit 1 Investigating Storms
(Reading Level- 4.5),Weather
Scientists (Reading Level- 3.8),
Unit 3 Inside Water Cycle (Reading
Level- 4.5), Water Scientists
(Reading Level- 3.8) Unit 5
Unit 1,3, 5 and 8
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
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interrelationships among
the dynamic processes of
the water cycle (including
precipitation, evaporation,
transpiration, condensation,
surface-water flow, and
groundwater flow).
Classify shapes and types
of clouds according to
elevation and their
associated weather
conditions and patterns.
Summarize the relationship
of the movement of air
masses, high and low
pressure systems, and
frontal boundaries to
storms (including
thunderstorms, hurricanes,
and tornadoes) and other
weather conditions.
Use appropriate
instruments and tools to
collect weather data
(including wind speed and
direction, air temperature,
humidity, and air pressure).
Predict weather conditions
and patterns based on
weather data collected from
direct observations and
measurements, weather
maps, satellites, and radar.
Investigating Plate Tectonics
(Reading Level- 4.9), Alfred
Wegener Uncovering Plate
Tectonics (Reading Level- 3.9)
Unit 8 Spaceship Earth (Reading
Level- 4.9) and Rachel Carson
Nature’s Guardian (Reading Level3.9)
Steck Vaughn GED Skill Book
Science-Physical Science, Earth
and Space Science
Lesson 2 and 3 pages 6-11
Steck Vaughn Pre GED
Unit 4 Lesson 10 page 416
Unit 4 Lesson 11 page 419
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments
PRE GED and GED
Materials will be used by
the teacher to develop
assessments.
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The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the
characteristics, structure, and
predictable motions of celestial
bodies.
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Explain how solar energy
affects Earth’s atmosphere
and surface (land and
water).
Explain how convection
affects weather patterns
and climate.
Explain the influence of
global winds and the jet
stream on weather and
climatic conditions.
Summarize the
characteristics and
movements of objects in
the solar system (including
planets, moons, asteroids,
comets, and meteors).
Summarize the
characteristics of the
surface features of the Sun:
photosphere, corona,
sunspots, prominences, and
solar flares.
Explain how the surface
features of the Sun may
affect the Earth.
Explain the motions of
Earth and the Moon and the
effects of these motions as
they orbit the Sun
(including day, year,
phases of the Moon,
eclipses, and tides).
Science Readers Earth and Space
Science
Units 6,7 and 8
Leveled Text Readers- Unit 6 The
Wonder of Our Solar System
(Reading Level-4.6), Astronomers
Through Time (Reading Level- 3.9),
Unit 7 The Wonder of Outer Space
(Reading Level- 4.9) From Hubble
to Hubble Astronomers and Outer
Space (Reading Level-3.9), Unit 8
Spaceship Earth (Reading Level-4.9)
and Rachel Carson Nature’s
Guardian (Reading Level- 3.9)
Unit 6, 7 and 8
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Steck Vaughn GED Skill Book
Science-Physical Science, Earth
and Space Science
PRE GED and GED
Materials will be used by
the teacher to develop
assessments.
Lesson 1 pages 3-5
Lesson 3 pages 9-11
Lesson 6 pages 18-20
Steck Vaughn Pre GED
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments
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The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the law of
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Explain how the tilt of
Earth’s axis affects the
length of the day and the
amount of heating on
Earth’s surface, thus
causing the seasons of the
year.
Explain how gravitational
forces are influenced by
mass and distance.
Explain the effects of
gravity on tides and
planetary orbits.
Explain the difference
between mass and weight
by using the concept of
gravitational force.
Recall the Sun’s position in
the universe, the shapes
and composition of
galaxies, and the distance
measurement unit (light
year) needed to identify
star and galaxy locations.
Compare the purpose of the
tools and the technology
that scientists use to study
space (including various
types of telescopes,
satellites, space probes, and
spectroscopes).
Unit 4 Lesson 12 page 421
Unit 4 Lesson 13 page 424
Identify the sources and
properties of heat, solar,
Science Readers Physical Science
Unit 1, 2, 3,4,5,7 &8
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
Unit 1,2,3,4,5,7 &8
 Data Analysis
conservation of energy and the
properties of energy and work.
(Physical Science)
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chemical, mechanical, and
electrical energy.
Explain how energy can be
transformed from one form to
another (including the two
types of mechanical energy,
potential and kinetic, as well
as chemical and electrical
energy) in accordance with
the law of conservation of
energy.
Explain how magnetism and
electricity are interrelated by
using descriptions, models,
and diagrams of
electromagnets, generators,
and simple electrical motors.
Illustrate energy
transformations (including the
production of light, sound,
heat, and mechanical motion)
in electrical circuits.
Illustrate the directional
transfer of heat energy
through convection, radiation,
and conduction.
Recognize that energy is the
ability to do work (force
exerted over a distance).
Explain how the design of
simple machines (including
levers, pulleys, and inclined
planes) helps reduce the
amount of force required to
do work.
Illustration ways that simple
Leveled Text Reader- Unit 1 Inside
the World of Matter (Reading Level4.5), Max Planck Uncovering The
World of Matter (Reading Level3.8), Unit 2 Investigating the
Chemistry of Atoms (Reading Level4.6), Marie Curie Pioneering
Physicists (Reading Level- 3.8),
Unit 3All About Energy (Reading
Level-4.7), Albert Einstein Gentle
Genius (Reading Level-3.9), Unit 4
Investigating Forces and Motion
(Reading Level-4.8), Isaac Newton
and the Laws of the Universe
(Reading Level-3.9),Unit 5
Investigating Electromagnetism
(Reading Level-4.9), Thomas
Edison and the Pioneers of
Electromagnetism (Reading Level3.9), Unit 7 All About Light and
Sound (Reading Level-4.9), Pioneers
of Light and Sound (Reading Level3.9), Unit 8 The World of Elements
and Their Properties (Reading
Level- 4.9) and Antoine Lavoisier
Founder of Modern Chemistry
(Reading Level- 3.9)
Steck Vaughn GED Skill Book
Science-Physical Science, Earth
and Space Science
Lesson 12-14 pages 36-44

Guided Practice
Worksheet
Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments
PRE GED and GED
Materials will be used by
the teacher to develop
assessments.
AGS Physical Science and
General Science
Assessments can be utilized
throughout instruction
machines exist in common
tools and in complex
machines.
Steck Vaughn Pre GED
Unit 4 Lesson 14 page 430
Unit 4 Lesson 15 page 434
Unit 4 Lesson 16 page 437
AGS Physical Science
AGS General Science Chapters 1-8
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the effects of
forces on the motion of an
object.
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Use measurement and
time-distance graphs to
represent the motion of an
object in terms of its
position, direction, or
speed.
Use the formula for
average speed, v=d/t, to
solve real-world problems.
Analyze the effects of
forces (including gravity
and friction) on the speed
and direction of an object.
Predict how varying the
amount of force or mass
will affect the motion of an
object.
Analyze the resulting effect
of balanced and unbalanced
forces on an object’s
motion in terms of
magnitude and direction.
Summarize and illustrate
the concept of inertia.
Science Readers Physical Science
Unit 3,4 & 6
Leveled Text Reader-Unit 3 All
About Energy (Reading Level-4.7),
Albert Einstein Gentle Genius
(Reading Level-3.9), Unit 4
Investigating Forces and Motion
(Reading Level-4.8), Isaac Newton
and the Laws of the Universe
(Reading Level-3.9), Unit 6 All
About Mechanical Engineering
(Reading Level-4.9) and Making It
Go: The Life and Work of Robert
Fulton.(Reading Level-3.9)
Steck Vaughn GED Skill Book
Science-Physical Science, Earth
and Space Science
Lesson 11 pages 33-35
Steck Vaughn Pre GED
Unit 4 Lesson 17 page 441
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
Unit 3,4 &6
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Unit Test will be developed
by the teacher.
PRE GED and GED
Materials will be used by
the teacher to develop
assessments.
The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the properties
and behaviors of waves.
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Recall that waves transmit
energy but not matter.
 Distinguish between
mechanical and
electromagnetic waves.
 Summarize factors that
influence the basic properties
of waves (including
frequency, amplitude,
wavelength, and speed).
 Summarize the behaviors of
waves (including refraction,
reflection, transmission, and
absorption).
 Explain hearing in terms of
the relationship between
sound waves and the ear.
 Explain sight in terms of the
relationship between the eye
and the light waves emitted of
reflected by an object.
 Explain how the absorption
and reflection of light waves
by various materials result in
the human perception of
color.
 Compare the wavelength and
energy of waves in various
parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum (including visible
light, infrared, and ultraviolet
radiation).
Source for Standards: SC Science Standards 6-4,6-5,8-1,8-3,8-4,8-5 and 8-6
Science Readers Physical Science
Unit 7
Leveled Text Readers - Unit 7 All
About Light and Sound (Reading
Level-4.9), Pioneers of Light and
Sound (Reading Level- 3.9).
Steck Vaughn GED Skill Book
Science-Physical Science, Earth
and Space Science
Lesson 7 and 8 pages 21-26
Unit 7
 Data Analysis
Guided Practice
Worksheet
 Reader Quiz
Located in Science Readers
Teacher’s Guide
Located on the Science
Readers Teacher Resource
CD
Teacher Made Assessments
United Streaming
Teacher Toolbox
PRE GED and GED
Materials will be used by
the teacher to develop
assessments.