Science

The EEI Curriculum includes 40 science units that were created prior to the adoption of the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Although these units were written for California’s science standards prior to NGSS, they contain engaging resources (including visual aids, readings, activities, and maps) that are still relevant and, if thoughtfully integrated, can help support lessons and units of study focused on California’s NGSS.
EEI Unit Cover_A Day In My Life

A Day In My Life

Reading Grade: Kindergarten

Water, along with soil, air, plant, and animal resources, are fundamentally important for life.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The World Around Me

The World Around Me

Reading Grade: Kindergarten

Students learn that Earth is made up of land, air, and water. They also learn the characteristics of several ecosystems and relate those characteristics to their local environment.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Finding Shelter

Finding Shelter

Reading Grade: First Grade

Healthy ecosystems benefit humans, as well as the plants and animals living there.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Open Wide! Look Inside!

Open Wide! Look Inside!

Reading Grade: First Grade

Animals meet their needs for food within their habitat in different ways. Human activities influence habitats and affect animals’ food supplies.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Surviving and Thriving

Surviving and Thriving

Reading Grade: First Grade

Students discover that there must be a good fit between the physical features of plants and animals and the characteristics of the different environments in which they live.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Alike and Different

Alike and Different

Reading Grade: Second Grade

Students are introduced to the idea of adaptation and variation.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Cycle of Life

Cycle of Life

Reading Grade: Second Grade

Students learn why life cycles are vital to the survival of all species.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Flowering Plants in Our Changing Environment

Flowering Plants in Our Changing Environment

Reading Grade: Second Grade

Environmental factors affect the ability of flowering plants to grow and reproduce.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The Earth Rocks

The Earth Rocks

Reading Grade: Second Grade

Students learn the properties of rocks and minerals, how rock types and mineral content may change, and how they influence the way rocks and minerals function in natural and human systems.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Living Things in Changing Environments

Living Things in Changing Environments

Reading Grade: Third Grade

Living things (including humans) can cause changes in the environments in which they live.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Structures for Survival in a Healthy Ecosystem

Structures for Survival in a Healthy Ecosystem

Reading Grade: Third Grade

A healthy natural system is essential to help plants and animals survive the process of growth and reproduction.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Life and Death with Decomposers

Life and Death with Decomposers

Reading Grade: Fourth Grade

This unit focuses on decomposers and their role in breaking down matter.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Microorganisms and the Human World

Microorganisms and the Human World

Reading Grade: Fourth Grade

Microorganisms are a major component of many processes and cycles.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Plants: The Ultimate Energy Resource

Plants: The Ultimate Energy Resource

Reading Grade: Fourth Grade

Plants are the primary source of matter and energy entering most food chains.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems

The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems

Reading Grade: Fourth Grade

Living organisms depend on one another and on their environment for survival.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Changing States: Water, Natural Systems, and Human Communities

Changing States: Water, Natural Systems, and Human Communities

Reading Grade: Fifth Grade

Water moves through the water cycle in two primary ways, evaporation and condensation. This movement of water is connected to humans and human communities.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Earth's Water

Earth’s Water

Reading Grade: Fifth Grade

Students learn about the water cycle, availability of fresh water, salinity and density of water, and the interaction of humans with freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Our Water: Sources and Uses

Our Water: Sources and Uses

Reading Grade: Fifth Grade

Students identify sources of fresh water and describe the reservoirs of Earth’s water and the variations in the ten hydrological regions of California.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Precipitation, People, and the Natural World

Precipitation, People, and the Natural World

Reading Grade: Fifth Grade

A rich variety of ecosystems in California depend on different natural precipitation patterns for their proper functioning.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Energy and Material Resources: Renewable or Not?

Energy and Material Resources: Renewable or Not?

Reading Grade: Sixth Grade

Learn about the different ways in which natural resources may be categorized as renewable, nonrenewable, or inexhaustible, and evaluated as commodities.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Energy: It's Not All the Same to You!

Energy: It’s Not All the Same to You!

Reading Grade: Sixth Grade

Explore the current energy sources used by California utility companies to provide electricity.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Energy: Pass It On!

Energy: Pass It On!

Reading Grade: Sixth Grade

All living things, including humans, depend on both the physical environment and the interactions among organisms.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Made from Earth: How Natural Resources Become Things We Use

Made from Earth: How Natural Resources Become Things We Use

Reading Grade: Sixth Grade

This unit teaches students about the importance of natural resources to their personal lives.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Playing the Same Role

Playing the Same Role

Reading Grade: Sixth Grade

Students learn about the roles organisms play in ecosystems within a new context, biomes.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The Dynamic Nature of Rivers

The Dynamic Nature of Rivers

Reading Grade: Sixth Grade

Rivers move materials within a watershed and particular locations have been found throughout history to be more suitable for habitation than others.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Responding to Environmental Change

Responding to Environmental Change

Reading Grade: Seventh Grade

Students examine the role that humans play in the process of environmental change and review the process of adaptation in evolution.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Extinction: Past and Present

Extinction: Past and Present

Reading Grade: Seventh Grade

Explore how rates of extinction have varied in geologic time and that our own current extinction rates eclipse those of the past.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Shaping Natural Systems through Evolution

Shaping Natural Systems through Evolution

Reading Grade: Seventh Grade

Changing environmental factors affect evolution and diversity of organisms (in terms of genetic variation and natural selection).

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Biodiversity: The Keystone to Life on Earth

Biodiversity: The Keystone to Life on Earth

Reading Grade: High School Biology

The biodiversity represented by healthy natural ecosystems is the basis for the ecosystem goods and services that are required for human survival.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Biological Diversity: The World's Riches

Biological Diversity: The World’s Riches

Reading Grade: High School Biology

This unit examines how biological diversity within an ecosystem influences the chances that species will survive after major changes in the environment.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Differential Survival of Organisms

Differential Survival of Organisms

Reading Grade: High School Biology

Natural selection determines the differential survival of groups of organisms.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Ecosystem Change in California

Ecosystem Change in California

Reading Grade: High School Biology

California grasslands have changed over time as the result of a combination of natural and human-related causes.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_High-Tech Harvest: Genetic Engineering and the Environment

High-Tech Harvest: Genetic Engineering and the Environment

Reading Grade: High School Biology

Explore the ways genetic engineering can influence natural systems and human health as a basis for analyzing the implications of genetic engineering.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The Isolation of Species

The Isolation of Species

Reading Grade: High School Biology

Reproductive and geographic isolation play major roles in the evolution of animal species.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Liquid Gold: California's Water

Liquid Gold: California’s Water

Reading Grade: High School Earth Science

This unit teaches students how water is distributed and managed as a natural resource.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Living Under One Roof

Living Under One Roof

Reading Grade: High School Earth Science

Students develop an understanding of Earth’s ozone layer and the role it serves in absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Ocean Currents and Natural Systems

Ocean Currents and Natural Systems

Reading Grade: High School Earth Science

This unit guides students in examining the correlation between the physical, chemical, and biological world.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_Rainforests and Deserts: Distribution, Uses, and Human Influences

Rainforests and Deserts: Distribution, Uses, and Human Influences

Reading Grade: High School Earth Science

Students investigate the role of atmospheric convection currents in determining the geography of deserts and rainforests.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The Greenhouse Effect on Natural Systems

The Greenhouse Effect on Natural Systems

Reading Grade: High School Earth Science

Explore Earth’s natural “greenhouse effect” and how this mechanism creates a climate that sustains life.

EEI Curriculum Unit Cover_The Life and Times of Carbon

The Life and Times of Carbon

Reading Grade: High School Earth Science

Examine Earth’s various carbon reservoirs (atmosphere, oceans, organisms/biomass, coal and oil deposits).