Grade 7 Science
Unit: The Scientific Method
Suggested Length: 3 WEEKS
Enduring Understanding
and Essential Questions
The scientific method is
problem solving guide
based on identification of
a problem, gathering
information, stating a
hypothesis, testing the
hypothesis through
experimentation, making
careful observations,
organizing and analyzing
the data and drawing a
conclusion based on the
experimental results.
 What is the difference
between an
observation and an
inference?
 How do you know
when you have direct
or indirect evidence?
Competencies
Concepts
 Explain the importance
of accuracy and precision
in making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Describe the safe and
appropriate use of
instruments and scales to
accurately and safely
make measurements
under a variety of
conditions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 Make inferences based
on scientific models (e.g.,
charts, graphs, diagrams).
 Unbalanced forces
acting on an object
cause changes in its
velocity.
 One of the
fundamental forces
that exist in the
universe is gravity.
 Observations are
made using the 5
senses.
 Inferences are
judgments made based
on observations.
 Direct evidence is
based on observations.
 Indirect evidence are
made based on
inferences.
Key Vocabulary
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Observation
Inference
Direct evidence
Indirect evidence
Ascertain
Confirmation
Verification
Experiment
Control
Hypothesis
Manipulative or
independent
variable
 Responding or
dependent variable
 Graph
 Practical
Application
 Technology
 Source of error
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Lab
Obscertainer dish
Investigation
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Atomic theory
Suggested Length: 4 WEEKS
Enduring Understanding
and Essential Questions
Atomic Molecular theory
of matter: Matter has
observable physical
properties and the
potential to mix and form
new materials
 How do scientists
identify and sort
materials?
 What patterns in the
properties of the
elements contribute to
the layout of the
periodic table?
 What the differences
between substances
and mixtures?
 In what ways has the
theory of the atom
changed over time due
to technological
improvements?
 How are changes in
matter accompanied
by changes in energy?
Competencies
Concepts
Explain how certain
questions can be
answered through
scientific inquiry and/or
technological design.
Design, implement,
record, explain, and
justify safe and effective
laboratory procedures to
determine the
relationship between two
variables, controlling for
other factors that might
also affect the
relationship.
Provide examples of when
it is correct to use the
terms “scientific theory”
as opposed to an opinion.
Use models and patterns
to make predictions, draw
inferences, or explain
scientific and
technological concepts.
 All matter is made up
of particles, which are
far too small to see
directly through a
microscope.
 Particles are always in
motion with the
smallest motion in
solids, and the largest
motion in gases.
 Elements are the basic
building blocks of
matter that cannot be
broken down
chemically and are
made up of all the
same type of atom.
 There are over 100
known elements each
with characteristics
and properties from
which all other matter
is made.
Key Vocabulary
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Matter
Physical properties
Energy
Models
Graphs
Mass
Gravity
Element
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Atom
Proton
Neutron
Electron
Nucleus
Energy level
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Periodic table
Ion
Isotope
Metal
Non-metal
Magnetic
Conductive
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Lab
Periodic table of the
elements
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Research project
Unit: Current Electricity
Suggested Length: 14 WEEKS
Enduring
Understanding and
Essential Questions
Current Electricity is the
flow of negative
charges called
electrons. Circuits are
series, parallel or a
combination of series
and parallel called
complex.
 How are the
properties of series
circuits different from
parallel circuits?
 What are loads, nonloads, safety devices
and power sources?
 How are
electromotive force
(EMF or voltage),
current (amperes) and
Electrical resistance
(pressure) related?
Competencies
Concepts
Key Vocabulary
 Explain the importance of
accuracy and precision in
making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 Use appropriate
quantitative data to
describe or interpret
change in electrical circuit
systems.
 Describe sources and
forms of energy and
explain their
transformations.
 Describe a system
(electrical circuit) as a
group of related parts
with specific roles that
work together to achieve
an observed result.
 Moving electric
charges produce
magnetic forces and
moving magnets
produce electric
forces.
 Batteries store
chemical energy and
transform it into
electrical energy.
 Electromagnetic
energy can be
transferred when an
electrical source such
as a battery or
generator is connected
in a complete circuit to
an electrical device.
 Current
 Generator
 Battery
 Electrochemical cell
 Rechargeable cell
 Circuit
 Electrical device
 Load
 Non-load
 Safety device
 Power source
 Conductor
 Non-conductor
 Electromotive force
 Voltage
 Current
 Amperes
 Resistance
 Pressure
 Series circuit
 Parallel circuit
 Complex circuit
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Labs
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Series Circuits
Parallel Circuits
Complex
Circuits
Resistance and
Ohms law
Resistor code
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Static Electricity
Suggested Length: 6 WEEKS
Enduring
Understanding and
Essential Questions
Static electricity is the
accumulation of
electrical charges on a
surface.
 What is the
Electrostatic theory
based on?
 How is friction
involved in static
electricity?
 What are the rules of
electrical charges
concerning attraction
and repulsion?
 How do conductors
and insulators differ?
Competencies
Concepts
 Explain the importance of
accuracy and precision in
making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 All electrical
phenomena are caused
by the movement of
electrons.
 Static charges are
caused by an
imbalance of
negatively and
positively charged
particles.
 Static charges can
result from materials
rubbing against one
another.
Key Vocabulary
 Electrostatics
 Friction
 Attract
 Repel
 Neutral
 Negative
 Positive
 Protons
 Electrons
 Balanced charges
 Electrophorus
 Electroscope
 Electrostatic
pendulum
 Leyden jar
 Van de Graff
generator
 Electrostatic series
 Conductor
 Insulator
 Ground
 Induction
 Conduction
 Dipolar
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Labs
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Electro static
therory
The
Electrophorus
The Leyden jar
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Force and Energy
Suggested Length: 3 WEEKS
Enduring Understanding
and Essential Questions
Competencies
Concepts
A force is basically a push
or a pull that can cause a
change in speed,
direction or shape.
 What is the cause of
all motion in the
universe?
 What is Law of the
conservation energy?
 How do energy
transformations
explain that energy is
neither created nor
destroyed?
 Explain the importance of
accuracy and precision in
making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 An object will stay at
rest or continue at a
constant velocity
unless acted upon by
an external,
unbalanced force.
 Unbalanced forces
acting on an object
cause changes in its
velocity.
 One of the
fundamental forces
that exist in the
universe is gravity.
 The gravitational force
is a universal force that
depends on how much
mass the objects have
and how far apart they
are.
 Mass is a measure of
the amount of matter
in an object.
 Friction is an example
of a force that opposes
motion between two
surfaces.
Key Vocabulary
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Force
Gravity
Friction
Velocity
Acceleration
Elasticity
Inertia
Energy
Potential energy
Kinetic energy
Centripetal
Centrifugal
Momentum
Resistance
Work
Mass
Effort
Equilibrium
Torque
Weight
Speed
Rotation
Percession
Vector
Resultant
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Interactive
Demonstrations
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Spinning lifts
Cup on a sling
Spinning Bicycle
wheel
Spinigig
Pendulum
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Simple Harmonic Motion
Suggested Length: 2 WEEKS
Enduring
Understanding and
Essential Questions
A pendulum is a device
that displays simple
harmonic motion
(SHM) which is
defined as the
movement of a body
over the same path.
 What is simple
harmonic motion?
 How is SHM related to
the swinging of a
pendulum?
 What variables affect
the cycle, period and
timing of a pendulum?
Competencies
Concepts
 Explain the importance of
accuracy and precision in
making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 One of the
fundamental forces
that exist in the
universe is gravity.
 Friction is an example
of a force that opposes
motion between two
surfaces.
 An object will stay at
rest or continue at a
constant velocity
unless acted upon by
an external,
unbalanced force.
Key Vocabulary
 Pendulum
 Pivot point
 Bob
 Displacement
 Amplitude
 Length
 Mass
 Inertia of res and
motion
 Cycle
 Vibration
 Frequency
 Period
 Simple harmonic
motion
 Hertz
 Potential
 Kinetic and
potential energy
 Gravity
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Labs
The swinging
pendulum
 Testing for
displacement
 Testing for mass
 Testing for
length
 Acceleration
due to gravity
 Checking for
period using a
formula
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Newtonian Laws of Force & Motion
Suggested Length: 2 WEEKS
Enduring
Understanding and
Essential Questions
Newtonian Laws of
Force & Motion: An
object's motion is the
result of all forces
acting on it.
 What causes objects
to move?
 What are Newton’s
three laws of motion?
Competencies
Concepts
 Explain the importance of
accuracy and precision in
making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 An object will stay at
rest or continue at a
constant velocity
unless acted upon by
an external,
unbalanced force.
 Unbalanced forces
acting on an object
cause changes in its
velocity.
 Models (graphs) of an
object’s velocity versus
time can be used to
infer the presence of
absence of unbalanced
forces.
 The gravitational force
is a universal force that
depends on how much
mass the objects have
and how far apart they
are.
 Mass is a measure of
the amount of matter
in an object.
 Friction is an example
of a force that opposes
motion between two
surfaces.
Key Vocabulary
 Inertia of rest
 Inertia of motion
 Balanced force
 Unbalanced force
 Applied force,
 Opposing force
 Mass
 Velocity
 Acceleration
 Kilogram
 Newton
 Action
 Reaction
 Potential energy
 Kinetic energy
 Gravity
 Friction
 Weight
 Magnitude
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Lab
Investigating
Newton’s 3 laws of
motion
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Inertia
F=ma
Action/Reaction
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Energy Transfer
Suggested Length: 2 WEEKS
Enduring Understanding
and Essential Questions
All energy starts out as
potential, stored by either
position or by condition.
Energy of moving objects
is called Kinetic energy.
 How is Potential energy
(PE) related to Kinetic
energy (KE)?
 How do you determine
the amount of PE in any
object?
 How do you determine
the amount of KE in any
object?
 How do you determine
the amount of Power in
any object?
Competencies
 Explain the importance
of accuracy and precision
in making valid
measurements.
 Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships
and communicate and
support conclusions.
 Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 Make inferences based
on scientific models (e.g.,
charts, graphs,
diagrams).
Concepts
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Energy is the
ability or capacity
to do work.
Potential energy is
stored energy by
either position or
condition.
Kinetic energy is
the energy of
moving objects
Key Vocabulary
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Potential energy
Kinetic energy
Position
Condition
Joules
Distance
Time
Velocity
Kilogram
Mass
Speed
Direction
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Lab
Energy lab
 Measuring time
 Calculating
velocity
 Calculating PE
 Calculating KE
 Calculating
Power
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Unit: Gravitation
Suggested Length: 2 WEEKS
Enduring Understanding
and Essential Questions
The Universal law of
Gravitation applies to all
objects in the Universe.
 What is Gravity?
 On the Earth, what is
the Acceleration due
to gravity?
 Do all objects fall at
the same rate?
Competencies
Concepts
Explain the importance of
accuracy and precision in
making valid
measurements.
Use evidence from
investigations to clearly
describe relationships and
communicate and
support conclusions.
Apply measurement
systems to record and
interpret observations
under a variety of
conditions.
 One of the
fundamental forces
that exist in the
universe is gravity.
 The gravitational force
is a universal force that
depends on how much
mass the objects have
and how far apart they
are.
 The acceleration due
to gravity on earth is
9.8 meters per second
squared.
Key Vocabulary
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Gravity
Time
Distance
Velocity
Final velocity
Acceleration
Mass
Suggested
activities/labs and
assessments
Lab
Gravity
Homework
Quizzes
Tests