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Grade 6 Science Content
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I.
Earth Science (September - November)
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Upon completion of this unit, students will understand, recognize, and
represent many of the Earth's physical features through mapping, including
contour mapping. Students will explore how the ways in which rocks, fossils, ice
cores, plate movements, volcanic eruptions, and the cycles of erosion/deposition
record events of the earth's history. The students will understand how heat from
the earth's mantle and core causes movement of crystal plates. They will
analyze and demonstrate three ways that heat is transferred. They will
understand that unequal heating of the earth results in global patterns of
atmospheric movement and temperature differences between water, land, and
atmosphere, which in turn influence local weather. Lastly, students will observe
and describe evidence of local climate changes over periods of years, while
global climate changes much more slowly. Students will give examples of
climate changes throughout Earth's history, which have profoundly affected the
evolution of life forms.
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II.
Space Science (December - March)
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Upon completion of this unit students will be able to compare and contrast
Earth to other objects in the solar system, focusing on density, gravitational force,
distance from the sun, speed and movement, temperature and atmospheric
conditions. They will understand that the observed moon phases and eclipses
result from the relative positions of the moon, earth, and sun. Students will
understand that the difference of the heating of earth's surface produces
seasons. Throughout this unit and others, students will have an opportunity to
explore science as an ever-changing body of knowledge due to new
discoveries/understandings and varying viewpoints.
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III.
Living Things (April - June)
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At the conclusion of this unit students will understand the five-kingdom
classification system of plants and animals and the basic concepts of the life
processes of plants. Students will understand that soil is formed by the
weathering of rock and the debris from decomposition of dead plants and
animals, and that energy is supplied to an ecosystem primarily in the form of
sunlight, which is used by plants to produce their own food. And finally they will
understand both the long and short term, changes in the environment that have
resulted in qualitative and quantitative changes in the species of plants and
animals that inhabit the earth.
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Grade 7 Science Content
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I.
Ecology and Human Impact (September - November)
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Upon completion of this unit students will be able to design an
investigation based on a question they have developed through their study of
ecology. This study will include an understanding that certain environmental and
geographical factors make up a biome and that organisms interact in these areas
in a variety of ways. Energy is supplied to a system primarily in the form of
sunlight, and both short and long-term changes may result in a change of the
number of organisms. In addition, students will explore the natural cycles in the
ecosystems: water, nitrogen, the food web, oxygen and carbon dioxide. They will
understand that the natural flow of the water cycle within a region is called a
watershed. They will examine human activities that have changed the earth's
land, oceans, and atmosphere and understand that those decisions that we
make as individuals, groups and communities affect society and the natural
environment. Finally, through a variety of ways they will develop an
understanding of biological evolution and the concept that it does not represent
progress but is a result of the random process of natural selection.
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II.
Characteristics of Life (December - March)
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Upon completion of this unit students will understand that all organisms
are composed of cells and that all living organisms, from the simplest to the most
complex, carry out all the life processes. They will understand that the cells of
plants, animals, fungi and protists show differences and similarities. Students will
also understand that plants, animals, fungi, and protists are major categories of
living organisms. Students will be able to make a comparison on how these
organisms reproduce. Finally, students will recognize that all cells contain the
same genetic material passed on from one generation to another.
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III.
Humans (April - June)
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Upon completion of this unit students will know the human body is an
example of a complex multi-cellular organism made up of interacting systems of
cells, tissues, and organs that fulfill the life processes. They will understand the
importance of reproduction to the survival of the species and that there are
likenesses and differences among human beings. The sorting and combining of
genetic material of parents during reproduction produces the potential for
variation among offspring. Through investigation and inquiry students will
recognize how dominant and recessive traits combine to create an organism.
Finally and most importantly, students will learn the importance of making
positive life choices in the areas of substance use, sexuality, and relationships,
by understanding how various substances affect the systems of the human body.
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Grade 8 Science Content
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I.
Immune System (September - November)
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Upon completion of this unit students will understand the basic
components of the immune system and how they work: white blood cells, helper
T-cells, killer blood cells, anti-bodies, memory T & B cells. They will know the
difference between virus and bacteria. They will understand how AIDS is
transmitted and how it affects the immune system. Students will explore how the
misuse of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol impairs the brain. Finally and most
importantly students will realize the consequences of risky behaviors as they
relate to sexual activities and drug, alcohol, and tobacco use.
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II.
Properties of Matter including Energy and Heat (December March)
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At the completion of this unit students will know how to identify and
classify elements and compounds with similar properties. They will understand
that a chemical change involves a transformation of one or more substances into
a new substance with different characteristic properties. They will study the law
of conservation of mass and energy and learn that the rearrangement of
component particles can result in different substances. Finally, they will
understand the characteristics of the three states of matter and how they differ.
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III.
Forces and Motion (April - June)
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Upon completion of this unit students will understand that all forces have
magnitude and direction. They will appreciate the contributions of Sir Isaac
Newton to the science of physics. They will explore the different forms of energy
(light, heat, chemical, electric, mechanical, kinetic, potential, sound) and learn
that they can change from one form to another. They will understand that heat
energy moves in predictable ways and that energy comes to earth as
electromagnetic radiation in a range of wavelengths - light, infrared, microwave,
and radio.
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