CTL 7th Grade PSI Year Long Plan
Unit 1: Matter and Its Properties
PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
 Substances are made from different types of atoms,
which combine with one another in various ways. Atoms
form molecules that range in size from two to
thousands of atoms.(MS-PS1-1)
 Each pure substance has characteristic physical and
chemical properties (for any bulk quantity under given
conditions) that can be used to identify it. (MS-PS12),(MS-PS1-3)
 Gases and liquids are made of molecules or inert atoms that
are moving about relative to each other. (MS-PS1-4)
 In a liquid, the molecules are constantly in contact with
others;
in a gas, they are widely spaced except when they happen
to collide. In a solid, atoms are closely spaced and may
vibrate in position but do not change relative locations. (MSPS1-4)
 Solids may be formed from molecules, or they may be
extended structures with repeating subunits (e.g., crystals).
(MS-PS1-1)
 The changes of state that occur with variations in
temperature or pressure can be described and predicted
using these models matter. (MS-PS1-4)
Unit 3: Structure and Function &
Information Processing
LS1.A: Structure and Function
 All living things are made up of cells, which is the smallest
unit that can be said to be alive. An organism may consist of
one single cell (unicellular) or many different numbers and
types of cells (multicellular). (MS-LS1-1)
 Within cells, special structures are responsible for particular
functions, and the cell membrane forms the boundary that
controls what enters and leaves the cell. (MS-LS1-2)
 In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple
interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of
cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are
specialized for particular body functions. (MS-LS1-3)
LS1.D: Information Processing
 Each sense receptor responds to different inputs
(electromagnetic, mechanical, chemical), transmitting
them as signals that travel along nerve cells to the
brain. The signals are then processed in the brain,
resulting in immediate behaviors or memories. (MSLS1-8)
Unit 2: Chemical Reactions & Energy
PS1.B: Chemical Reactions
 Substances react chemically in characteristic ways.
In a chemical process, the atoms that make up the
original substances are regrouped into different
molecules, and these new substances have different
properties from those of the reactants. (MS-PS1
2),(MS-PS1-3),(MS-PS1-5)
 The total number of each type of atom is conserved, and
thus the mass does not change. (MS-PS1-5)
 Some chemical reactions release energy, others store
energy.
(MS-PS1-6)
PS3.A: Definitions of Energy
 The term “heat” as used in everyday language refers both to
thermal motion (the motion of atoms or molecules within a
substance) and radiation (particularly infrared and light). In
science, heat is used only for this second meaning; it refers
to energy transferred when two objects or systems are at
different temperatures. (secondary to MS-PS1-4)
 Temperature is not a measure of energy; the relationship
between the temperature and the total energy of a system
depends on the types, states, and amounts of matter
present. (secondary to MS-PS1-4)
ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
 A solution needs to be tested, and then modified on the basis
of the test results, in order to improve it. (secondary to MSPS1-6)
ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution
 Although one design may not perform the best across all
tests, identifying the characteristics of the design that
performed the best in each test can provide useful
information for the redesign process—that is, some of the
characteristics may be incorporated into the new design.
(secondary to MS-PS1-6)
 The iterative process of testing the most promising solutions
and modifying what is proposed on the basis of the test
results leads to greater refinement and ultimately to an
optimal solution. (secondary to MS-PS1-6)
Unit 4: Matter & Energy in
Everyday Life
LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in
Organisms
 Plants, algae (including phytoplankton), and many
microorganisms use the energy from light to make
sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
and water through the process of photosynthesis, which
also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used
immediately or stored for growth or later use. (MS-LS16)
 Within individual organisms, food moves through a
series of chemical reactions in which it is broken down
and rearranged to form new molecules, to support
growth, or to release energy. (MS-LS1-7)
PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday
Life
 The chemical reaction by which plants produce complex
food molecules (sugars) requires an energy input (i.e.,from
sunlight) to occur. In this reaction, carbon dioxide and
water combine to form carbon-based organic molecules
and release oxygen. (secondary to MS-LS1-6)
 Cellular respiration in plants and animals involve chemical
reactions with oxygen that release stored energy. In these
processes, complex molecules containing carbon react with
oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and other materials.
(secondary to MS-LS1-7)
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Seventh Grade Science
Year Long Plan
Unit 5: Growth and Development of
Organisms
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
 Animals engage in characteristic behaviors that increase the
odds of reproduction. (MS-LS1-4)
 Plants reproduce in a variety of ways, sometimes
depending on animal behavior and specialized features for
reproduction. (MS-LS1-4)
 Genetic factors as well as local conditions affect the
growth of the adult plant. (MS-LS1-5)
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
 Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and
transfer their genetic information to their offspring.
(secondary to MS- LS3-2)
Unit 7: Natural Resources & Human
Impact
ESS3.A: Natural Resources
 Humans depend on Earth’s land, ocean, atmosphere, and
biosphere for many different resources. Minerals, fresh
water, and biosphere resources are limited, and many are
not renewable or replaceable over human lifetimes. These
resources are distributed unevenly around the planet as a
result of past geologic processes. (MS-ESS3-1)
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
 Human activities have significantly altered the biosphere,
sometimes damaging or destroying natural habitats and
causing the extinction of other species. But changes to
Earth’s environments can have different impacts (negative
and positive) for different living things. (MS-ESS3-3)
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Unit 6: Inheritance & Variation of
Traits
LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
 Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each
chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many
distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefly controls the
production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits
of the individual. Changes (mutations) to genes can result in
changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and
functions of the organism and thereby change traits. (MS-LS31)
 Variations of inherited traits between parent and offspring
arise from genetic differences that result from the subset of
chromosomes (and therefore genes) inherited. (MS-LS3-2)
LS3.B: Variation of Traits
 In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes
half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring.
Individuals
have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each
gene, one acquired from each parent. These versions may
be identical or may differ from each other. (MS-LS3-2)
 In addition to variations that arise from sexual reproduction,
genetic information can be altered because of mutations.
Though rare, mutations may result in changes to the
structure and function of proteins. Some changes are
beneficial, others harmful, and some neutral to the
organism. (MS-LS3-1)
LS4.B: Natural Selection
 Natural selection leads to the predominance of certain traits in
a population, and the suppression of others. (MS-LS4-4)
 In artificial selection, humans have the capacity to influence
certain characteristics of organisms by selective breeding. One
can choose desired parental traits determined by genes, which
are then passed on to offspring. (MS-LS4-5)
LS4.C: Adaptation
 Adaptation by natural selection acting over generations is one
important process by which species change over time in response
to changes in environmental conditions. Traits that support
successful survival and reproduction in the new environment
become more common; those that do not become less common.
Thus, the distribution of traits in a population changes. (MS-LS46)
Unit 8: Global Climate Change
ESS3.D: Global Climate Change
 Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases
from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise
in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming).
Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human
vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend
on the understanding of climate science, engineering
capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as
understanding of human behavior and on applying that
knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)
Seventh Grade Science
Year Long Plan
 Typically as human populations and per-capita
consumption of natural resources increase, so do the
negative impacts on Earth unless the activities and
technologies involved are engineered otherwise. (MSESS3-3),(MS-ESS3-4)
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Seventh Grade Science
Year Long Plan