Cane Creek Middle School
Syllabus: 7th GRADE SCIENCE 2015-2016
Joel Prickett
CONTACT INFORMATION
School Phone Number
628-0824
Email address
joel.prickett@bcsemail.org
COURSE OVERVIEW
Course Description
This course emphasizes the North Carolina New Essential Standards (2009). Our major goal is to help students become better learners and be ready
to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We use an integrated approach of 21 st century skills to assist students in developing investigative and
critical thinking skills through exposure to the three disciplines of science: physical science, life science, and earth science. Students will improve
scientific literacy through access of a variety of non-fiction texts. Students will be exposed to numerous methods for recording their thinking which
can be utilized across curricula. This course incorporates diverse learning styles and teaching methods. Students work both independently and in
cooperative groups.
Course Essential Standards
This course will address North Carolina Essential Standards for seventh grade science with an emphasis on inquiry, physical science, life science, and
earth science. Detailed standards can be found at http://www.ncpublicschools.org
Physical Science: Forces and Motion
7.P.1
Understand motion, the effects of forces on motion and the graphical representations of motion.
Physical Science: Conservation and Transfer
7.P.2
Understand forms of energy, energy transfer and transformation and conservation in mechanical systems.
Earth Science: Earth Systems, Structures, and Processes
7.E.1
Understand how the cycling of matter (water and gases) in and out of the atmosphere relates to Earth’s atmosphere,
weather and climate and the effects of the atmosphere on humans.
Life Science: Structures and Functions of Living Organisms
7.L.1
Understand the processes, structures and functions of living organisms that enable them to survive, reproduce and
carry out the basic function of life.
Life Science: Evolution and Genetics
7.L.2
Understand the relationship of the mechanisms of cellular reproduction, patterns of inheritance and external factors to
potential variation and survival among offspring.
Course Topics
Physical Science:
Forces and motion
Balanced and Unbalanced forces
Graphing motion
Kinetic and Potential Energy
Energy transformed from one form to another
Energy transferred from one system to another
Simple machines – mechanical advantage & efficiency
Earth Science:
Composition, properties, and structure of atmosphere
Water Cycle
Atmospheric conditions
Weather patterns and condition
Weather data
Air Quality
Life Science:
CELLS
Cell theory
Single-celled organisms
Comparison of plant/animal cells
Organelles
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
Organization of multi-celled organisms
Homeostasis
Organ functions and interactions
Body systems – functions & interactions
GENETICS
Inherited characteristics
Recombination of genetic material
Meiosis and Mitosis
Patterns of heredity/genetics
Influence of environment/lifestyle
CLASSROOM POLICIES and PROCEDURES
GRADING SCALE
A 90 -100
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
D 60 - 69
F 59 – below
Breakdown of Grading:
Major grades (40%)
* Test/formal assessments
* Notebook
* Projects
* Unit Exams/Final Exam
Cooperative Group Grades (5%)
Daily grades (45%)
* Quizzes/Voc Quizzes
* Class work
* Lab assignments
* Specified homework
Homework (10%)