Science
Course: 7th Grade Pre AP
Unit: Process Skills
TEKS
7.1B-practice appropriate use
and conservation of resources,
including disposal, reuse, or
cycling of materials
Guiding Questions
Specificity
Sample
Assessment
Designated Six Weeks: Ongoing
Days to teach: Ongoing
Vocabulary
Instructional
Strategies
Recycling
Teacher Notes
Have a recycle bin
available for student
use. Stress recycling
strategies throughout
the year
Resources/
Weblinks
Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recy
cle.htm
Disposal’
Reuse
Resources
Conservation
7.2A – Plan and implement
comparative and descriptive
investigations by making
observations, asking welldefined questions, and using
appropriate equipment and
technology
Revised Spring 2013
Guiding Questions
Are students able to
make inferences based
on their observations?
Observation
Inference
Which of the
following would be
the best to use to
measure the mass of
a mineral sample?
a. Meter stick
b. Graduated
Cylinder
c. Balance
d. Hand Lens
In all lab settings, make
observations and
inferences related to the
experiment.
Reading a Triple Beam
Balance
http://genchem.rutgers.edu/ba
lance3b.html
Reading Graduated Cylinders
http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu
/jcesoft/web/cplsample/modu
les/gradcyl/gradread.htm
Science
Course: 7th Grade Pre AP
Unit: Process Skills
TEKS
7.2B – Design and implement
experimental investigations by
making observations, asking
well-defined questions,
formulating testable hypotheses
and using appropriate equipment
and technology
Guiding Questions
Specificity
Guiding Questions
Can students
demonstrate
knowledge of the
scientific method by
properly designing
and implement an
experimental
investigation?
Teacher Notes
Students should have
a background
knowledge of the
scientific method
from 6th grade
7.2C – Collect and record data
using the International System of
Units (SI) and qualitative means
such as labeled drawings,
writing, and graphic organizers
Revised Spring 2013
Guiding Questions
Can students use
scientific equipment
to measure
accurately?
Sample
Assessment
Designated Six Weeks: Ongoing
Days to teach: Ongoing
Vocabulary
Instructional
Strategies
Prediction
Hypothesis
Procedures
Start with the Life
Saver Lab as an Inquiry
starter, and then have
the students design
experiments from there.
Manipulated/Indepen
dent &
Responding/Depende
nt Variables
Control
Constant
Mass
Volume
Length
Temperature
Liter
Meter
Gram
Degree C
Meniscus
Resources/
Weblinks
Life Saver Lab
Independent and Dependent
Variables
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/h
elp/user_guide/graph/variable
s.asp
Measurement skills
will be reviewed and
reinforced with each
lab as needed.
Science
Course: 7th Grade Pre AP
Unit: Process Skills
TEKS
Guiding Questions
Specificity
Sample
Assessment
Designated Six Weeks: Ongoing
Days to teach: Ongoing
Vocabulary
Instructional
Strategies
7.2D – construct tables and
graphs, using repeated trials and
means, to organize data and
identify patterns
Guiding Questions
Can students choose
the appropriate graph
and correctly &
accurately construct
it?
X-axis
Y-axis
Intervals
Graphing skills will be
reviewed and
reinforced as needed
with each individual
lab.
7.2E – analyze data to formulate
reasonable explanations,
communicate valid conclusions
supported by the data, and
predict trends
Guiding Questions
Can students draw a
conclusion based on
experimental data?
Trend
Valid
Conclusions with
explanations will be
made with each
individual lab.
7.3A-in all fields of science,
analyze, evaluate, and critique
scientific explanations by using
empirical evidence, logical
reasoning, and experimental and
observational testing, including
examining all sides of scientific
evidence of those scientific
explanations, so as to encourage
critical thinking by the student
Teacher Notes
Students should be
encouraged to
analyze scientific
research.
Revised Spring 2013
Resources/
Weblinks
Basic Graphing Skills
http://classroom.jcschools.net/basic/math.html
Scientific Method
http://scene.asu.edu/habitat/s
_method.html
The 5 E Learning Model
http://faculty.mwsu.edu/west/
maryann.coe/coe/inquire/inqu
iry.htm
Science
Course: 7th Grade Pre AP
Unit: Process Skills
TEKS
Guiding Questions
Specificity
Sample
Assessment
Designated Six Weeks: Ongoing
Days to teach: Ongoing
Vocabulary
Instructional
Strategies
7.3B-use models to represent
aspects of the natural world such
as human body systems and
plant and animal cells
Teacher Notes
Use as many models
as possible to
represent the real
world.
7.3C-identify advantages and
limitations of models such as
size, scale, properties, and
materials
Guiding Questions
Can students critique
a model to find its
advantages and
disadvantages?
Limitations
Scale
With each model used,
have students explain
its advantages and
disadvantages.
7.3D – relate the impact of
research on scientific thought
and society, including the history
of science and contributions of
scientists as related to the
content
Guiding Questions
Can students relate
the impact of
research on society?
Impact
Society
scientist
With each unit, identify
the scientists who
contributed to that
content.
Library Research
Revised Spring 2013
Resources/
Weblinks
Wanted Poster
History of Scientists
http://www.stcms.si.edu/hbs/s
cientists.htm
Science
Course: 7th Grade Pre AP
Unit: Process Skills
TEKS
Guiding Questions
Specificity
7.4A-use appropriate tools to
collect, record, and analyze
information, including life
science models, hand lens,
stereoscopes, microscopes,
beakers, Petri dishes, microscope
slides, graduated cylinders, test
tubes, meter sticks, metric rulers,
metric tape measures, timing
devices, hot plates, balances,
thermometers, calculators, water
test kits, computers, temperature
and pH probes, collecting nets,
insect traps, globes, digital
cameras, journals/notebooks, and
other equipment as needed to
teach the curriculum;
Teacher Note
Students should be
allowed to use all
tools listed sometime
throughout the year.
7.4B-use preventative safety
equipment, including chemical
splash goggles, aprons, and
gloves, and be prepared to use
emergency safety equipment,
including an eye/face wash, a
fire blanket, and a fire
extinguisher
Guiding Questions
Can students choose
appropriate safety
equipment for each lab?
Teacher Notes
Each lab will have its
own safety issues.
Advise students before
the lab as to which
practices are necessary.
Revised Spring 2013
Sample
Assessment
Designated Six Weeks: Ongoing
Days to teach: Ongoing
Vocabulary
Instructional
Strategies
Resources/
Weblinks
Safety Equipment and
Chemical Storage
http://www.csun.edu/science/
ref/laboratory/safety/safety.ht
ml