Morgan County School District Re-3
Month
August
Content and Essential
Questions
Science vocab and careers in science.
1. How can you figure out the meaning
of a science word?
2. What are the branches of science?
Science Life 7th
Skills
Analyzing scientific prefixes and
suffixes.(M)
Assessment
Resources
Science Vocabulary Worksheet
Pseudomology Activity
Quiz - science vocab
Science Vocabulary Worksheet from
Holt
Observing patterns(R)
Inferring patterns(R)
Questioning observations and data(R)
Hypothesizing the outcome of the
experiment(R)
Experimenting using variables and
controls(R)
Measuring and collecting data form
experiments(R)
Recording and interpreting data form
experiments(R)
Graphing the results of an
experiment(R)
Communicating the results of
experiment(R)
Class Discussion
Teacher Observation
Performance on Cube Activity and
Labs
Lab Notebook
Scientific Method/ Hypothesis and
Variables Worksheets
Graphing Activities
Science/Technology Writing
Assignment
Unit Test
Skills Handbook (pp200-212) in
Environmental Science textbook
Observing ecosystems(R)
Identifying abiotic and biotic
factors(R)
Estimating and Calculating
population sizes(R)
Creating an imaginary bird that is
adapted to its environment(I)
Teacher observation
Schoolyard ecosystem activity
Worksheets on populations, biomes
Counting turtles lab
Adaptation artistry activity
Good buddies activity
Food web activities
Explorer Environmental Science Text
Heath Life Scince Activities
Obsrving Schoolyard Ecosystem
Project Wild Activities
- adaptation artistry
- good buddies
Discuss careers in science.(M)
S5
September
Scientific Method Unit
1. What is the special way a scientist
approaches a problem?
2. How does a scientist design and
conduct a scientific investigation?
3. Why do scientists use the metric
system?
4. How do you use metric equipment to
measure accurately?
5. How can you communicate your lab
data effectively?
Science World magazine articles on
scientific method
6. What is the relationship between
science and technology, and what are
the positive and negative effects on
people?
S 1, 5, 6
October
Ecology Unit
1. What needs are met by an
organism's surroundings?
2. How do scientists determine
population size?
Morgan County School District Re-3
Month
Content and Essential
Questions
3. What causes populations to change in
size?
4. How does an organism’s adaptation
help it to survive?
Science Life 7th
Skills
Assessment
Resources
Identifying the types of symbiotic
relationships(I)
Identifying the essential components
of a habitat.(R)
Analyze the effects of different
limiting factors on population(I)
Population, predator, prey, natural
resources, endangered animal graphs
Concept map (p. 110)
Writing to learn (p.110)
Quizzes, test 1. Prentice Hall Science
Observing ecosystems(R)
Identifying energy roles of
organisms(R)
Explaining how matter is recycled(M)
Identifying biomes by physical and
biological characteristics(I)
Identifying renewable and
nonrenewable resources(M)
Explaining how to conserve
resources(M)
Teacher observation
Food web activities
Population, predator, prey, natural
resources, endangered animal graphs
Concept map (p. 110)
Writing to learn (p.110)
Quizzes, test 1. Prentice Hall Science
Explorer Environmental Science Text
Heath Life Science Activities
Food web Activities
Videos - Bill Nye: Food webs
Using a microscope properly(I)
Observing cell structures(M)
Describing the function of cell
organelles(M)
Identifying the four main organic
compounds and explain why they are
important(I)
Comparing/Contrasting plant and
animal cells(M)
Explaining cells processes(I)
Identifying the stages of cell
Teacher Observation
Worksheets on the cell
Cell Drawings or models
Using a microscope lab
Plant/Animal Cell Lab with
compare/contrast paragraph
Mitosis Lab
Dissolving Organic Compounds lab
(exp)
Chapter Reviews in text
Cell Concept Map
Prentice Hall Science Explorer Cells
and Heredity Text
5. What are the major types of
interactions among organisms?
S 3, 5
November
Ecology Unit
1. How does energy flow within an
ecosystem?
2. How is matter recycled in an
ecosystem?
3. What are the characteristics of the
earth's different biomes?
4. What is the difference between
renewable and nonrenewable resources
and how do we manage them?
S 3.1, 3.2, 5
December
Cells and Heredity Unit
1. How do you use a microscope
properly?
2. What are the functions of the
nucleus, cell membrane, and the other
cell organelles in the cell?
3. Optional: What are the four main
types of organic compounds in living
things and why are they important?
Heath Life Science Text Labs
- Using a Microscope
- Dissolving Organic Compounds
Videos
- Inside a Cell
-Discovering the Cell
-Mitosis/Meiosis
Morgan County School District Re-3
Month
Content and Essential
Questions
4. What major processes occur in the
cell?
5. How do cells replicate?
S 1,3.3, 3.4, 5
January
Cells and Heredity
1. What factors control the inheritance
of traits in organisms?
2. How do geneticists use the principles
of probability?
3. What is the structure of a DNA
molecule?
4. How are mitosis and meiosis alike?
Different?
5. Why do human traits show a large
variety of phenotypes?
Science Life 7th
Skills
division(M)
Calculating the time each cell stage
takes when observing an onion cell(I)
Hypothesizing which organic
compounds dissolve in water(I)
Experimenting with organic
compounds(I)
Controlling variables in an
experiment(M)
Measuring and collecting data(M)
Recording and interpreting data(M)
Communicating data through a lab
report(M)
Identifying the factors that control the
inheritance of traits(I)
Predicting the outcome of offspring
using the principles of probability(I)
Describe the structure of a DNA
model(I)
Comparing/Contrasting mitosis and
meiosis(I)
Explaining why a human traits show a
large variety of phenotypes(I)
Explaining what causes human
genetic disorders and how they are
diagnosed.(I)
Explaining how humans use the
principles of genetics for their
benefit.(I)
Assessment
Resources
Quizzes, Test
Teacher observation
Worksheets on Genetics
Genetics labs
Chapter Reviews in Text
-Thinking Visually
-Applying Skills
Quizzes, Test
Prentice Hall Science Explorer Cells
and Heredity text
Checks Activity
Analyzing Rock Layers Lab
Nature at Work Lab
Worksheet on Earth's History
Test
Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Earth's Changing Surface - Chapter 4
Video:
Bill Nye: Genes
6. What causes genetic disorders and
how are they diagnosed?
7. How do humans use the principles of
genetics for their benefit?
Std 3.4
Fossil Evidence/Evolution
1. How are fossils formed?
2. How can scientist determine a fossil's
Explaining how fossils are formed and
how scientist determine their age. (M/I)
Prentice Hall Science Explorer Cells
and Heredity - Chapter 5
Morgan County School District Re-3
Month
Content and Essential
Questions
age?
3. What does the fossil record show
about how life and environmental
conditions changed over time?
Science Life 7th
Skills
Assessment
Analyzing the fossil record(I)
Explaining how natural selection lead
to evolution(I)
Resources
Checks Activity
4. How does natural selection lead to
evolution?
Std 3.4
February
Classification/Kingdoms: Bacteria to
Plants Unit
1. What characteristics do all living
things share?
2. Why do scientist classify?
3. How do scientists classify living
things into 6 kingdoms?
4. Why are viruses considered
nonliving?
5. How do infectious diseases spread?
Identifying the life processes(M)
Creating an imaginary organism that
shows all of the life processes(M)
Explain why scientist classify(I)
Classifying different objects to
develop their own classification
system(I)
Identifying the characteristics that
scientist use to classify organisms into
the six kingdoms(I)
Explain why viruses are considered
nonliving(M)
Explain how infectious diseases are
spread(M)
Teacher Observation
Class Discussion
Create a Living Creature Activity
Classification Labs
Taxonomic Keys
Any worksheets, activities, or labs in
text
Chapter Reviews in Prentice Hill Text
- Think visually
- Applying skills
1. Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Bacteria to Plants
2. Videos
- Bill Nye: Germs
- Classification of living things
- Eyewitness videos: life
Identifying the characteristics of the
six kingdoms(I)
Observing bacteria and fungi
growth(I)
Hypothesizing the outcome of the
experiment(I)
Experimenting using variables and
controls(I)
Measuring and collecting data form
experiments(I)
Recording and interpreting data form
Teacher Observation
Class Discussion
Observing Bacteria Lab
Bacterial Growth Experiment
Protist Lab
Fungi Experiment
Any worksheets, activities, or labs in
text
Chapter Reviews in Prentice Hill Text
- Think visually
- Applying skills
Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Bacteria to Plants
Videos
- Prokaryote or Eukaryote
- BOCES video classifying
microorganism
- Eyewitness: plants
- Teachers Video Company:
Photosynthesis
- Bill Nye: Plants
S 3.1, 3.3
March
Classification/Kingdoms: Bacteria to
Plants Unit
1. What are the characteristics of each
kingdom: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria,
Protist, Fungi, Plants and what positive
and/or negative effects do they have on
our lives.
S 1, 3.1, 3.2, 6
Morgan County School District Re-3
Month
April
Content and Essential
Questions
Animal Unit
1. What characteristics do all animals
have in common?
2. How are animals classified into
groups?
3. What are the main characteristics of
each major animal phylum?
May
4. How are some animal phylums
further classified into classes and
orders?
Std 3.3,
Animal Unit
1. What positive/negative effects do
some of the major phylums have on our
lives?
2. What adaptations do animals have
that help them survive in their
environment?
3. How have animals changed over
time?
Std 1, 3.3
Science Life 7th
Skills
experiments(I)
Graphing the results of an experiment
Communicating the results of
experiment(I)
Observing protist under a
microscope(I)
Identifying the raw materials and
products of photosynthesis(I)
Identifying the characteristics of each
major plant group(I)
Observing and Identifying the
structures of a flower(I)
Identifying the characteristics all
animals share(I)
Explaining how animals are classified
into groups(I)
Identifying the major characteristics
of each animal phylum(I)
Identifying the major characteristics
of orders and classes of certain animal
phylum(I)
Dissecting, observing, and
identifying the structures of different
animals(I)
Identifying the characteristics all
animals share(I)
Explaining how animals are classified
into groups(I)
Identifying the major characteristics
of each animal phylum(I)
Identifying the major characteristics
of orders and classes of certain animal
phylum(I)
Dissecting, observing, and
identifying the structures of different
animals(I)
Questioning observations and data(M)
Hypothesizing the outcome of the
Assessment
Resources
Flower Dissection
Teacher observation
Class Discussion
Dissections of earthworm, clam,
crayfish, grasshopper, and starfish
Worksheets, activities, and labs from
Prentice Hall text
Chapter Reviews in text
-Thinking visually
-Applying skills
Quizzes, Test
Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Animals Textbook
Teacher Observation
Class Discussion
Student dissections of a perch, frog,
owl
Teacher dissection of lamprey,
dogfish shark, perch
Breathing Rate of a Goldfish
experiment
Creating an Imaginary Reptile
activity
Worksheets, activities, and labs in
Prentice Hall text
Chapter Reviews in text
-Thinking visually
Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Animals text
Heath Life Science
Eyewitness videos: Fish, Sharks,
Reptiles,
Birds, Mammals
Lamb Dissection video
Videos: Animals without Backbones
Morgan County School District Re-3
Month
Content and Essential
Questions
Science Life 7th
Skills
experiment(M)
Experimenting using variables and
controls(M)
Measuring and collecting data form
experiments(M)
Recording and interpreting data form
experiments(M)
Graphing the results of an experiment
Communicating the results of
experiment(M)
Creating an imaginary reptile(I)
Assessment
-Applying skills
Animal Kingdom Concept Map
Quizzes, Test
Resources