Science 7
Mr. Gagnon
Long Range Plans
Main Objectives and Goals:
A. Science education in grade 7 will contribute to Alberta Education’s aim of learning in the following
ways.
1. Provide students with experiences that will help the students understand and interpret the world in
which they live.
2. Provide students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to help them support the application of
science and technology.
3. Provide students with a basis of knowledge, skills and attitudes for further studies in science.
B. Students will be given the opportunity to study most of the major branches of science as well as
relevant technologies.
C. A main focus of Science 7 is for the student to interpret and apply concepts learned in class in the
following three areas:
1. Nature of Science
2. Science and Technology
3. Science, Technology and Society
D. Attitudes to be developed are:
 Curiosity and appreciation for the world around us
 Respect for their safety and the safety of others
 Respect for accuracy, precision and completeness in reporting and evaluating data
 Open-mindedness in considering alternative ideas and interpretations
 Critical-mindedness in evaluating and making conclusions
 Appreciation for technology that serves human purpose
 Appreciation for the contribution and limitations of science and technology to the solution of
practical problems
 Confidence in oneself to solve practical problems
 Commitment to the pursuit of science
 Respect for the viewpoints of others
E.
Skills to be developed are:
 Recognizing patterns
 Predicting
 Identifying and controlling variables
 Developing procedures
 Organizing data in chart and graph form
 Developing conclusions based on data
 Testing and evaluating design
 Acting responsibly in a group
F.
Concepts to be understood are:
 Science is used to explain phenomena
 Scientific knowledge is constantly changing
 Experiments are used to test and prove prediction
 Science and technology are interrelated and the development of new technologies can open the
way for new areas of scientific study
 Developments in science and technology have an affect on society
Specific goals and objectives
Unit One: Characteristics of Living Things
Lesson
1
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
2
3
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
Objective
Distinguish
between living and
nonliving things
Identify and
describe
characteristics of
living things
Activity
Notes on 7
characteristics
Evaluation
Living, nonliving or
dead worksheet and title
page
Classifying leaves lab
Notes on life cycle and
growth
Handspan lab
Lab report pg 4
Lab report pg 13 and pg
15
Growth assignment
Worksheet
Growing plants lab
Lab report
Notes on reproduction
and seeds.
Notes on structural
adaptations
Pg 23, & 26
4

5

6

7

8

Classify
Describe life cycle
Compare different
life cycles
Describe patterns of
growth
Recognize variation
within groups of
living tings
Develop science
inquiry skills
Describe
adaptations
Describe
adaptations for
specific purposes
Same as above
9

Same as above
10
11
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


12 & 13

14

15

16
17


4–5 weeks Sept–Oct
identify examples
of stimulus
response patterns
recognize response
of the human body
recognize response
to specific
environmental
conditions
distinguish between
instinctive and
learned response
recognize responses
to specific
environmental
conditions
Notes on digestion and
respiration variations
Notes on movement and
locomotion and vital
signs
Notes on stimulus and
response, reaction time
and receptors
Pg 29 & label the
adaptations on an
organism
Quiz on topics 1 & 2
Pulse rate lab and
exercise lab
Pg 45
Reaction time lab and
breathing rate lab
Notes on positive and
negative stimuli
Quiz on topics 3 & 4
Earthworm lab
Notes on behavioural
adaptations, instinct and
learned behaviours
Notes on migration,
hibernation, annuals,
dormancy, and
warm/cold blooded
review
Pg 54, 55 and 56
Invent a plant pg 68
Review worksheet
Unit test and title page 2
Unit Two: Micro-organisms and Food Supplies
4-5 weeks Oct-Nov
Students will examine the means by which food supplies are maintained for human use. Students will learn
the public and personal decisions that affect the safety of food supplies. Students will observe the different
types of micro-organisms and their habitats. Students will identify and evaluate the technology and
standards related to safe handling of food.
Lesson
1
Objective
2
3
4
5
6-7
Activity
Notes on microorganisms &
microscopes
Micro-organism lab
Notes on culturing
microbes
Notes on reproduction
on micro-organisms
Notes on food chains
Research a disease
caused by a microorganism
Notes on food poisoning
Notes on fermentation
and sampling of
fermented foods
Introduce science fair
Notes on keeping food
safe
Pg 288
Notes on chemical
additives
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Notes on government
safety standards
Review
Review
15
16
17
Unit Three: Temperature and Heat Measurement
Evaluation
Worksheet
Lab report
Growing microorganisms lab
Pg 265
Draw a food chain with
5 organisms
Research report
Quiz on topics 1 & 2
Yeast lab
Pg 280
Drying food lab
Quiz on topics 3 & 4
Debate on herbicides,
pesticides vs.
Genetically modified
organisms
Food labels assignments
Pg 293
Pg 294 – 295
Unit exam and title page
3
4-5 weeks Nov-Dec
Students will examine the effects of temperature and heat changes with particular emphasis on
measurement. Students will examine specialized thermometers and the need for accuracy. Students will
differentiate between temperature and heat. Students will discuss sources of fuel and determine the
quantity of heat energy derived from them.
Lesson
1
2
3
Objective
Activity
Notes on temperature,
hot and cold
Notes on states of
matter, expansion and
contraction
Notes on thermometers
Evaluation
Estimating temperature
lab, pg 198
Pg 200 and heating
liquids lab, heating
different liquids lab
Pg 207
4
Making a thermometer
Lab report
lab
Notes on bimetallic
Pg 210 and 211
strips
Notes on different
Thermometers
thermometers
worksheet
Notes on heat and
Quiz on topics 1 & 2
temperature
Mixing hot & cold lab
Lab report
Notes on changes in
Lab report
state, melting lab
Evaporation lab
Lab report
Notes on particle theory, Lab report
and demo. Evaporation
rate lab
Notes on measuring heat Pg 234
energy in food and fuel
Lab on energy in food
Lab report
and fuel
Notes on sources of
Quiz on topics 3 & 4
energy
Review
Pg 247
Review
Pg 248 – 249
Unit exam & title page 4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Unit Four: Forces and Motion
4-5 weeks Feb-Mar
Students will study a variety of forces and the effects of those forces on different materials and objects.
Students will recognize and measure forces within different applications. Students will study the causes
and effects of friction. Students will study motion in space.
Lesson
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Objective
Activity
Notes on forces, force
lab
Notes on force
diagrams, balanced and
unbalanced
Notes on force meters,
newtons and calibration
Notes on gravity, weight
and mass
Notes on friction.
Notes on reducing
friction. Friction lab
Research the space
shuttle and how they
reduce friction.
Notes on static and
magnetism. Lab
Notes on buoyancy
Notes on newton’s laws
and demos
Notes on satellites and
Evaluation
Lab report
Worksheet
Lab report
Pg 155
Quiz on topics 1 & 2
Lab report
report
Pg 170
Lab report
Quiz on topics 3 & 4
Lab report
Worksheet
Pg 191
orbits.
Review
Review
14
15
16
Unit Five: Structures and Design
Pg 191
Pg 192 – 193
Unit test
4-5 weeks Mar-April
Students will study natural and manmade structures. Students will observe and build a variety of designs
and determine the patterns and principles related to them. Students will recognize the function of a
structure determines in part its design. Students will evaluate different designs from perspectives of
function, cost, and esthetics. Students will build model rockets to incorporate the theories learned.
Lesson
1



2

3
4


5


6



Objective
identify patterns of organization
in natural materials
infer the function of plant and
animal structures
recognize similarities between
natural and manufactured
structures
infer and describe the function of
structures
same as above
recognize ways in which human
aspirations have been achieved
through the design and
construction of structures
recognize examples of various
materials being used for the same
design function
recognize the relationship
between choice of materials and
the design used
measure and compare the strength
of materials
distinguish between tensile and
compressive forces
identify points of tension and
compression in a structure
compare the strength of materials
7

8

9

10

recognize the role of ties and
linkages in adding to the overall
strength and stability of a
structure
describe the effects of the use of
different shapes on the strength
and stability of materials
see above
11

see above
Activity
Notes on structures,
design
Evaluation
Pg 78 – 79
Notes on design and
function and technology.
Lab on design
Notes on functions
Start rockets
Lab report
Notes on materials and
properties
Pg 94
Notes on load,
compression and tension
and lab
Lab report
Notes on metal fatigue
and alloys
Notes on beams and lab
Quiz on topics 1 & 2
Notes on types of beams
Pg 110
Notes on braces and
corrugation and lab
Notes on columns,
arches
Lab report
Pg 91
Pg 92
Lab report
Quiz on topics 3 & 4
12

13



14

recognize the role of ties and
linkages in adding to the overall
strength and stability of a
structure
identify environmental
implications of design decisions
recognize costs to be considered
in design
identify requirements of
structures built on earth and in
space
recognize similarities and
differences to construction used
on earth and in space
15
16
17
Unit Six: Evidence of Erosion
Notes on joints and
domes and lab
Lab report and pag 125
Notes on building in
space. Work on rockets
Work on rockets
Quiz on topics 5 & 6
Review
Launch rockets
Pg 138 – 139
Lab report
Unit test
4-5 weeks May-June
Students will examine changes in the surface of the earth that result from erosion and the transport and
deposition of material. Students will observe the variety of ways that gradual changes take place and then
consider the cumulative effects over a long period of time. This study will be applied to the local
landscape. Students will predict the effects of erosion on manmade structures and the problems that arise.
Lesson
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Technological Outcomes:
Objective
Activity
Notes on types of
changes, video of
geology
Notes on weathering and
lab
Notes on acid rain and
soil
Notes on erosion and lab
Notes on runoff and lab
Notes on wind erosion
Notes on sediment and
meanders
Field trip to top of hill
Notes on floodplains
and deltas
Notes on groundwater
and water table. Lab
Notes on glaciers
Video on glaciers
Notes on glacial
formations
Review
Review
Evaluation
Worksheet
Lab report
Pg 309
Lab report
Lab report
Lab report
Quiz on topics 1 & 2
Worksheet
Pg 325
Lab report
Quiz on topics 3 & 4
Worksheet
Worksheet
Pg 343
Pg 344 – 345
Unit exam
Students will:
1. Use the internet, science hotline and library books to research projects
2. Use word processing skills to type and edit reports
3. Use spreadsheet programs to make charts and graphs
4. Use science lab probes to measure, record and display data