Grade 6 Science

Course Standards and Proficiencies

Course Overview

The focus of the science curriculum is to develop scientifically literate students who understand how science, math, technology, and society influence one another. Furthermore, the curriculum has been designed to assist students to be able to use this knowledge in their everyday decision making. By participating in a hands-on, minds-on, activity-based program, students are provided with numerous opportunities to truly experience the world of science, and to use higher order thinking skills.

Course Content Standards

All students will:

• develop problem-solving, decision-making and inquiry skills, reflected by formulating usable questions and hypotheses, planning experiments, conducting systematic observations, interpreting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.
• develop an understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology, and how major discoveries and events have advanced science and technology.
• integrate mathematics as a tool for problem-solving in science, and as a means of expressing and/or modeling scientific theories.
• understand the interrelationships between science and technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and process of technology.
• gain an understanding of the structure and behavior of matter.
• gain an understanding of the structure, dynamics, and geophysical systems of the earth.
• gain an understanding of the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe.
• develop an understanding of the environment as a system of interdependent components affected by human activity and natural phenomena.

Course Skill Proficiencies

The student will be able to:

1. ask and write investigative questions.

2. gather information through observations.

3. estimate and measure using standard metric units.

4. make inferences based on observations.

5. compare and contrast the ways in which objects or events are

similar or different.

6. classify objects or events based upon similarities and differences.

7. collect, organize, record, and interpret data.

8. make predictions based upon prior experiences.

9. develop hypotheses which can be tested.

10. control variables that may affect the outcome of an event.

11. make and use diagrams, data tables, and graphs to help interpret

data.

12. analyze information carefully by looking for patterns and trends in

data.

13. draw conclusions based on analysis of data collected.

14. make models to explain ideas.

15. research information using books, magazines, newspapers, and

the internet.

16. communicate information verbally and in writing.

17. use space/time relationships to explain how events change with

time.

Texts

Environmental Science

Introduction to Matter

Inside the Restless Earth

Astronomy

Evaluation and Assessment

Students will be evaluated and assessed on the following criteria:

• tests, quizzes
• projects
• notebooks
• regular completion of homework
• frequent, thoughtful class participation
• preparedness for class

Grade 7 Science

Course Standards and Proficiencies

Course Overview

The focus of the science curriculum is to develop scientifically literate students who understand how science, math, technology, and society influence one another. Furthermore, the curriculum has been designed to assist students to be able to use this knowledge in their everyday decision making. By participating in a hands-on, minds-on, activity-based program, students are provided with numerous opportunities to truly experience the world of science, and to use higher order thinking skills.

Course Content Standards

All students will:

• develop problem-solving, decision-making and inquiry skills, reflected by formulating usable questions and hypotheses, planning experiments, conducting systematic observations, interpreting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.
• develop an understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology, and how major discoveries and events have advanced science and technology.
• integrate mathematics as a tool for problem-solving in science, and as a means of expressing and/or modeling scientific theories.
• understand the interrelationships between science and technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and process of technology.
• gain an understanding of the structure, characteristics, and basic needs of organisms and will investigate the diversity of life.
• gain an understanding of the structure, dynamics, and geophysical systems of the earth.
• develop an understanding of the environment as a system of interdependent components affected by human activity and natural phenomena.
• gain an understanding of natural laws as they apply to energy and energy transformations.

Course Skill Proficiencies

The student will be able to:

1. ask and write investigative questions.

2. gather information through observations.

3. estimate and measure using standard metric units.

4. make inferences based on observations.

5. compare and contrast the ways in which objects or events are

similar or different.

6. classify objects or events based upon similarities and differences.

7. collect, organize, record, and interpret data.

8. make predictions based upon prior experiences.

9. develop hypotheses which can be tested.

10. control variables that may affect the outcome of an event.

11. make and use diagrams, data tables, and graphs to help interpret

data.

12. analyze information carefully by looking for patterns and trends in

data.

13. draw conclusions based on analysis of data collected.

14. make models to explain ideas.

15. research information using books, magazines, newspapers, and

the internet.

16. communicate information verbally and in writing.

17. use space/time relationships to explain how events change with

time.

Texts

Cells, Heredity, and Classification

Animals

Microorganisms, Fungi, and Plants

Water on Earth

Earth’s Changing Surface

Sound and Light

Evaluation and Assessment

Students will be evaluated and assessed on the following criteria:

• Frequent, thoughtful participation in class discussions and activities.
• Homework completion on time, with evidence of quality and effort.
• Thorough completion of class work and lab reports.
• Projects, verbal presentations, quizzes, and tests.
• Organized and complete notebooks.

Grade 8 Science

Course Standards and Proficiencies

Course Overview

The focus of the science curriculum is to develop scientifically literate students who understand how science, math, technology, and society influence one another. Our goal is for students to be able to construct knowledge by participating in a hands-on, minds-on, activity-based program. Students are provided with numerous opportunities to truly experience the world of science as they use higher order thinking skills and make connections to everyday life.

Course Content Standards

All students will:

• develop problem-solving, decision-making and inquiry skills, reflected by formulating usable questions and hypotheses, planning experiments, conducting systematic observations, interpreting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.
• develop an understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology, and how major discoveries and events have advanced science and technology.
• integrate mathematics as a tool for problem-solving in science, and as a means of expressing and/or modeling scientific theories.
• understand the interrelationships between science and technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and process of technology.
• gain an understanding of the structure and behavior of matter.
• gain an understanding of natural laws as they apply to motion, forces, and energy transformations.
• gain an understanding of the structure, dynamics, and geophysical systems of the earth.
• gain an understanding of the structure, characteristics, and basic needs of organisms and will investigate the diversity of life.

Course Skill Proficiencies

The student will be able to:

1. ask and write investigative questions.

2. gather information through observations.

3. estimate and measure using standard metric units.

4. make inferences based on observations.

5. compare and contrast the ways in which objects or events are

similar or different.

6. classify objects or events based upon similarities and differences.

7. collect, organize, record, and interpret data.

8. make predictions based upon prior experiences.

9. develop hypotheses which can be tested.

10. control variables that may affect the outcome of an event.

11. make and use diagrams, data tables, and graphs to help interpret

data.

12. analyze information carefully by looking for patterns and trends in

data.

13. draw conclusions based on analysis of data collected.

14. make models to explain ideas.

15. research information using books, magazines, newspapers, and

the internet.

16. communicate information verbally and in writing.

17. use space/time relationships to explain how events change with

time.

Texts

Weather and Climate

Forces, Motion, and Energy

Interactions of Matter

Human Body Systems and Health

Evaluation and Assessment

Students will be evaluated and assessed on the following criteria:

• Frequent, thoughtful participation in class discussions and activities.
• Homework completion on time, with evidence of quality and effort.
• Thorough completion of class work and lab reports.
• Projects, verbal presentations, quizzes, and tests.
• Organized and complete notebooks.