Course Name: 7th Grade Science

 

Description of Course:

 

7th grade science is an integrated course covering topics in environmental science, biology, and chemistry.

 

Grading Scale:

 

Homework= 30%

Performance Assessments (Projects and Labs)= 30%

Quizzes/Tests = 40%

 

Resources:

 

Environmental Science (Pearson Prentice Hall)

Cells and Heredity (Pearson Prentice Hall)

Chemical Building Blocks (Pearson Prentice Hall)

 

 

Listing of Units:

 

Ecology:

The first unit in the 7th grade science curriculum covers matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems. Students will be able to describe the flow of energy between the living and nonliving part of the environment and how it is constantly being recycled throughout the ecosystem. They will also explore how both behavior and the environment effect the changes a population goes through.

 

Cells:

The second unit in the 7th grade science curriculum introduces cells as the building blocks of living organisms. Cell structure and functions are identified and compared amongst different organisms. As organisms become more complex, different levels of organization exist. We will also explore how organisms respond to stimuli.

 

Heredity:

The third unit in the 7th grade science curriculum is heredity. This unit describes the location and function of genes and how their expression creates the traits organisms possess. Further we will compare the variety associated with sexual reproduction versus asexual reproduction. The unit will be explored through the lens of how organisms have changed over time through natural and artificial selection.

 

Chemistry:

The fourth and final unit in the 7th grade science curriculum is Chemistry. The focus of this unit is on physical and chemical properties and changes of matter. Students will explore and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after they interact and construct tests to measure and identify the changes that took place.