Curricullum

This builds upon concepts from 6th grade.

** Inquiry ** Students will design and conduct investigations that will lead to descriptions of relationships between evidence and explanations
 * Formulate testable questions that lead to predictions and scientific investigations
 * o If and Then statements Cause and Effect
 * o Use dependent (responding) and independent (manipulated) variables
 * o Demonstrate correct techniques
 * o Apply appropriate mathematical concepts
 * Design and conduct logical and sequential investigations including repeated trials
 * Determine controls and variables
 * Select and use equipment appropriate to the investigation

** Physical Science ** Students will identify and describe the particulate nature of matter including physical and chemical interactions
 * Compare and contrast elements, compounds, and mixtures
 * o Define element
 * o Define compound
 * o Define mixture
 * o Compare and contrast physical and chemical
 * o Solids
 * o Liquids
 * o Gases
 * o Effects of temperature on states of matter
 * o Phase changes
 * o Flammability and Reactivity
 * o Malleability, Density, Ductility, Solubility, State, Thermal Conductivity
 * o Matter changes form but is not destroyed: Chemical composition
 * o Define density
 * o Calculate density
 * o Compare density of different materials
 * Describe properties of matter
 * Recognizing states of matter
 * Compare and contrast states of matter properties
 * Distinguish between physical and chemical changes
 * Recognize conservation of matter in physical and chemical changes
 * Classify substances based on physical properties


 * Students will recognize that the color seen depends on the properties of the surface and the color of the available light sources. **
 * Recognize that to see an object, light from the surface of the object must enter the eye; the color seen depends on the properties of the properties of the surface and the color of the available light sources
 * o Vocabulary
 * Ø Refraction
 * Ø Diffraction
 * Ø EM spectrum
 * Ø Visible light
 * Ø Ultraviolet
 * Ø Infrared light
 * Ø X-ray
 * o Calculate the speed of a wave
 * o Compare and contrast all types of radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum
 * o Demonstrate how refraction and diffraction separates white light into colors
 * o Differentiate how a material reflects, transmits, or absorbs light
 * o Explain how the color of an object is determined

Life Science


 * Students will investigate and describe the structure and function of living organisms **
 * Students will investigate and describe the structure and function of living organisms
 * o Compare and contrast the complex
 * Ø Cells
 * Ø Tissues
 * Ø Organs
 * Ø Organ systems
 * Ø Organisms
 * o Cite evidence for cell composition and development
 * Ø Distinguish between one cell and multi-cellular organisms
 * Ø Life cycle of a cell
 * § Growth
 * § Division (mitosis)
 * § Energy use (respiration)
 * § Diffusion
 * o Categorize specialized cells and their functions
 * Ø Animal/Plant
 * Ø Muscle: smooth, cardiac, skeletal
 * Ø Nerve: axons, dendrites, signal direction
 * Ø Bone
 * Ø Skin
 * o Identify the organs and functions of major systems of human body and describe ways that these systems interact with each other
 * Ø Skeletal system
 * Ø Name 23 major bones
 * Ø Muscular system
 * Ø Name 10 major muscles
 * Ø Digestive system
 * Ø Identify chemical and physical digestive
 * Ø Integumentary skin
 * Ø Know dermis and epidermis layers
 * Ø Respiratory system
 * Ø Understand exchange of gases
 * Ø Circulatory system
 * Ø Pulmonary and systemic circulatory systems
 * Ø Nervous system
 * Ø PNS CNS
 * Ø Five senses: associate to sound and light


 * Students will investigate and describe the relationship between reproduction and heredity **
 * Recognize that hereditary information is contained in genes within the chromosomes of each cell
 * o Genes
 * Ø Dominant
 * Ø Recessive
 * Ø Heterozygous
 * Ø Homozygous
 * o Chromosomes
 * o Mendel
 * o Protein synthesis
 * o Sexual reproduction
 * o Asexual reproduction
 * o Meiosis
 * o Advantages/Disadvantages
 * Compare and contrast sexual and asexual reproduction


 * Students will identify characteristics of organisms that help them survive **
 * Infer similarities and differences among organisms
 * o Features of organisms

Earth Science


 * Students will investigate and describe Earth’s structure, systems, and processes **
 * Describe the mixture of gasses in Earth’s atmosphere and gasses in Earth’s atmosphere and how the atmosphere’s properties change at different elevations
 * o Stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
 * o Associate to gas behavior


 * Students will investigate and describe energy in Earth’s systems **
 * Identify factors that influence daily and seasonal changes on Earth
 * o Tilt of Earth, humidity, air pressure, air masses
 * o Air masses
 * o Jet stream
 * o Convection
 * o Conduction
 * Describe atmospheric movements that influence weather and climate