Course Title/Number

Course Title/Number: 7th Grade Science

Date of Last Revision: 05/28/09

Committee Members: Sara Dunlap, Dick Johnson & Corie Williams

. Required Texts/Materials: 1st 9 weeks: The Changing Earth McDougal-Littell ISBN# 0-618-33424-6 2nd 9 weeks: Earth’s Surface, McDougal-Littell ISBN# 0-618-33419-X 3rd 9 weeks: Cells & Heredity McDougal-Littell ISBN# 0-618-33427-D 4th 9 weeks: Ecology McDougal-Littell ISBN# 0-618-33429-7

Course Description: The Northside Middle School seventh grade science curriculum uses an integrated approach to general science that focuses on environmental sciences, life science, and Earth science. This design allows the staff to meet the needs of the individual student while aligning with the India Hands on activities are stressed and include student discovery, laboratory experiments, problem solving, model building, cooperative learning, computer usage, classroom discussion, teacher demonstrations, and writing opportunities for research and self-expression. Interdisciplinary subject areas are incorporated whenever possible. Students are introduced to the use of scientific tools and methods used for investigations. Following this exposure to scientific inquiry, students study Earth's surface, Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tectonic forces. Next they move on to the inside of the Earth, rocks, minerals, and how they are formed. The second semester leads them through life science, cells, and immunization. The last quarter ties together all areas through ecology and environmental studies. Most importantly we try to help the students realize the close connection between studying science and their own lives.

7th Grade Science Page 1 Revised 5/28/09 Course Overview: Indiana Academic Time Unit Sub-Units Standards Frame The Scientific Method Measurement & Equipment 7.1.3, 7.2.1, 7.2.6 7.1.4, 7.2.4, 7.2.5, 7.2.7, Lab Reporting 7.5.1, 7.5.2, 7.5.3, 7.5.4, 3 – 4 weeks 7.7.4 Scientific Method 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.4, 7.2.3

The Earths Surface Minerals 7.1.4, 7.1.7, 7.2.7 7.1.3, 7.1.4, 7.1.7, 7.2.7, Rocks 7.3.7, 7.3.8, 7.3.9, 7.3.10, 5-6 weeks 7.5.2, 7.1.7, 7.1.8, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, Weathering & Soil Formation 7.3.7, 7.3.12, 7.4.2, 7.4.9, 7.5.3 7.2.3, 7.3.7, 7.3.17, 7.2.7, Erosion & Deposition 7.3.7, 7.7.3

7.1.1-7.1.2, 7.1.4-7.1.5, Inside Earth/The 7.1.7, 7.1.107.3.3-7.3.5, Plate Tectonics Changing Earth 7.3.7, 7.3.10, 8.1.1, 8.2.1, 8.2.3, 8.3.1-8.3.4, 7.1.3, 7.1.5, 7.1.7, 7.1.9, Earthquakes 5-6 weeks 7.2.3, 7.3.7 7.1.7, 7.2.2, 7.3.3, 7.3.4, Mountains & Volcanoes 7.3.6, 7.3.7 The Earth’s Past 7.1.1-7.17, 7.1.10, 7.3.10 7.1.7-7.1.9, 7.2.3, 7.3.15, Natural Resources 7.3.16, 8.3.6-8.3.7

Ecology Ecosystems and Biomes 7.4.6-7.4.9 8 weeks Interactions within Ecosystems Human Impact on Ecosystems

Unit 1 The Scientific Method Unit Time Frame: 4 weeks Problem Scenario:

Manufacturing and shipping. How to package, mass versus volume, cost, distance to destination.

7th Grade Science Page 2 Revised 5/28/09 Sub-Unit: Measurement & Equipment Sub-Unit Time Frame: 2-3 weeks Task 1: Measuring length, mass, and volume with a variety of equipment. Task 2: Converting between metric units. Task 3: Matching equipment to desired measure. Task 4: Graphing measurements on graph paper and with Microsoft Exel. Task 5: Interpreting graphs. Task 6: Interpreting the degree of precision of a measuring device. Task 7: Calculating volume, area, and density from measurements. Task 8: Calculating percent composition and

Sub-Unit: Lab Reporting Sub-Unit Time Frame: 1 week Task 1: Developing testable questions. Task 2: Differentiating between manipulated and controlled variable. Task 3: Using the identified variables to develop a hyposthesis. Task 4: Designing and conducting experiments. Task 5: Collecting and recording data. Task 6: Analyzing data in relationship to the question and the hypothesis.

7th Grade Science Page 3 Revised 5/28/09 Unit 2 The Changing Earth Unit Time Frame: 10 weeks

Problem Scenario: Students must make an Earthquake preparedness plan to protect their families, homes, and communities in the event of a major earthquake.

Sub-Unit: Plate Tectonics Sub-unit Time Frame: 3 weeks

Task 1: Graham cracker lab Task 2: Sea floor spreading/sea floor trenches Task 3: Pangea puzzles Task 4: Convection current activity Task 5: Drawing of boundaries Task 6: Density activity Task 7: Layers of the Earth

Sub-Unit: Earthquakes Sub-unit Time Frame: 2.5 weeks

Task 1: Fault models Task 2: Modeling waves/slinkies Task 3: Fault boundaries with clay Task 4: Sources of Earthquakes Task 5: Magnitude and intensity activities Task 6: Which structure withstands an Earthquake the best Earthquake home security Task 7:

Sub-Unit: Volcanoes Sub-unit Time Frame: 2.5 weeks Task 1: Types of volcanoes Task 2: Volcano locations Task 3: Technology used to monitor and predict Task 4: Types of lava Task 5: Environmental affects Task 6: Volcanic preparedness Sub-Unit: Earth’s Time Sub-unit Time Frame: 2 weeks Task 1: Webquest on Fossil for Indiana Task 2: Timeline of Earth events Task 3: Fossil Station Lab Task 4: Finding Clues to Rock Layers Task 5: Environmental affects Task 6: Volcanic preparedness

7th Grade Science Page 4 Revised 5/28/09 Unit 3 The Earth’s Surface Unit Time Frame: 7 weeks

Problem Scenario: Students are given sets of minerals and must discover ways to classify and identify using various techniques.

Sub-Unit: Minerals Sub-unit Time Frame: 2- 3 weeks

Task 1: Textbook Scavenger Hunt Task 2: Pre-Lab Investigation: Minerals Task 3: Mineral Identification Lab

Sub-Unit: Rocks Sub-unit Time Frame: 2 -3 weeks Task 1: Rock Study Guide Task 2: A Rock is Born Task 3: Rock Webquest Task 4: Rock Collecting Task 5: Rock Cycle Diagraming Task 6: Classy Rocks Task 7: Metamorphic Changes

Sub-Unit: Weathering, Soil, Erosion, & Deposition Sub-unit Time Frame: 1 week Task 1: Stereoscope Lab Task 2: Reading Stations Task 3: Webquest for different types of weathering

7th Grade Science Page 5 Revised 5/28/09 Unit 4: Cells & Immunology Unit time frame: 9 weeks Problem Scenario: There is an outbreak of a virus in your area what steps should be taken to ensure containment and treatment.

Sub-Unit: Plant & Animal Cells Sub-Unit Time Frame: 6 weeks Task 1: Textbook Hunt Task 2: Pre-Lab: Microscopes Task 3: Microscope Lab Task 4: Diffusion Lab Task 5: Plant and Animal Cell Diagramming Task 6: Children’s Books/Matching Cards

Sub-Unit: Immunology Sub-Unit Time Frame: 2 weeks Task 1: Immune System Puzzle Task 2: Infectious Disease Wanted Posters Task 3: Infectious Disease Research/Disease Control Task 4: Glow-Germ/Disease Spreading

Sub-Unit: Cell Division Sub-Unit Time Frame: 1 week Task 1: Cell Cycle/Division Foldable Task 2: Cell Division Webquest Task 3: Mitosis Song

Unit 5: Ecology Unit Time Frame: 9 weeks Problem Scenario: Students pick an environmental issue, develop a plan to implement a change and carry-out the plan.

Sub-Unit: Basics of Ecology Sub-Unit Time Frame: 3 weeks Task 1: Textbook Scavenger Hunt Task 2: Temperature Activity Task 3: Food Web and Food Chain Station Activity Task 4: Human Food Web Activity

Sub-Unit: The Natural Cycles Sub-Unit Time Frame: 2 weeks Task 1: Water Cycle Station Activity Task 2: Water Cycle Demonstration Task 3: Moebius Strips for the 3 natural cycles

Sub-Unit: Biomes Sub-Unit Time Frame: 3 weeks Task 1: Biome Pop-Up Books Task 2: Symbiosis Matching Activity Task 3: Succession Story/Illustrations *1 week spent on team interdisciplinary projects.

7th Grade Science Page 6 Revised 5/28/09 7th Grade Science Page 7 Revised 5/28/09