Grade 6-8 Science Courses
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Grade 6 Science
Unit
Topics
3-Day Cycles*
1
Physical Science Introduction:
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Lab safety, equipment, science practices, Claims, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) introduction
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Density
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Matter
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Elements, minerals, rocks
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Heat Transfer, conduction, convection, radiation
6
2
Earth Systems:
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Earth’s interior
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Rock cycle
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Earth’s surface processes; Weathering, deposition, erosion
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Plate tectonics, continental drift, continental shapes, sea floor structures, fossil records (what are fossils, how are they made)
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Weathering, erosion, deposition
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Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis
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Geologic time
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Distribution of Earth’s resources (mineral, energy, groundwater)
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Effect of human population and resource consumption, Monitoring and minimizing human impact (Note: Will move to unit 1 in the future)
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Monitoring and minimizing human impact (global challenge)
10
3
Weather & Climate:
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Water cycle
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Climates
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Weather, currents, severe weather
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Global warming
4
4
Astronomy:
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Lunar phases
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Seasons
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Eclipses
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Planetary Motion
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Scale of plantery objects
4
Grade 7 Science
Grade 7 focuses on Life Science topics. An outline of course topics is as follows:
SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
Unit/Topic/Skill
Suggested Time Frame
Notes
Unit 1: The Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry
MP1: 2 cycles
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The Nature of Science
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Observation v. Inference
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Lab Safety.
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Includes time for beginning-of-year activities [e.g., classroom rules, get-to-know-you activities, notebook set-up, etc.]
Unit 2: Scientific Argumentation
MP1: 1 cycle
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER)
Unit 3: From Molecules to Organisms Part A
MP1: 2 cycles
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Characteristics of Life
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Use of the Microscope
Unit 4: From Molecules to Organisms Part B
MP1: 2 cycles
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Biomolecules
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Cell Structure and Function
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Cell Models and Analogies
Unit 5 From Molecules to Organisms Part C
MP2: 2 cycles
Cell Transport, including an engineering design activity
Unit 6: Organization for Matter & Energy Flow in Organisms
MP2: 2 cycles
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Photosynthesis
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Cellular Respiration
Unit 7: Growth, Development, Reproduction of Organisms
MP2: 2 cycles
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Asexual and sexual reproduction
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Factors affecting reproductive success
Unit 8: Inheritance & Variation of Traits Part A
MP3: 2 cycles
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DNA
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Traits
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Mutations and their effects on proteins
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Human Genetics Disorder Project
Unit 9: Inheritance & Variation of Traits Part B
MP3: 2 cycles
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Genetics Traits
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Heredity
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Punnett Squares
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Human Genetics Disorder Project
Unit 10: Body Systems
MP3: 2 cycles
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Levels of Organization of Life
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Body systems, with emphasis on the Digestive and Nervous Systems
Unit 11: Matter & Energy in Organisms & Ecosystems, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
MP4: 2 cycles
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Biotic and Abiotic Factors
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Food Chains & Webs
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Limiting and other factors that affect the health of an ecosystem
Unit 12: Evidence of Common Ancestry
MP4: 2 cycles
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Fossil Record
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Patterns in anatomical structures
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Similarities in embryonic development
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DNA evidence
Unit 13: Adaptation and Natural Selection
MP4: 2 cycles
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Theory of evolution by natural selection
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Artificial selection
Grade 8 Science
Grade 8 focuses on Physical Science, which includes an introduction to both physics and chemistry. An outline of course topics is as follows:
Unit
Topics
3-Day Cycles*
1
Lab Safety & Science Practices:
Lab safety and equipment, Claims, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) introduction3
2
Part A: Forces & Motion:
Describing motion, balanced and unbalanced forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion4
Part B: Types of interactions:
Gravitational, electric & magnetic forces, electric & magnetic fields2
3
Part A: Structure & Properties of Matter:
Atoms, physical properties and changes of matter, pure substances & mixtures, synthetic materials and polymers3
Part B: Interactions of Matter:
Molecules, chemical properties & changes, signs of a chemical change, Law of Conservation of Mass2
4
Part A: The Energy of Chemical Processes (Thermochemistry)
States of matter & phase changes, temperature & particle motion, endothermic and exothermic reactions, thermal & kinetic energy, transfer of thermal energy (conduction, convection, radiation)4
Part B: The Energy of Physical Processes (Types of Energy):
Kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy3
5
Part A: Mechanical Waves:
Wave properties & behavior, sound waves2
Part B: Electromagnetic Waves:
Light waves, colors, waves for communication2
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