Seventh Grade Science

Instructor: Mrs. Shannon West

Phone: 572-2680

E-mail: swest@stcatherineofsiena.org

Grade: 7

Credit:

Prerequisite:

Description:

Seventh Grade Science will allow the individual student to identify, investigate, and explain the physical and natural principles of our environment.  The course will include but not limited to the following topics: equipment identification and use, metric measurement, cell reproduction, classification of organisms, matter, and simple machines.  Seventh Grade Science prepares the students to view and appreciate science as an important part of their life.

Standards:

Upon completing the Seventh Grade Science course students should be able to:

• Identify and refine questions that can be answered through scientific investigations combined with scientific information.
• Use appropriate equipment, tools, techniques, technology, and mathematics in scientific investigations.
• Use evidence, logic, and scientific knowledge to develop scientific explanations.
• Design and conduct different kinds of scientific investigations to answer different kinds of questions.
• Communicate designs, procedures, and results of scientific investigations.
• Review and analyze scientific investigations and explanations of other students.
• Investigate characteristic properties of substances using the periodic table.
• Examine chemical reactions between substances, recognize that the total mass remains the same, and that substances are categorized by how they react.
• Recognize that elements do not break down during normal laboratory reactions and how elements combine to produce compounds.
• Investigate unity among organisms.
• Investigate biological adaptation and extinction.
• Demonstrate an understanding of classification systems of living organisms.
• Use taxonomy keys to identify various organisms.
• Identify various microorganisms-virus, bacteria, monerans, protests, and explain their function in an ecosystem.
• Identify basic cell structures and explain their processes.
• Observe and explain cell processes: mitosis, meiosis, photosynthesis, respiration.
• Determine specific threats to the immune system.
• Investigate structure and function of body systems.
• Model Earth’s layers.
• Demonstrate the rock cycle and examine characteristics of soils.
• Examine Earth’s processes and catastrophes.
• Examine evidence for changes in life and environmental conditions.

Grading:

Students will be evaluated on class assignments and activities including but not limited to the following:

• Notebook ( open response questions, entrance and exit questions, labs)
• Projects
• Tests/Quizzes
• Homework/ Participation

Course Content:

FIRST QUARTER

Science Inquiry and Characteristics of Living Things

Unit 1 The Study of Living Things (Life Science)

·        Chapter 1- Design and conduct experiments using the scientific method, use appropriate equipment to measure length, mass, volume, and density of items in SI units, compete in Metric Olympics, and investigate scientific work of Redi, Spallanzani, Pasteur, Oparin, and Miller.                                       2 weeks

Unit 3  Heredity, Evolution, and Classification (Life Science)

·        Chapter 9 Classification- Use common objects and classify by similar characteristics, use Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes to construct scientific names, construct a dichotomous key using leaves or twigs found locally, use the key to identify unknown trees (FIELD TRIP), use a guide to common insects of North America to classify unknown insect collected by students.            2 weeks

Unit 2 Cells (Life Science)

·        Chapter 3 Cells: The Basic Units of Life & Chapter 4 The Cell in Action- Observe the chicken egg as an example of a large singe cell, practice use of the compound microscope, model the organelles present in plant and animal cells, observe living plant cells and animal cells, experiment with photosynthesis and cellular respiration, illustrate the steps of mitosis and meiosis, and investigate DNA .  4 weeks   

Unit 3 Heredity, Evolution, and Classification (Life Science)

·        Chapter 7 The Evolution of Living Things- Demonstrate the process of natural selection using moths, use pennies to demonstrate radioactive decay, research the disappearance of the dinosaurs, and examine Charles Darwin.       1 week

SECOND QUARTER

Unit 3 Cont’d

·        Chapter 7 The Evolution of Living Things                             1 week

Unit 4 Simple Organisms, Fungi, and Plants (Life Science)

·        Chapter 10 Bacteria and Viruses- Examine forms of bacteria using a microscope, observe bacterial colonies collected from various sites through school, and research assigned diseases.                                                                         2 weeks

·        Chapter 11 Protists and Fungi- Collect water samples from local ponds and other water bodies to investigate different forms of protozoa, follow a recipe to make yogurt and explain the important use of bacteria in food production. 3 weeks

Unit 7 Human Body Systems (Life Science)                                    

·        Chapter 22 Body Organization and Structure- Investigate how the release of energy can cause a change in body temperature, chart fingernail growth, investigate the skeletal, muscular, and integumentary systems.                                  2 weeks

·        Chapter 23 Circulation and Respiration- Investigate the cardiovascular, lymphatic, and respiratory systems.                                                                        1 week

THIRD QUARTER

·        Frog Dissection and Lab Practical                                                      1 week

Unit 8 Human Health (Life Science)

·        Chapter 27 Body Defenses and Diseases- Make a model of antibodies, viruses, and microorganisms to demonstrate the effect on the immune system, and investigate how colds are passed by tracking the progress of an “outbreak” in the class.       2 weeks       

Unit 1 Introduction to Matter (Physical Science)

·        Chapter 1 The World of Physical Science- Investigate models and experiments using Physical Science, use a density column to analyze the effects density produces on various liquids and small objects, investigate the effects of temperature on the volume of a balloon.                                                                                          1 week  

Unit 4 The Atom (Physical Science)             

·        Chapter 12 The Periodic Table- Build models of atoms and isotopes of various elements, classify elements based on their chemical reactivity and increasing atomic number, and use the Periodic Table to determine atomic number and other characteristics.                                                                                     2 weeks

Unit 5 Interactions of Matter (Physical Science)

·        Chapter 14 Chemical Reactions- Participate in a lab activity designed to explain the law of conservation of mass and examine endothermic and exothermic reactions using chicken livers.                                                                            3 weeks

FOURTH QUARTER

Unit 4 Reshaping the Land (Earth Science)

·        Chapter 10 Weathering and Soil Formation-visit a career as a soil scientist, participate in lab on ice wedging, participate in lab on abrasion, investigate organisms that break down nutrients through composting.                3 weeks

·        Recycling/Composting Unit- visit Rumpke landfill                         2weeks

·        Energy Resources and Conservation (Earth Science)                   4 weeks