7th Grade Life Science
Middle School Life Science Course Syllabus
Challenge to Excellence
2018-2019
Quarter 1
Unit 1: Introduction to Life Science and Science Safety
- Describe characteristics of all living things.
- Practice safe procedures in the science laboratory.
Unit 2: Cells
- Describe the major organelles and their functions.
- Differentiate between plant cells, animals cells, and single-celled organisms.
- Describe the processes of cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
Unit 3: Reproduction
- Differentiate between sexual and asexual reproduction.
- Describe how new cells are formed through mitosis, meiosis, and fertilization.
- Describe the basic structure of DNA and its location within the cell.
Quarter 2
Unit 4: Heredity and Genetics
- Explain how genetic information is transmitted to the next generation.
- Predict phenotype and genotype of offspring based on the genotype of the parents.
- Interpret data on the transmission of genetic information.
Unit 5: Evolution and Change
- Develop and explanation for why a given organism with specific traits will or will not survive in a given environment.
- Model survival and reproductive success associated with specific traits in a given environment using simulations.
- Interpret and analyze data from the fossil record to support a claim that organisms and environments have changed over time.
- Research and critique the evidence regarding the causes and effects of a mass extinction event.
Quarter 3
Unit 6: Organism Relationships
- Compare and contrast the flow of energy with the cycling of matter in ecosystems.
- Describe the relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers.
- Design and describe how energy flows through a food web.
Unit 7: Biomes
- Describe the climate and locations of earth’s major biomes.
Unit 8: Environmental Issues
- Interpret and analyze data about changes in environmental conditions that affect populations in an ecosystem.
- Give examples of how humans can alter ecosystems.
- Identify bias in a variety of media when researching environmental issues.
Quarter 4
Unit 9: Human Body
- Describe the structure and function of systems in the human body.