SCIENCE CURRICULUM

7th Grade - Water Pollution Unit 

Unit Overview 

In this unit, students will delve into the basics of the scientific method, lab safety, and the metric system. Then, they will explore atomic structure through online and tactile modeling activities, learning how to represent matter using element symbols in the process. The next segment of the unit will enable students to classify matter into atoms and molecules and pure substances and mixtures. Students will perform labs and online investigations to learn about properties, states of matter, and physical and chemical properties. Lastly, students will apply their knowledge of chemistry to a real-world scenario by cleaning “polluted” water using methods of separation and classifying its components using physical and chemical properties.

Unit Learning Outcomes 

After completing the water pollution unit, students should be well-versed in the scientific method, lab safety measures, and the metric system. They should identify the subatomic particles of atoms and represent them using element symbols. Students should also be able to distinguish between atoms and molecules and pure substances and mixtures. They should be able to list the states of matter and identify the chemical and physical properties of matter. Lastly, students should be able to design and perform simple experiments to test hypotheses and answer research questions.

Resources

• Facilitator Guide 

• Curriculum-based BIT 

• Walkthrough Video 

• Unit Lesson Plans 

Science Curriculum User's Guide - This guide is intended for site directors, instructional coaches, and teaching fellows - read before you teach any Breakthrough science unit.

Materials Lists (Grades 7, 8, 9) - Use these lists to gather specific materials for each lesson, including labs. Many of the materials listed can be borrowed from a host school or gathered by site staff, so think creatively before you order!

Additional 6th Grade Science Units

6th Grade Science (Saving Wonder with Science) - This curriculum focuses on answering the essential question: How does my community need me to think differently? It is broken down into three units: Metric, Matter, and Energy. 

7th GRADE

7th Grade Science unit map - This unit map covers all 7th grade units - foundational skills, global infectious disease, and water scarcity. You can edit the order to best match your program and student needs.

7th Grade Science (Infectious Disease & Water Scarcity) - This contains 24 lessons, broken into 3 mini-units. The lessons start off with a foundational skills to cover lab safety procedures and science and engineering practices. The next unit on global infectious disease focuses on the etiology of an infectious disease. The final unit focuses on the causes and effects of drought.

Additional 7th Grade Science Units

These units were constructed by Patty Carr, BT Houston Instructional Coach.

7th Grade (Life Science) - This curriculum was shared by Breakthrough Houston and contains 22 lessons, broken into 7 units about the human body systems. 

8th GRADE

8th Grade Science unit map - This unit map covers all 8th grade units - foundational skills, GMOs/genetics, and sustainable oceans.

8th Grade Science (GMOs and Genetics & Sustainable Oceans) - This contains 23 lessons, broken into 3 mini-units. The lessons start off with a review of lab safety procedures and science and engineering practices. The next unit on GMOs and genetics introduces basic concepts related to heredity. In the final unit, students consider the human impacts on marine ecosystems and learn about steps that have been taken to protect marine life.

9th GRADE

9th Grade Science unit map - This unit map covers all 9th grade units - foundational skills, GMOS and genetics, and sustainable oceans. Edit as needed to meet your program and student needs.

9th Grade Science (Alternative Energy Sources & Earthquakes) - This contains 22 lessons, broken into 3 mini-units. The lessons start off with a review of lab safety procedures and science and engineering practices. The next unit gives students an opportunity to learn about varied sources of energy and how energy is used in different parts of the world. The final unit explores earthquakes, looking at the physics of and economic, social, and architectural impact of the phenomena.

Science Assessments (Grades 7, 8, 9) - These are the pre- and post-tests for each grade (7,8, and 9) along with answer keys. Each grade's assessments are also located in their grade-specific folder.

Lab Report Template - This is an editable lab report template for students.

Additional 9th Grade Science Units

These units were constructed by Sadia Aziz, BT Kent Denver Instructional Coach. To see all of these materials in one folder, click here. 

9th GRADE BIOLOGY

Biology User Guide - This document reviews the overall structure and content of the lessons and unit.

Biology Unit Overview & Materials List - This provides an overview of each lesson's objective, Next Generation Science Standards addressed, and the materials needed for each lesson. 

9th Grade Biology Unit - This folder contains the 20-lesson unit. Each lesson plan is laid out in Google slides, and the lessons are scaffolded to allow for Teaching Fellows to design more of each lesson as the summer goes on.

9th GRADE CHEMISTRY

Chemistry User Guide - This document reviews the overall structure and content of the lessons and unit.

Chemistry Unit Overview & Materials List - This provides an overview of each lesson's objective, Next Generation Science Standards addressed, and the materials needed for each lesson. 

9th Grade Chemistry Unit - This folder contains the 20-lesson unit. Each lesson plan is laid out in Google slides, and the lessons are scaffolded to allow for Teaching Fellows to design more of each lesson as the summer goes on.

9th GRADE LIFE SCIENCE

Life Science User Guide - This document reviews the overall structure and content of the lessons and unit.

Life Science Unit Overview & Materials List - This provides an overview of each lesson's objective, Next Generation Science Standards addressed, and the materials needed for each lesson. 

9th Grade Life Science Unit - This folder contains the 20-lesson unit. Each lesson plan is laid out in Google slides, and the lessons are scaffolded to allow for Teaching Fellows to design more of each lesson as the summer goes on.

Courseware Guidance - Each unit maps to a Courseware Course. This document provides guidance on how staff can access these materials.