SCIENCE

Grades 7 & 8

The science curriculum will focus on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which were developed by the National Academy of Sciences, Achieve, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Science Teachers Association in 2010.  NGSS are broken down into three dimensions within the Framework: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas.  Dimension 1: Practices centers around the major practices that scientists employ as they investigate and build models and theories about the world, as well as a key set of engineering practices that engineers use as they design and build systems.  Dimension 2: Crosscutting Concepts are the concepts that have applications across all domains of science (i.e., Patterns, Cause and Effect, Energy and Matter, Scale, Proportion, and Quantity).  Dimension 3: Disciplinary Core Ideas emphasize four main domains: the physical sciences, the life sciences, the earth and space sciences, and engineering, technology and applications of science.  Instruction will focus on the relationships among these domains as students explore scientific phenomena.

Grade 7 NGSS - Life/Earth                                    Grade 8 NGSS - Physical/Earth

Molecules to Organisms                                        Matter

Heredity                                                                    Motion and Stability

Biological Evolution                                                Energy

Earth's Place in the Universe                                 Earth's Systems

Earth's Systems                                                       Earth and Human Activity

Earth and Humanity Activity

As we continue throughout the 21st century, society needs scientifically literate citizens who can be effective and informed decision makers.  The Dodd Middle School Science Department enjoys helping students learn how to become successful learners and critical thinkers with a sense of responsibility to our global community.  These skills will be evaluated and linked to the Cheshire Public Schools Performance Standards. 

FAQ

What does the middle school science experience include?

A variety of activities, projects, research, and experimentation using laboratory equipment and various types of technology are key components of the middle school child’s science experience.  Learning content and how it applies to key scientific concepts and principles is emphasized.

What skills are students learning?

In the 7th and 8th grade curriculum, the skills students learn are:  observing, interpreting, comparing and contrasting, collecting data, analyzing, presenting data in various formats, writing scientifically, reading for understanding science concepts, and applying concepts to real world experiences.

Division Leader:  Danny Martins