COURSES
5 Science
6 Science
7 Science
8 Science
Living Environment: 1 credit
5 SCIENCE
5th grade science is transitioning to the Next Generation Science Standards, which are based on three dimensions; crosscutting concepts, core ideas, and science and engineering practices. We begin our curriculum with a unit on scientific inquiry and practice the scientific method. Other units of study are microworlds, ecosystems, Earth’s systems, and matter and energy.
6 SCIENCE
Our 6th grade science curriculum is transitioning to the Next Generation Science Standards. Based on inquiry, focus is placed upon the causes of catastrophic events, scientific phenomena, and the experiments to support the explanations of Earth’s systems and cycles. Our students learn about atmospheric events including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and blizzards within the context of weather and climate. The history of our earth is taught through the understanding of geological events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, and avalanches. Students learn about space systems, gravity, the motion of the earth, the sun, and the moon and scaled properties of the solar system. Human impact on the environment, uneven distribution of Earth’s resources, and the human consumption of natural resources round out the curriculum.
7 SCIENCE
7th grade science explores chemistry and physics. Based on inquiry, focus is placed upon scientific phenomena and experiments to support the explanations of the following: structures and properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces, motion, energy, waves and electromagnetic radiation.
8 SCIENCE
Grade 8 Science explores life science. Based on inquiry, focus is placed upon scientific phenomena and experiments to support the explanations of the following: structure and function in organisms, matter and energy in ecosystems, relationships in ecosystems, growth and development in organisms, adaptation and natural selection.
LIVING ENVIRONMENT
1 credit
8th grade students, who qualify, are offered the opportunity to take Regents Living Environment. These students will be taught both Regents Living Environment, and 8 Science, in one year in a condensed course. In the spring of 8th grade they will take the Living Environment Regents exam and, if successful, earn 1 high school science credit. Both the course grade and the Regents exam grade for the course will go on their high school transcripts.