What are we learning?
Identifying and modeling the factors that influence kinetic and gravitational energy.
Collecting data and representing that data to understand the relationships between the factors that influence energy.
Explaining the Law of Conservation of Energy in different examples
What to expect in this unit?
Students will be doing many labs in class with data analysis in class and at home.
Student will be analyzing the world to find different energy conservations. You can ask about different types of energies and the way they change at home.
Why does this unit matter?
The law of conservation of energy is present in all disciples of science as it influences change and interactions of all matter. We will spend time in the silo of physics throughout this unit and them circle back to energy transformation and conservation in every unit after this.
What are we learning?
Carrying out investigations to gather evidence of chemical reactions.
Using our gathered evidence to support our arguments of chemical reactions occuring.
Modeling the Law of Conservation of Mass in different formats and demonstrating it through investigations.
What to expect in this unit?
Students will be doing many labs regarding chemical reactions. With those we will be modeling the reactions in different ways.
Student will be using evidence in their writing and focusing on supporting and explaining their claims.
Why does this unit matter?
Chemical reactions are a regular part of our daily lives. Learning how matter interacts is a life skill and the Law of Conservation of Mass is applicable to human development and making a sandwich. The ability to support an argument is also going to be a skill that permeates all of the disciplines of science and content areas.
What are we learning?
Carry out an investigation to provide evidence and reasoning that living things are made of cells, organisms are made of different cells and cells come from pre-existing cells.
Making observations using patterns and then using those patterns as a form of data analysis.
What to expect in this unit?
Students will collect and analyze evidence using microscopes.
Students will use that evidence to support the parts of cell theory.
Why does this unit matter?
In the last unit we discussed the structure and function of cells. We are now looking at how our understanding of cells is driven by the evidence we receive through exploration. This information will give them prior knowledge leading into their genetics and chemistry units in 8th grade.
What are we learning?
Developing and using models to explain the role of different organelle of cells in regards to cellular function.
Differentiate between types of cells using their structure and function.
Use our models to demonstrate how the structure of a cell differs and relates to specialized functions of cells.
What to expect in this unit?
Students will have a summative early to explain a cell's function using a chosen system.
Students will be applying this understanding of organelle function to predict the function of specialized cells.
Why does this unit matter?
We know that organisms are made of cells, but at times the function of those does come to us. Our goal this unit is to know the structure and function of cells in our existence. It also sets up a basis for application of the law of conservation of mass in the upcoming unit and in 8th grade, they talk about macromolecules in our cells and where these take place. Helpful Hint: Cells make proteins.
What are we learning?
Develop a model to explain the greenhouse effect and the role of humans in the changing global temperatures.
Read and analyze data in order to ask questions to better understand the data.
Research different problems associated with climate change and ways to mitigate it.
What to expect in this unit?
Students will be working on data analysis skills and asking questions to read and analyze data.
Students will be doing a research project regarding problems associated with climate change and potential solutions.
Why does this unit matter?
The changing climate is a social and ecological issue of which we need to be informed. Being able to read and interpret data is also a skill that will help us move forward our understanding of information shared, but also more specifically about climate change. On a skills end, we will be emphasizing using non-textual evidence to support our claims.
What are we learning?
Developing and using models to evaluate factors that influence regional climates.
Understanding the role of uneven heating and rotation of the Earth influence movement of air and water.
What to expect in this unit?
Students will work on modeling skills.
Students will be applying this understanding to different locations on the Earth.
Why does this unit matter?
We are aware that different climates exist on the Earth, but being able to interpret models to understand mechanisms is a scientific skill that moves through our lives. With this we are evaluating air and water currents and how they interact to influence different climates regardless of their latitude lines and seasons.
What are we learning?
Explaining why seasons exist in a cyclical pattern and how differences in light intensity relate to differences in Earth’s climates. (Seasons)
Use models to examine how light intensity influences surface temperatures
What to expect in this unit?
Students will work on modeling skills.
Students will be applying this understanding to different locations on the Earth.
Why does this unit matter?
We use our understanding of the existence of seasons in order to develop an understanding as to why the seasons exist. We will also focus on light intensity and how the light intensity causes different temperatures on the Earth's surface. All of this information will feed into our understanding of other factors that influence seasons.