Curriculum Overview

Science

The curriculum for Science at the Mater Christi School is often described as “spiraling” because students investigate 3 areas of Science each year (Physical, Earth/Space, and Life). Students build their knowledge and skill base each year after a brief review from content presented the previous year. This allows students to receive more consistent exposure to the material than in a more traditional “single content area per year” model.

6th Grade

Students in Grade 6 begin the year with a study of Metric Unit measurement and basic dimensional analysis. Students continue their investigation of the Physical sciences by studying mechanical advantage, Newton’s Laws, simple machines, and some physical properties of matter (especially phase, mass, density, and volume). In the Earth and Space Science portion of the year, students investigate our solar system, the Sun, the planets, and the Earth/Moon System. Finally, during the final segment of the year, students study Ecology. Special emphasis is placed on investigating Biomes, the movement of energy through Ecosystems, and Evolution. Students in grade 6 also learn about Human reproduction and the development of the Embryo, as well as some basic introduction to DNA and genetic inheritance.

7th Grade

Students in grade 7 begin the year in the physical sciences by expanding their investigation of units and dimensional analysis, studying momentum, the properties of vector quantities like velocity, the classification of matter, and atomic structure. In Earth Sciences, 7th graders study plate tectonics, geology and earth systems, and Geologic time. Students also investigate several forms of alternative energy, fossil fuels, and natural resources. Finally, life science topics in the 7th grade focus on cellular structure and function, the process of Mitosis, and genetic inheritance. Students use Punnett squares to predict some basic dominant/recessive trait abundance, and they study the DNA molecule and its role in inheritance in greater depth.

8th Grade

8th Graders at MCS investigate some chemical properties of matter, the Periodic Table of the Elements, atomic structure, and chemical equations to begin their physical science for the year. Further work in the physical sciences allows students to study some basic kinematics and physics (for Example- using the falling body formula to investigate acceleration due to gravity). Students study systems with balances and unbalanced forces, and investigate the nature of several different forces. In Space Sciences, students study the Universe and Astronomy. The structure of the Universe and Galaxies, as well as the methods used to measure things like the large distances between stars. Students learn how scientists use the Electromagnetic spectrum to learn about the content of stars and their properties. In the Life Sciences, students learn about Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration and Human body homeostasis and disease. Cellular processes and human health are the final topics of the 8th grade year.