Science
The middle school science program allows students to investigate both the concepts and practices of Science and Engineering. At each grade level, topics in Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Engineering are interconnected to show students the relationships that exist between the sciences and the natural world. Inquiry and laboratory investigations are an integral part of the program. Problem solving and online investigations are used continually to allow students to investigate authentic problems and reinforce science concepts. The middle school science program was developed in part through a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant and reflects the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by the State of Maryland. High expectations and differentiated instruction allow all students a challenging and engaging access to science.
Investigations in Earth Science (IES 6)
The NGSS aligned Investigations in Earth Science course provides opportunities for students to engage in science and engineering practices and apply crosscutting concepts to deepen their understanding of core ideas across science disciplines. The curriculum is phenomena-based; instruction is woven around a relevant problem/project that drives student learning. Students apply their understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to propose solutions to problems. Instruction provides opportunities for hands-on explorations, productive discourse, and purposeful reading and writing. The course starts with a foundational approach to science instruction to develop student skills in the metric system, scientific method, and science and engineering practices, taught through the lens of stream ecology. Additional units include weather and climate, earth’s materials and processes, natural resources, and geologic history. Students are awarded 10 SSL hours for participating in activities built into the course.
Investigations in Earth Science
Unit 1: Watershed Science
Unit 2: Atmospheric Phenomena
Unit 3: Dynamic Earth
Unit 4: Earth’s Geologic Past
Unit 5: Earth’s Energy Resources and Human Impacts
Investigations in Life Science (ILS 7)
The NGSS aligned Investigations in Life course provides opportunities for students to engage in science and engineering practices and apply crosscutting concepts to deepen their understanding of core ideas across science disciplines. The curriculum is phenomena-based; instruction is woven around a relevant anchoring phenomenon/project that drives student learning. Students apply their understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to propose solutions to problems. Instruction provides opportunities for hands-on explorations, productive discourse, and purposeful reading and writing. The course engages students in learning around cellular structures and processes, matter and energy flow in organisms, inheritance and variation of traits, ecology, and biological evolution.
Investigations in Life Science (ILS 7)
Unit 1: Cellular Structures and Processes
Unit 2: Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
Unit 3: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Unit 4: Evolution
Unit 5: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, & Dynamics
Investigations in Science (IS 8)
IS8 is a problem/project-based curriculum. Instruction is interwoven around a relevant problem/project to allow a focus for student learning. Students engage in minds-on inquiry and hands-on explorations, productive discourse, and purposeful reading and writing. Units studied in IS8 center around topics related to Forces and Motion, Astronomy, Weather and Climate, and Earth’s Materials and Processes. Students engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in order to propose solutions to identified problems.