Grade 7 Science - In Revision to align with NGSS Science Standards

This course model arranges the Performance Expectations (PEs) outlined in the second year of the middle school conceptual progressions model of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into six different bundles of PEs using a phenomenon-based arrangement. The bundles in this model follow a conceptual flow throughout the year.

The first bundle focuses on sound production, travel, and detection. The second bundle looks at particle movement and transfer of energy. The third bundle focuses on gravity and Earth’s place in the solar system, the fourth’s focus is on transfer of energy and matter between Earth’s systems. The fifth and sixth focus on cells and body systems, and the fifth on growth and reproduction.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

Physical Science: Waves and their Application in Technologies for Information Transfer

• MS-PS4-1 Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.
• MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
• MS-PS4-3 Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information than analog signals.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

Physical Science: Matter and its Interactions

• MS-PS1-4 Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.

Physical Science: Energy

• MS-PS3-4 Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the sample.
• MS-PS3-5 Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.
• MS-PS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer.

Engineering Performance Expectations

• MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

Earth Science: Earth’s Place in the Universe

• MS-ESS1-1 Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
• MS-ESS1-2 Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system
• MS-ESS1-3 Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

Life Science: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

• MS-LS1-6 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and the flow of energy into and out of organisms.
• MS-LS1-7 Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.

Life Science: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

• MS-LS2-3 Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Engineering Performance Expectations

• MS-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
• MS-ETS1-4 Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

Life Science: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

• MS-LS1-1 Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells.
• MS-LS1-2 Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.
• MS-LS1-3 Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

Life Science: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

• MS-LS1-5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms

Life Science: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

• MS-LS3-1 Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism.
• MS-LS3-2 Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation.