Grade 7 Science

Scope

The seventh-grade science curriculum is based on the Next Generation of Science Standards for Middle Schools in New York State. We teach these particular units in 7th grade because they provide our students with the necessary foundation and background knowledge needed for a basic understanding of the Scientific Process and Life Science.  The units, including the Scientific Method, Characteristics of Living Things, Cells, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, and Human Body Systems, enable us to accomplish this goal.

Rationale

Our units enable students to practice science skills and apply the content they have learned to the world around them. Hands-on activities will be used to give students opportunities to maximize their scientific knowledge. ESTEAM activities will be incorporated into our units through skills and assessments. According to the NGSS, science education should reflect the interconnected nature of science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world. 

Units

• Analyzing and interpreting data

• Creating experiments using the steps of the Scientific method

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Meal worm investigation

• Paper Towel Investigation

• Alka Seltzer Investigation

• Oreo Cookie Investigation

Dates

• September/October

Standards Assessed

SEP: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How does the evidence prove or disprove a claim?

Guiding Questions

• How do we  collect and analyze data?

• How do we use evidence to draw conclusions?

Assessments

• Controlled study

• Quiz

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment

• Characteristics of living things

• Distinguishing Living vs nonliving

• Needs of living things

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Strandbeest

• Mealworm investigation

• Homeostasis pulse rate lab

Dates

• November

Standards Assessed

• MS-LS1-8

• MS-LS1-4

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How are living things different from nonliving things?

Guiding Questions

• What are the characteristics of living things?

• What are the needs of living things?

• How do living things maintain homeostasis?

Assessments

• Quizzes

• Graded Investigations

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment

• Distinguishing between prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells

• Differences between animal/plant cells

• Understanding cell organelle structure and function

• Understanding the difference between Respiration and Photosynthesis

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Cell Centers

• Microscope labs

• Onion/Elodea Cell Lab

• Skin/Cheek Cell Lab

Dates

• December/January

Standards Assessed

• MS-LS1-1

• MS-LS2

• MS-LS6

• MS-LS7

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How do the structures of different types of cells allow the cells to function? 

Guiding Questions

• How do the structures of plant and animal cells differ?

• How does the function of each organelle contribute to the homeostasis of the cell?

• How is energy transferred within a cell?

Assessments

• Unit Test

• Quizzes

• Graded Cell Centers

• Graded Microscope Labs

• Graded Cell Analogy Poster

• State lab: “It’s Alive”

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment

• Sexual vs Asexual reproduction 

• Mendelian genetics

• DNA structure and function

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Trait survey

• Karyotype

• Punnett Square Practice

• Build a Bullfrog

• Pedigree Charts

Dates

• February/March

Standards Assessed

• MS-LS1-4

• MS-LS1-5

• MS-LS3-1

• MS-LS3-2

• MS-LS4-5

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How does DNA pass from parent to offspring during asexual and sexual reproduction and determine the traits of individuals?

Guiding Questions

• How do the offspring of sexual and asexual reproduction differ?

• How are traits inherited?

• How can humans use genetic engineering for our benefit?

Assessments

• Unit Test

• Quizzes

• Graded Punnett Square Activities

• Graded Karyotype Lab

• Graded Pedigree Activities

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment

• Variation

• Adaptations

• Natural Selection

• Darwin vs Lamarck

• Classification of Organisms

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Animal Adaptation activities

• Evidence for Evolution Stations

• Evolution web quest

• Dichotomous keys

• Natural Selection Phet

Dates

• March

Standards Assessed

• MS-LS4-1

• MS-LS4-2

• MS-LS4-3

• MS-LS4-4

• MS-LS4-6

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How do variations of organisms within the population affect natural selection?

Guiding Questions

• How does the environment determine which variations are adaptations?

• How does natural selection affect the genetic make-up of a population?

• How can you use a dichotomous key to identify an organism?

Assessments

• Unit Test

• Quizzes

• Graded Natural Selection Lab Activities

• Graded Dichotomous Key

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment

• Relationships between organisms and the environment

• Abiotic vs. Biotic

• Producers vs. Consumers

• Types of Consumers

• Human Impact on the environment

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Abiotic/Biotic Scavenger Hunt

• Food Web activity

• Can you Save the Earth activity

• Symbiotic relationship activity

• Lion King activity

Dates

• April

Standards Assessed

• MS-LS2-1

• MS-LS2-3

• MS-LS2-4

• MS-LS2-2

• MS-LS2-5

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How does energy flow through an ecosystem?

Guiding Questions

• How can a food web show how matter and energy flow through an ecosystem?

• How are the relationships among organisms and abiotic factors necessary to maintain the stability of an ecosystem?

• How are humans impacting the biosphere?

Assessments

• Unit Test

• Quizzes

• Graded “Can You Save the Earth” Group Presentation

• Graded Food Web/Ecosystem Activity (Lion King)

• Graded Ecosystem Hyperdoc

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment

• Digestive, Nervous, Circulatory, Skeletal, Muscular, Respiratory Systems

• Interactions among body systems

• Maintenance of human body homeostasis

Science Engineering Practices

• Throughout all units, students will be designing and carrying out scientific experiments that pertain to each topic.  They will be analyzing data, creating data tables and graphs, and making conclusions using CER.

Labs and Activities

• Measure the organs of the digestive system activity

• Pulse/Heart rate activity

• Build a Skeleton

• Respiration Lab

• Reflex Activity

Dates

• May

Standards Assessed

• MS-LS1-3

• MS-LS1-8

SEPs

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Develop and use models

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Analyze and interpret data

• Use mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Essential Questions

• How do human body systems interact to maintain homeostasis?

Guiding Questions

• How are the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems structured to carry out their functions?

Assessments

• Unit Test

• Quizzes

• Graded Human Body System Hyperdocs

• Graded Lab for each body System

Text/Materials

Textbooks, web-based subscriptions: Mosa Mack, Cpalms Tutorial, GIZMO, Inner Orbit; pHet interactive labs, web-based resources, measuring tools, lab-related hands-on equipment