Middle School Science Curriculum
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Science Teacher: Margaret Dickinson
My goal as a science teacher is to use issues based science and inquiry to engage students in the process of learning science and encourage them to use scientific evidence to make decisions. Through hands-on experiences, group work, independent projects, lecture and research projects they will strive to become informed citizens that see the application of science to everyday life.
Course Objectives
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Use Scientific Inquiry to propose questions and hypotheses, design and conduct investigations, organize and display data, communicate conclusions, possible sources of error and suggest new investigations of study.
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Safely and correctly use standard laboratory equipment.
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Recognize issues and applications of Science in everyday situations.
This Trimester, Students are learning about Cells in Life Science, and Earth's Geological History in Earth Science! To see more about curriculum, please see the Scope and Sequence information below.
Physical Science Scope and Sequence
Chemistry
Unit 1
- Structure and Properties of Matter
- Physical properties of matter
- Chemical properties of matter
- Composition of elements and compounds
- The atomic model
- Organization of the periodic table
- Chemical Reactions
- States of Matter
- Physical and Chemical changes
- Law of Conservation of Mass
- Atomic bonds
Physics
Unit 3- Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation
- Properties of waves
- Wave interactions
- Types of Waves
- Force and Motion
- Properties of Energy
- Potential and Kinetic Energy
- Fluid Dynamics
- Energy transformation & conservation
- Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Motion and Momentum
Life Science Scope and Sequence
Unit 1 Scientific Design- Observation
- Collect and Analyze data
- Writing a Lab Report
- Design Engineering
- Cell Components, Functions and Processes
- Organization of organisms
- Types of cells
- Microscope use
- Infectious Disease
Unit 3 Genetics and DNA- Reproduction
- Inherited traits/Punnet squares
- DNA structure
- Ethics of genetics
Unit 4 Ecology- Invasive Species/Local Ecology
- Classification of Organisms
- Population Data
- Photosynthesis/Energy Flow
Unit 5 Evolution and Change Over Time- Evolution of Species
- Natural Selection
- Evolutionary relationships in organisms
- Anatomical Evidence for Evolution
- Fossil Evidence
- Extinction of Species
Earth and Space Science Scope and SequenceUnit 1 - Conservation – Environmental Science - Renewable Resources
- Non-renewable resources
- Waste Management
- Global Environmental Change
- Pollution Sources/Management
- Human Impact
- Water Cycle
- Interactions with landforms and weather
- Atmospheric and Oceanic Patterns
- Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere
- Extreme Weather Events
Unit 3 - Astronomy - Motion of Planets
- Gravity
- Solar System
- Seasons
- Scale Proportions
- Composition of Earth’s layers
- Forces that change landforms
- Earth’s geosphere
- Geologic Events – earthquakes, volcanoes
- Change over time – fossil evidence
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