Grade 6

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Chemistry and Physics

Chemistry I:  Properties of Matter

• The properties of materials, such as: density, conductivity, and solubility
• Buoyancy
• Solids, liquids, and gases
• Relationship between phases of matter and particle motion
• Temperature and its effect on solubility

Physics I:  Simple Machines

• Potential and kinetic energy

• The lever, the pulley, the wheel and axle, and the inclined plane
• Mechanical energy
• Machines affect force and work
• Friction

• Transformation of energy within simple machines
• Principle of the conservation of energy

Weather

Weather and Climate

·         Pressure, air masses, relative humidity, temperature

·         Precipitation

·         Hydrosphere/atmosphere interactions

·         Storms:  hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards

·         Climatic regions

Seasons and cycles

·         Reasons for the seasons

·         Relationships among the sun, moon, and earth

- Tides

Heating and cooling events

• Transfer of heat:  radiation, convection, and conduction
• Heat and its relationship to phase changes
• Expansion and contraction

Ecology

Food Chains and Food Webs

• Flow of energy and matter through food chains and food webs
• The role of green plants
• Photosynthesis

Interdependence

• Populations
• Factors affecting the population growth of organisms
• Communities
• Ecosystems  
• Relationships among organisms: beneficial and harmful
• Effects of environmental changes on humans and other populations

Grade 7

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Geology

Interior Structure of the Earth

·         Layers and composition

·         Lithosphere

·         Hydrosphere:  water cycle

Minerals and Rocks

·         Rock cycle

·         Classification:  Sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks

·         Properties of minerals

Fossils and Earth’s History

·         Types of fossils

·         Where fossils are found and how they relate to the rocks in which they are found.

·         Dating of rocks:  Absolute and relative age

Plate Tectonics

·         Theory of plate movement and evidence supporting the theory

·         Earthquakes:  faulting and folding of the earth’s crust

·         Volcanoes

·         Mountain building

·        Erosion and Weathering

Chemistry and Physics

Chemistry II:  Chemical Reactions

Physical and Chemical changes

• Characteristics of physical changes

- mixtures and solutions

• Characteristics of chemical changes

Chemical Reactions and Changes in State of Matter

• Elements and compounds
• Atoms and molecules
• Law of Conservation of Mass
• Periodic Table as a way of organizing the elements

Physics II:  Energy

Forms of Energy

• Light, heat, sound, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, nuclear, chemical
• Transformation of energy
• Conservation of energy

Animal and Plant Systems

Dynamic Equilibrium

• Maintaining a balanced condition
• Obtaining energy
• Obtaining nutrients
• Regulation of the internal environment
• Metabolism
• Responding to the external environment

The Parts of Plants, Animals, and One-celled Organisms

• Cells
• Unicellular vs multicellular organisms
• Plant structures
• Animal structures and systems
• Biological classification systems

The Human Body

• Human body systems and their role in maintaining homeostasis

• The Immune System

Grade 8

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Reproduction, Heredity, and Evolution

Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

• Methods of asexual reproduction
• Methods of sexual reproduction
• Cell division
• The role of the sperm and egg
• Human reproductive system

Patterns of Development

• Patterns of development in plants
• Patterns of development in animals

Heredity

• Genes and DNA
• Mendelian genetics

Evolution

• Sources of variation in organisms
• Natural selection
• Competition
• Extinction
• Evidence for evolution

Space Science

Newton’s Laws- First, Second, and Third

• Patterns of motion including: frame of reference, position, direction, and speed
• Newton’s First Law of Inertia
• Newton’s Second Law :  F=ma
• Newton’s Third Law:  For every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction
• Observe, describe, and compare the effects of forces on the motion of objects

- gravity

- friction

Solar System

·         Classification of celestial objects

·         Sun

·         Planets

- properties of the planets

- planetary movement

·         Moon

- phases of the moon

• Space travel

Human Impact

Environmental

• Human impact versus natural causes
• Overpopulation
• Habitat destruction
• Depletion of resources
• Endangered species
• Global warming
• Acid Rain
• Ozone depletion
• Pollution
• Waste disposal
• Land use

Energy

• Renewable and non-renewable sources of energy
• Transportation
• Energy conservation
• Energy and the economy

Technology

• Quality of life:  tradeoffs
• Medicine and Disease
• Genetic engineering
• Bioethics