General Statement
7th grade science is a life science curriculum that focuses on aspects of ecology, cell biology, genetics, evolution and biodiversity. The heart of the curriculum places a student’s developing understanding of scientific concepts and the scientific method in the broader context of environmental and social action. Students are encouraged to make connections between scientific theory, existing social structures and their own habits in order to create an understanding of the ethical obligation entailed by scientific discovery. Student inquiry for the year is guided by through-line questions that identify the key understandings and generative topics of the whole curriculum. The through-line questions for the year are:
- How do I think and behave as a scientist?
- Why do biologists think healthy communities are diverse and interconnected?
- How does a compassionate biologist behave?
Concepts and Methods
The California Science Standards are the basis for the main understanding goals in the middle school science curriculum. Students develop their skills of inquiry, investigation, analysis, and explanation through a wide variety of hands-on laboratory and field experiences. The course meets three times each week, once for forty-five minutes and twice for ninety-minute laboratory sessions. Understanding goals are questions rooted in the through-line that direct student inquiry during a specific unit. Listed below are the understanding goals for the 7th grade curriculum:
- How do communities behave within an ecosystem?
- How can I be an individual within a community and a community of individuals?
- Why are all living things interconnected?
- Why is life innately diverse?
- How do we find out if our community is healthy and what do we do if it is sick?
Sources and Materials
Students do not work from a single textbook in science class. Rather, each unit of study is crafted from a variety of resources available on that topic, including texts, magazine articles, library books, the Internet, and activity books. Homework assignments include reading, writing, Internet research, small-scale experimentation using household items, and preparation for upcoming labs.
Assessment
Student performance is assessed primarily through laboratory work and the scientific writing process. Multiple learning styles are engaged during many different types of assessment throughout the year. The one constant is that important assessments all involve the use of a rubric that outlines work quality expectations.
Individual Needs
Since much of the class work is done in groups, students are encouraged to help each other as much as possible. Students who are falling behind are encouraged to seek help from the teacher after school, or during tutorial times. There are also online student resources for scientific writing on the student resources web page.
Science Fair
The purpose of the science fair is for students to gain experience asking scientific questions and designing experiments to further their understanding of the scientific method. It is also a chance for students to develop their communication skills as a scientist. Deadlines in the seventh grade are designed to prepare students for the possibility of entering the science fair at The Randall Museum.
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