Science - Mrs. Deborah Leavitt
Science in grade six, seven and eight utilizes an inquiry based approach in which the scientific method is the basis for problem solving and finding answers in the various topics that are explored at each grade level. Ideas and principles are discovered by the students through their experiments in a hands on laboratory experience. Students take responsibility for their own discoveries in the laboratory and are required to document their findings and report them in a lab report which is an essential part of their evaluation. In addition to student lab work, class discussion and teacher/student demonstrations are an important part of the learning process. Contemporary issues in science and technology are also an integral part of the experience. Students are encouraged to pursue individual interests in science and technology through outside reading and research. Of equal importance to the development of the methods of science is the continual growth of organizational skills as the student’s progress through grades six, seven and eight. This skill is promoted by requiring students to maintain a “science notebook”. The notebook is a journal of all the students work and is a course requirement for grades six, seven and eight. Notebooks must be organized, neat and complete and are an essential part of student’s success in science.
Grading


Lab reports, class notes and worksheets - 50%
Homework - 10%
Quizzes - 20%
Tests - 20%
Class participation, class preparedness and positive mental attitude – extra credit

Science Binder
Students are required to have a three ring binder for science which has five sections labeled:

Lab reports
Class notes
Homework/class work
Handouts
Quizzes and test
Binders should be current, organized, neat and complete and are to be brought to class everyday. Parents are encouraged to review these binders with their child.

Course Topics - Grade Six
Introduction

· Laboratory safety

· Laboratory equipment

· Metric system



Science and Technology

· The nature of science

· The science of observation

· Testing ideas

· From science to technology

· The scientific method – hypothesis to experiment



Patterns of Living Things

· Signs of life

· Patterns of growth

· Patterns of response

· Stimulus and response

· Building blocks of life

· Observations of cells



It’s a Small World

· A hidden world

· The staff of life

· Keeping germs in their place

· Microorganisms and food



Investigating Matter

· About matter

· Matters useful properties

· Measuring matter

· Volume

· Mass

· States of matter

· Changes of state

Course Topics - Grade Seven



Introduction

· Laboratory safety

· Laboratory equipment

· Metric system



Chemical Changes

· Chemicals in our lives

· Physical-chemical properties

· Physical-chemical changes

· Products and reactants

· Elements and compounds

· Acids and bases

· Conservation of mass

· Chemical changes and you



Temperature and Heat

· The thermometer

· Signs of temperature change

· Heat versus temperature

· Conduction

· Convection

· Radiation



Solutions

· Solutions and non-solutions

· Solutes and solvents

· Desalination and distillation

· Separating solute and solvent

· Concentration of solutions

· Solubility and temperature

· Saturations

· Solutions in the environment



Growing Plants

· Garden ingredients

· Inner actions of plants

· Plants in your environment



Forces and Motion

· Understanding forces

· Forces at work

· Gravitational forces/Newton’s laws

· Measuring forces

· Frictional forces

· Causes of friction/consequences of friction

· Thought experiments/space flight



Inertia

· Action/Reaction



Course Topics - Grade Eight


Introduction

· Laboratory safety

· Laboratory equipment

· Metric system




Types of Chemical Change

· Combination

· Decomposition

· Single replacement

· Double replacement

· Balancing equations




Particles

· Using models

· Observation and inference

· The particle model of matter

· The atomic theory of matter

· Particle size

· Solids, liquids and gasses

· Molecular motion and changes of state

· Melting and freezing points

· Mass, volume and density

· Characteristic properties

· Sub-atomic particles/fusion and fission



Electromagnetic Systems

· What is electricity?

· Electricity and magnetism

· Static electricity

· Sources of electricity

· Electric current and circuitry

· Electro magnets

· Measuring electricity



Life Processes

· Energy sources/green plants

· Starch/glucose production

· Photosynthesis

· Respiration

· The water cycle

· Diffusion and osmosis





Work and Energy

· Machines

· Work/calculating work

· Potential and kinetic energy

· Energy changes

· Simple machines

· Mechanical advantage

· Energy transfer

· The human machine



Texts
Grade Six

Science Plus Technology and Society – Level Green

by Earl S. Morrison, Alan Moore et al

Holt, Rinehart and Winston
© 2002



Grade Seven

Science Plus Technology and Society – Level Red

by Earl S. Morrison, Alan Moore et al

Holt, Rinehart and Winston
© 2002



Grade Eight

Science Plus Technology and Society – Level Blue

by Earl S. Morrison, Alan Moore et al

Holt, Rinehart and Winston
© 2002

Internet Resources
www.Go.hrw.com extra help and study guide
www.scilinks.org resources specific to topics in textbook
www.sci.edu/hrw on-line materials from Smithsonian
www.cnnfyi.com current event stories in science and technology