Science Courses
Science 6 [Physical Science]
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 6
Major Outcomes:
• Investigate motion, energy transfer,
waves, matter, and engineering
• Understand forces of nature
• Learn about the history and nature
of science through scientific inquiry,
engineering, experimental design
and measurement
Projects/Activities: Experiments, force
and motion activities and energy transfer
investigations.
Instructional Focus: Students will work
individually, as well as in small and large
groups. They will be involved in hands-on
experiments, investigations, model design
and creation, observations and data collec-
tion and analysis.
Advanced Physical Science 6
[full year]
Prerequisite/Selection Process:
District Placement Process
Intended Audience: Grade 6
Major Outcomes:
• Learn about the nature of science and
engineering through scientific inquiry,
experimental design, and measurement.
• Investigate motion, energy transfer,
waves, and engineering.
• Understand forces of nature.
This course will address the same major
concepts as Science 6 [Physical Science],
but at an accelerated pace to allow for
increased depth and integrated use of
technology. Students will complete the
PLTW Energy and the Environment
Engineering module.
Projects/Activities: Projects and activities
may include individual and group investiga-
tions, both student and teacher directed.
Potential investigations may involve forces
and motion, energy transformations, and
forces of nature. Students will present the
results of an experimental project or a re-
search and an engineering project. Partici-
pation in the District STEM Fair is strongly
encouraged.
Middle School Registration Guide
Instructional Focus: Students will make in
depth observations, ask questions, and
generate creative and valid explanations.
Students will be encouraged to apply skills
and concepts to their everyday lives. Investi-
gations will encourage higher order thinking
and will have an increased pace and rigor.
Science 7 [Life Science]
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 7
Major Outcomes:
• Investigate cells, heredity and changes
in biological populations over time.
• Investigate diversity among organisms,
human biology and ecology.
• Increase knowledge of the history and
nature of science through scientific
inquiry and experimental design.
Projects/Activities: May include cell labs,
microscope use, cell models, ADAM
human body software, owl pellet field
study, dissections, and ecosystem models.
Instructional Focus: Students will work
individually, as well as in small and large
groups. They will be involved in hands-on
experiments, investigations, model
design and creation, observations and
data collection and analysis.
Advanced Life Science 7
[full year]
Prerequisite/Selection Process:
District Placement Process
Intended Audience: Grade 7
Major Outcomes:
• Increase knowledge of the history
and nature of science through scientific
inquiry and experimental design.
• Investigate cells, heredity, and changes
in biological populations over time.
• Understand diversity among organisms,
human biology and ecology.
This course will address the same major
concepts as Science 7 [Life Science], but at
an accelerated pace to allow for increased
depth and integrated use of technology.
Students will complete the PLTW Medical
Detectives Engineering module.
Projects/Activities: These will include lab
investigations, field studies and use of
computer technology. Students will present
the results of an experimental project or
a research and an engineering project.
Participation in the District STEM Fair is
strongly encouraged.
Instructional Focus: Students will work on
in-depth analysis of life science concepts
individually and in collaborative teams. This
will include inquiry based investigation,
model design, observation, data collection
and analysis.
Science 8 [Earth Science]
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Increase knowledge of the nature of
science and engineering processes
through inquiry and experimental design.
• Develop an understanding of the basic
structure of matter.
• Explore astronomy with a focus on the
Sun, Earth, and Moon.
• Develop an understanding of the geo-
logic processes that shape the Earth.
• Review the hydrologic cycle and its
impact on water sources.
• Understand the meteorological
processes that drive weather and
climate.
Projects/Activities: May include physical and
chemical change activities, explorations of
moon phases, rock and mineral identifica-
tion, geologic modeling, weather data
collection, and heat transfer studies.
Instructional Focus: Students will work
individually as well as in small groups.
They will be involved in inquiry-based
experiments, investigations of relevant
topics, model design and creation,
observation, data collection, and analysis.
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