Course Selection
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
Advanced Science 8 [Earth Science]
[full year]
Prerequisite/Selection Process:
District Placement Process
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Advanced Science 8 addresses the same
Minnesota science standards as Science
8 [Earth Science]. Students in this course
will move through the basic concepts at
a quicker pace to allow for more in depth
study. There will be a greater emphasis
on data collection and analysis. In addi-
tion, students in this course will work
more independently and conduct addi-
tional research outside the school day.
• Increase knowledge of the nature of sci-
ence 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 col-
lection, and heat transfer studies. 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
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.
14
SPECIAL EDUCATION
PLTW Gateway [DSF]
[elective or required, every other day]
Intended Audience: Grades 7 and 8
This course may replace the Technical
Education requirement in grade 7.
Major Outcomes:
• Experience a scientific environment
involving design, creativity, and team
problem solving.
• Understand the engineering process
from concept to production.
• Explore how science has affected
technology throughout history by
looking at concepts in nanotechnology,
physics and chemistry.
• Explore the science behind aeronautics
and use software to experience space
travel.
Projects/Activities: Students will be intro-
duced to various software throughout
the course such as 3D-CAD, NASA flight
simulator, and on-line resources to provide
enriched learning experiences. Additional
design and hands-on experiences are
integrated throughout the course.
Instructional Focus: This course emphasizes
high levels of academic rigor and computer
literacy. Homework is an integral part of this
course and students must be independently
motivated to complete it in a timely
manner. This class is a part of a nationally
recognized pre-engineering program called
Project Lead the Way Gateway. The pro-
gram, whose goal is to develop more Amer-
ican engineers, includes modules in Design
and Modeling, Science of Technology, and
Flight and Space. Authentic, real-world
problem solving skills are emphasized
throughout the class. This is an academically
challenging course and is best suited for a
motivated, collaborative learner.
PLTW Gateway [ACG]
[elective, every other day]
Prerequisite/Selection Process: PLTW
Gateway DSF strongly encouraged
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Experience a scientific environment
involving design, creativity, and team
problem solving.
• Learn about mechanical systems,
energy transfer, machine automation,
and computer control systems.
• Students learn the basics of program-
ming in Intro to Computer Science 1.
• Investigate architectural plans, construc-
tion styles, alternative materials and
processes, dimensioning, measuring
and architectural sustainability.
Projects/Activities: Students are introduced
to the influence of automation and robotics
in our world and use a robust robotics plat-
form to design, build and program a solu-
tion to solve an existing problem.Additional
hands-on student experiences are inte-
grated throughout the semester including
MIT App Inventor where students create
variations of an app and use another 3D
architectural software program to create
an environmentally friendly home using
shipping containers.
Instructional Focus: This course emphasizes
high levels of academic rigor and computer
literacy. Homework is an integral part of this
course and students must be independently
motivated to complete it in a timely manner.
This class combines key pre-engineering
content areas through a nationally recog-
nized program called Project Lead the Way:
Gateway. The program, whose goal is to de-
velop more American engineers, includes
modules in Automation and Robotics, Intro-
duction to Computer Science, and Green
Architecture. Authentic, real-world problem
solving-skills are emphasized throughout
the class. This is an academically challeng-
ing pre-engineering course and is best
suited for a motivated, collaborative learner.
Middle School Registration Guide