Seventh Grade Science Standards

 

Unit 1 Scientific Method and Measurement

Standard: Understand how to plan for and conduct a scientific investigation.

Indicators:

  1. Metric Units of Measure
  2. Steps of the scientific method
  3. Scientific investigation

 

 

 

Unit 2 Forces and Motion

Standard: Understand how balanced and unbalanced forces can change the motion of objects.

Indicators:

  1. Describe relative motion of an object.
  2. Calculate the speed of an object.
  3. Describe and give examples of balanced and unbalanced forces.
  4. Differentiate between types of friction.
  5. Describe and give an example of Newton’s first law.
  6. Describe the buoyant force
  7. Describe and Calculate Work
  8. Describe how machines do work

 

Unit 3 Weather and Climate

Standard: Understand and analyze the relationship between weather and climate

Indicators:

  1. Identify and describe the composition of the atmosphere.
  2. Describe the interactions between the sun's energy and the Earth's atmosphere and surface
  3. Identify and describe 3 ways in which heat is transferred
  4. Use convection to explain wind, land and sea breezes
  5. Diagram and label the Water cycle
  6. Diagram and explain cloud formation
  7. Identify and describe the formation of different types of precipitation
  8. Compare and contrast air masses
  9. Compare and contrast warm and cold fronts
  10. Analyze the relationship between air masses, latitude, and climatic regions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unit 4 Interior Forces

Standard: Understand the processes that continually change the surface of the Earth.

Standard: Understand the components and interconnections of Earth’s systems: lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Indicators:

  1. Diagram and describe the interior layers of the Earth
  2. Diagram and describe convection within the Earth
  3. Summarize with evidence the theory of Continental Drift
  4. Summarize with evidence (diagram) Sea Floor Spreading
  5. Summarize with evidence (diagrams) the theory of Plate Tectonics
  6. Analyze the relationship between plate tectonic boundaries and Earth landforms
  7. Describe the relationship between plate tectonic boundaries and faults
  8. Describe the relationship between earthquakes and faults
  9. Compare and contrast earthquake waves (primary and secondary)
  10. Analyze the relationship between plate tectonic boundaries and Volcanoes

 

Unit 5 Rocks and Minerals

Standard: Understand how to classify rocks, soils, air, and water into groups based on their chemical and physical properties.

Indicators:

  1. Describe the characteristics of a mineral
  2. Classify minerals
  3. Compare and contrast Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks
  4. Classify rocks
  5. Summarize the Rock cycle (diagram)
  6. Describe the process of soil formation
  7. Classify soils

 

Unit 6 Exterior Forces

Standard: Understand the processes that continually change the surface of the Earth.

Standard: Understand the components and interconnections of Earth’s systems: lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Indicators:

  1. Compare and contrast mechanical and chemical weathering
  2. Summarize the different agents of erosion
  3. Analyze the relationship between weathering and erosion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unit 7 Earth History and Bio-evolution

Standard: Understand how natural selection (biological evolution) accounts for species diversity and how species change over time.

Indicators:

  1. Summarize the process of natural selection
  2. Provide both fossil and living evidence that supports natural selection
  3. Provide evidence that supports natural selection as a mechanism for species diversity

 

Unit 8 Cells and Life Processes

Standard: Understand how individual organisms, including cells, obtain matter and energy for life processes.

Indicators:

  1. Describe the different sources required for life processes in organisms
  2. Describe how organisms acquire materials for life processes
  3. Compare and contrast cell respiration and photosynthesis

 

Unit 9 Ecology

Standard: Understand how organisms in ecosystems interact with and respond to their environment and other organisms.

Indicators

  1. Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem (food chain/web)
  2. Describe how nutrients are cycled  through an ecosystem
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of an organism's role (niche) in and ecosystem
  4. Describe how individual populations respond to changes in their environment
  5.  

Standard: Apply the scientific design process to develop solutions to problems or challenges.