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SCIENCE
Grade 7
The Nature of Science
Students gain scientific knowledge by observing the natural and constructed world, performing and evaluating
investigations and communicating their findings. The following principles should guide student work and be
integrated into the curriculum along with the content standards on a daily basis.
Standard 1: Physical Science
Core Standard: Explain that energy cannot be created or destroyed but instead can only be changed from one form into another or
transferred from place to place. (7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.3, 7.1.4)
Core Standard: Describe and investigate how forces between objects can act at a distance or by means of direct contact between
objects (7.1.5, 7.1.6, 7.1.7)
SKILLS SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT
7.1.1 Explain that when energy is Students will complete a lab that Students will create their own activity that
transferred from one system to demonstrates the law of conservation of demonstrates the same principle.
another, the total quantity of energy by examining how the potential
energy does not change. energy of a ball of clay changes as the Acuity/Benchmark Testing
kinetic energy changes.
7.1.2 Describe and give examples of Students will observe a pot of boiling Acuity/Benchmark Testing
how energy can be transferred water which shows how thermal energy is
from place to place and transferred through radiation, convection, Teacher-made test
transformed from one form to and conduction.
another through radiation,
convection and conduction. Students will draw pictures that illustrate
radiation, convection, and conduction.
7.1.3 Recognize and explain how Students will list Poster presentation
different ways of obtaining, advantages/disadvantages of their energy
transforming and distributing type. Energy resources worksheet
energy have different Students could make an advertisement for
environmental consequences. their type of energy. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
7.1.4 Recognize and provide evidence of Students will create wave, sound, and Students will write a lab report explaining
how light, sound and other waves light show. how the waves in their show were affected
have energy and how they interact by different materials.
with different materials.
Acuity/Benchmark Testing
7.1.5 Describe and investigate how Using a given formula, students will Students will compare and contrast the
forces between objects-such as calculate the gravitational force each different gravitational forces and tell why
magnetic, electrical or planet exerts on Earth. each planet exerts a different amount of
gravitational forces-can act at a gravitational force.
distance or by means of direct
contact between objects. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
7.1.6 Explain that forces have Students will view an online video that Students will complete an activity guide
magnitude and direction and those demonstrates buoyant force in that accompanies the video.
forces can be added to determine submarines, cruise ships, and fish.
the net force acting on an object. Students will build their own roller coaster.
Students will build a roller coaster to
demonstrate speed, motion, force, and Acuity/Benchmark Testing
gravity.
Students will create a computer simulation
of a roller coaster.
7.1.7 Demonstrate and describe how an Students will build a roller coaster to Students will build their own roller coaster.
object’s speed or direction of demonstrate speed, motion, force, and
motion changes when a force acts gravity. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
upon it. Demonstrate and describe
that an object’s speed and direction Students will create a computer simulation
of motion remain unchanged if the of a roller coaster.
net force acting upon it is zero.
Standard 2: Earth and Space Science
Core Standard: Describe how earth processes have shaped the topography of the earth and have made it possible to measure
geological time.
SKILLS SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT
7.2.1 Describe how the earth is a layered Students will draw and color a picture of Students will take a quiz over the layers of
structure composed of lithospheric the Earth and its layers. the Earth and the composition of each
plates, a mantle and a dense core. layer.
7.2.2 Recognize that the earth possesses Students will participate in a compass Acuity/Benchmark Testing
a magnetic field that is detectable activity outdoors.
at the surface with a compass. Teacher-made test
7.2.3 Characterize the immensity of Students will create a timeline that depicts Acuity/Benchmark Testing
geologic time and recognize that it significant scientific eras.
is measured in eras and epochs. Teacher-made test
7.2.4 Explain how convection currents Students will conduct a lab on convection. Using data obtained from the lab, students
in the mantle cause lithospheric will write a summary of their findings.
plates to move and cause fast
changes like earthquakes and Acuity/Benchmark Testing
volcanic eruptions and slow
changes like the creation
mountains and formation of new
ocean floor.
7.2.5 Describe the origin and physical Students will complete an Internet activity Students will “become” a sediment and
properties of igneous, using nationalgeographic.com. write about their adventures becoming
metamorphic and sedimentary different types of rock. The story may be a
rocks and how they are related Students will view samples of each type diary, a comic strip, or a children’s book.
through the rock cycle. of rock.
Acuity/Benchmark Testing
Students will learn a song about the rock
cycle.
7.2.6 Describe physical and chemical Students will collect and test soil samples Acuity/Benchmark Testing
characteristics of soil layers and in order to determine how the soil has
how they are influenced by the been affected by bacteria, fungi, insects, Teacher-made test
process of soil formation and other organisms
(including the action of bacteria,
fungi, insects and other organisms.
7.2.7 Use geological features such as Students will build, measure, and erode a Students will use data and observations to
karst topography and glaciations to model hillside using sand, pebbles, gravel, write a lab report.
explain how large-scale physical and water.
processes have shaped the land. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
Students will create a model of a glacier
and observe how it affects a surface.
7.2.8 Compare and contrast fossils with Students will examine fossils to learn Acuity/Benchmark Testing
living organisms in a given about the prehistoric organisms and the
location to explain how earth environment from which the organism Teacher-made test
processes have changed came.
environments over time.
Students will listen to a guest speaker, a
geologist from a local university.
Standard 3: Life Science
Core Standard: Understand the cellular structure of single-celled and multicellular organisms.
SKILLS SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT
7.3.1 Explain that all living organisms Students will create and label plant and Students will create a Venn diagram
are composed of one cell or animal cell diagrams. comparing and contrasting one-celled and
multiple cells and that the many Students examine plant and animal cells multicellular organisms.
functions needed to sustain life are using a microscope and identify
carried out within cells. similarities and differences. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
7.3.2 Understand that water is a major Students will watch a Bill Nye science Student will complete a worksheet for this
component within all cells and is video. activity and will also write a summary of
required to carry out many cellular their findings.
functions. Student will observe the processes of
osmosis and diffusion using an egg. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
7.3.3 Explain that, although the way cells Body Battles! Students will write a short article
function is similar in all living explaining the function of red blood cells,
organisms, multicellular organisms Leukemia Activity white blood cells, and the immune system.
have specialized cells whose
specialized functions are directly Acuity/Benchmark Testing
related to their structure.
7.3.4 Compare and contrast similarities Students use microscopes to observe Acuity/Benchmark Testing
and differences among specialized different types of cells.
sub cellular components within Teacher-made test
plant and animal cells (including
organelles and cell walls that
perform essential functions and
give cells shape and structure).
7.3.5 Explain that cells in multicellular Students observe how a seed changes and Acuity/Benchmark Testing
organisms repeatedly divide to grows into a mature plant.
make more cells for growth and Teacher-made test
repair. Students will create a 2D model of a
eukaryotic cell and compare and contrast
it with a prokaryotic cell.
7.3.6 Explain that after fertilization a Students will create a flowchart that Acuity/Benchmark Testing
small cluster of cells divides to shows how living things are organized.
form the basic tissues of an embryo Teacher-made test
and further develops into all the
specialized tissues and organs
within a multicellular organism.
7.3.7 Describe how various organs and Students observe the specific organelles Students will write a lab report based on
tissues serve the needs of cells for involved in transport by placing a rib of their findings.
nutrient and oxygen delivery and wilted celery in water.
waste removal. Acuity/Benchmark Testing
Standard 4: Science, Engineering and Technology
Core Standard: Design and construct a device that converts energy from one from to another to perform work.
SKILLS SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT
7.4.1 Understand that energy is the Students will observe simple machines Acuity/Benchmark Testing
capacity to do work. and relate structure to the ability of the
machine to do work. Teacher-made test
A local community resource will speak to
students about harnessing wind energy.
7.4.2 Explain that energy can be used to Students will observe simple machines Students will write a paragraph explaining
do work using many processes and relate structure to the ability of the how a simple machine does work.
(e.g., generation of electricity by machine to do work.
harnessing wind energy). Acuity/Benchmark Testing
A local community resource will speak to
students about harnessing wind energy.
7.4.3 Explain that power is the rate that Students will create a waterwheel and Students will write a lab report based on
energy is converted from one form measure the amount of work done. their observations.
to another.
Students will watch a video on the Hoover Acuity/Benchmark Testing
Dam.
7.4.4 Explain that power systems are Students will research how different Acuity/Benchmark Testing
used to provide propulsion for power systems are used for the propulsion
engineered products and systems. of different products. Teacher-made test
