River Valley School District Curriculum Template

Course name: 7th Grade Science

Credit(s) or Grade Level: 7th Grade

Academic Standards: NGSS & Wisconsin Science

Prerequisite(s): N/A

Course Description: Students use science and engineering to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of life science concepts. They will use and/or build models, work in a lab setting, and take quizzes and/or tests to demonstrate their comprehension of Next Generation Science Standards.

Units:

Duration:

Essential Learning/Outcomes:

Google

1 week

• Proper technique in turning in Google classroom assignments
• Using tools in Google Slides

Scientific Method (used throughout the year for best science practices)

1 week

• Asking questions and defining problems
• Scientific modeling
• Planning and designing investigations
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Using mathematical and computational thinking
• Constructing scientific explanation
• Arguing from evidence
• Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Characteristics of Organisms

5 weeks

• Characteristics of Organisms

• Prokaryotes, eukaryotes, unicellular, multicellular, autotrophic, heterotrophic, asexual & sexual reproduction

• Dichotomous Key

Cells

8 weeks

• Cell Theory
• Plant and Animal Cells

• Parts of cells
• Onion and cheek cell

• Microscope Parts and Usage
• Mitosis and Meiosis

Heredity

7 weeks

• Gregor Mendel
• Punnett Square

• Homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, recessive, hybrid

• Inherited traits
• Variation of Traits

• Mutations

Biological Evolution

6 weeks

• Fossil Record

• Anatomical structural changes
• Fossil appearance
• Evolutionary relationships (Darwin)

• Genetic Variations

• Probability of survival
• Diversity
• Gene therapy
• Human influence
• Cloning

• Natural Selection

Ecosystems

8 weeks

• Resources available to organisms

• Extinction, endangered species

• Abiotic and biotic factors

• Decomposers

• Symbiosis
• Food webs
• Biomes
• Effects of destruction of ecosystems on organisms
• Human impact on environment
• Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystems

• Prevention of soil erosion
• Water purification
• Nutrient recycling