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Middle School Science

Course Description

8th Homeroom- High School Prep:
Each quarter focuses on a different aspect/characteristic of skills needed to be successful in high school and college/career readiness. 
Quarter 1- Science and Service: quarter-long extended science experiments or a service project. Students self-select to conduct these individually or in small groups. 
Quarter 2- "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" Literature Study. Small group reading and discussion on the habits needed to be a highly effective teen. 
Quarter 3- Healthy Habits and Hobbies: using the knowledge gained from the literature study, students use homeroom time to improve their skills (ie typing) or to practice/develop a new skill (drawing, cellphone photography, embroidery, etc).
Quarter 4- Career Explorations: working with the counselor, students use Myers-Briggs personality profiles as the basis to explore potential careers. Students prepare and present a "Career Expo" to two classes they invite. 
 
Middle School Science:
What makes my classes different from other middle school science teachers: I use a 3-year spiraling curriculum that allows opportunities to revisit and deepen understandings of previous science content. All three grades study the big three Science Disciplines (Earth, Life, Physical) each year and this gives them opportunities to increase both the breadth and depth of what they are learning!
 
The curriculum pulls from multiple sources, each of which is student-centered and highly hands-on. FOSS Kits, Science Labs, Document Based Inquiries, and Text-Dependent Study Guides are woven tightly together to create a learning environment that fosters growth, scaffolds support, and is fully Literacy and Science standard-aligned. 
 
The following units are taught over the course of the year: 
 

6th 

7th

8th

Quarter 1

Quarter 1

Quarter 1

Earth Science

Earth Science

Earth Science  

What is Science?

Science as Inquiry- Meteorites and Outer Space

Crystals & Minerals and Rock Cycle Review  

Earth’s Forces and Plate Tectonics

The Atmosphere

Observing the Solar System and Planetary Geology  

Oceans, Water, and Weather

Oxygen, Nitrogen, & Carbon Cycles and Fossils/Fuels

Stars and Galaxies and Microgravity  

Quarter 2

Quarter 2

Quarter 2

Earth Science

Physical Science

Life Science

Rocks and Earth Cycles

Mixtures and Solutions FOSS Kit

What is Biology & Taxonomy

Astronomy and Solar System, Moon Phases 

Atoms & Periodic Table- Minerals & Metals, Electricity

Biodiversity and Biomes

Human Impact on Earth

Chemical and Physical Changes

Ecosystems & Ecology and Environmental Issues

Quarter 3

 Quarter 3

 Quarter 3

 Physical

 Life

 Physical

Electricity and Magnetism FOSS Kit

Obtaining Energy- Kingdoms of Life

Velocity, Acceleration, and Newton’s Laws

Levers and Pulleys FOSS Kit

Heredity & Genetics

Work, Power, and Machines

Thermodynamics and “Warm the Water”

Steelhead Fish

Acids, Bases, Salts

Life

  Life

 Physical

Living Things- Cells & Life Cycles

Steelhead Fish

Wave Energy, Sound and Light

Kingdoms of Life- Animals

Natural Selection & Evolution

 Nuclear Energy and Power

Science Focus Projects

Science Focus Projects

 Science Focus Projects