What is 7 th Grade Science

What is Science? Science involves more than the gaining of knowledge. It is the systematic and organized inquiry (Hot Air Balloon) into the natural world and its phenomena. Science is about gaining a deeper and often useful understanding of the world.inquiry -Vanderbilt University Ivory Soap? Racetrack Playa? Tornado Tube? Density Bottle? Ocean in the Bottle?

What is Science? Science is a way of knowing, a process for gaining knowledge and understanding of the natural world.

What is science to you? Think, Pair, Share Write the first word that comes to your mind as you think about science? The person at the right of the table should write their answer on line 1 of the magnetic slate. The person sitting at the left of the table should write their answer on line 2 of the magnetic slate

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO’s) of 7 th Grade Science(ILO’s) Use science process and thinking skills.processthinking Manifest science interests and attitudes Understand important science concepts and principles. Communicate effectively using science language and reasoning. Demonstrate awareness of the social and historical aspects of science. Understand the nature of science.

The Amazing Cube Introduction: Students will apply inquiry skills and utilize evidence to predict the unknown. Materials: Per table of 4 students –1 Colored Cube With Numbers Web LinkWeb Link –Directions on Powerpoint –HintsHints

Amazing Cube Rules 1.Place the numbered cube in the center of your table. You may not touch, turn, lift, or open the cube to reveal what is on the bottom. 2.You may not use the help of another group until the teacher says so.

Amazing Cube 2. What is on the bottom of the cube? You must discover the answer WITHOUT LOOKING at the bottom of the cube.

Amazing Cube 3. Predict what is on the bottom of the cube by making careful observations of the cube (within the rules) which provide the EVIDENCE needed to make your HYPOTHESIS. Write your hypotheses and evidences down on a piece of paper so that you may share those with the rest of the class. Evidence Examples: 1. The number on the top right of each side = # of letters in the name. 2. Names on opposite sides begin with the same letters.

Amazing Cube 4. Pretend as if you are now attending a professional conference of scientists with your team. Share your and Hypotheses and Evidences with everyone else.

Amazing Cube 5. a. Analyze the Evidences and Hypotheses made by others. b. Build a conclusion as a group and share the conclusion with the class when called upon.

Amazing Cube 6. Discuss what is fact and what is inference in this activity.

Amazing Cube 7. Turn the cube over to reveal what is on the bottom. Was your conclusion correct? What if the teacher collected the cubes without ever letting you see what was on the bottom. Would you ever know the answer? How is that like real science? We apply evidence to make inferences in science. The unknowns in science are explained through evidence and experimentation. We cannot always see the exact answer.

7 th Grade Core Learning Standards STANDARD I Structure of Matter: Students will understand the structure of matter. STANDARD II Structure of Earth: Students will understand the relationship between properties of matter and Earth’s structure. STANDARD III Structure of Cells and Organisms: Students will understand that the organs in an organism are made of cells that have structures and perform specific life functions. STANDARD IV Heredity and Adaptations: Students will understand that offspring inherit traits that make them more or less suitable to survive in the environment. STANDARD V Classification of Living Things (Structure): Students will understand that structure is used to develop classification systems. Can you guess the theme for this years learning? Structure

Theme The theme for Seventh Grade Science is structure. –The concept of density is used to help understand the sorting and distribution of matter on the structuring of Earth. –Seventh graders should begin to relate the structure of Matter to the properties of materials. –The seventh grade core emphasizes “structure” as an organizing concept to understand Matter. –All substances are structured or made of smaller parts and are themselves parts of larger wholes. When parts come together, the whole often has properties that are very different from its parts (Cells). –Inherited traits are carried on structures called genes (Heredity). –Structure is used to classify plants, animals, rocks, stars, and other things. Classification is a way to give a unique description to all things.

Cool Projects (see examples) Term 1: Classification Project Term 2: Mass the Gas Model Term 3: Earth Model Term 4: Cell Model Term 5: DNA Bead Model, Super Species Project Term 6: None

Cool Classification Labs/Activities Classification –Life non/life scavenger hunt –Trees of MLMS –Crayfish Dissection –Is it Alive? –Vertebrate/Invertebrate Exploration –Smarty You!

Cool Structure of Matter Labs/Activities Spaghetti or Snickers Tower Penny Lab Homemade Root beer and Popcorn States of Matter) Penny Boat Lab Volume/Density Labs Mass/Weight Labs Density Manipulative and Demos Experiments

Cool Structure of Earth Labs/Activities Welcome to Earth Foldable Clay Model of Earth Journey to the Center Writing and Movie.

Cool Structure of Cells and Organisms Labs/Activities Levels Drawing Squid Dissection Sheep Eye (Mammal) Dissection Onion and Cheek Cell Lab The Classroom Cell Organelle Commericial Group Systems Powerpoint.

Cool Heredity and Adaptations Labs/Activities DNA Extraction Oh Baby Inherited Traits Lab Peppered Moth Hidden Butterfly Puzzle Activity DNA Bead Model You and Your Genes