1. Longfellow Middle School Science Program Inspiring Excellence and Meeting the needs of all learners

2. Environmental/Life Science Focus Content Process Skills

3. Units of Study Ecology (Understanding our environment) Cells & Experimental Design (Observing Living Things) Genetics & Classification (Exploring Heredity and Diversity)

4. Through inquiry based lab activities Qualitative versus quantitative observations Experimental design using metric system Analysis of real life situations and problems Depth and complexity for all students

5. Same lab guides and essential content used for all students Extended concepts and faster pace for students as appropriate to their level 20 to 30 minutes of homework nightly Two or more lab based activities per week No science SOL at end of 7 th grade Science SOL is at the end of 8 th grade and covers 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade curriculum.

6. Students will investigate the interdependence of life in an ecosystem. –Construct a model aquatic ecosystem. –Differentiate among populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes. –Investigate limiting factors on a population. –Describe the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. –Trace the flow of energy from the sun through a food web. –Compare the water, carbon dioxide/oxygen, and nitrogen cycles. –Provide examples of how a change in the population of one organism may affect the population of other organisms.

8. MWEE Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience

9. Student using microscope to observe protists from model aquatic ecosystem.

10. Students will review the basic characteristics and needs of all living things.  Provide examples of how plants and animals meet their basic needs.  Create detailed scientific drawings.  Identify qualitative and quantitative observations of organisms.

11. Students will analyze the structure and function of cells and tissues needed to conduct life processes. Example of Cell Project

12. Students will analyze the structure and function of cells and tissues needed to conduct life processes. Example of Advanced Cell Project

13. Students will investigate the passage of hereditary information from generation to generation.  Demonstrate understanding of Punnett squares  Construct a DNA model  Summarize the major contributions  Simulate genetic replication  Identify the benefits and risks of genetic engineering.

14. Extracting DNA Project

15. Integrating Technology

16. Science clubs Science Olympiad Rocketry Club Eco-Action Club Science Bowl Rubik’s Cube Club Computer Science/Cyber Patriot Technology Student Association