Seventh Grade Life Science Curriculum

This is a yearlong course that emphasizes the characteristics and interactions of living things.Students learn about the diversity of life on earth through scientific investigations, reading, modeling and research.This course both prepares students for the high school biological sciences and satisfies the state learning requirements for the 7^th grade.

Diversity of Life Curriculum

Life is the focus of the first set of investigations which introduces this subject to students. Items covered are:

• Life: What life is and the characteristics of living organisms.
• Microbiology: The cell, microbes, microscope use.
• Macrobiology: Plant, reproduction, animals and ecology.
• History of Life: Evidence for evolution.

Heredity, Evolution and Classification

This unit will survey the function of DNA in the cell and how the nucleus of the cell controls heredity.The classification of living things will be also an area of emphasis

• DNA: How DNA controls cell metabolism and heredity.
• Taxonomy: The classification of living things based on characteristics: scientific names and the Kingdoms of Life.

Human Body Systems

The various systems of the human body and their parts is the subject matter of this unit.   A healthy life style will be tied into these topics.

• Body Systems: Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, endocrine and musculoskeletal.

Weather and Water

This excellent unit will be explored as time allows. With the potential climate change of the planet being a current political issue worldwide, this is a timely set of topics.

• Weather and atmosphere
• Sun, seasons and heat.
• Water on earth, water cycle
• Air, air pressure and wind.
• Climate, climate change and weather.

Anchor Tasks throughout the year

• Cell Model Project
• Body Systems formal report.

 Grading for the class is consistent with the grading in all core academic classes: