United States · Common Core State Standards
7th Grade Science
This course explores the interconnectedness of Earth systems, the complexity of living organisms, and the fundamental laws governing physical interactions. Students engage in inquiry based investigations to model natural phenomena and analyze data regarding the changing nature of our planet.
01Energy and Matter in Motion
Students investigate the relationship between kinetic and potential energy while exploring how thermal energy transfers through different materials.
Students differentiate between various forms of energy (mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, light, sound) through examples and demonstrations.
Students investigate the factors affecting kinetic energy, specifically mass and speed, through hands-on experiments and data analysis.
Students explore different types of potential energy (gravitational, elastic, chemical) and how they are stored and released.
Students analyze systems to demonstrate that energy is conserved, transforming between kinetic and potential forms without loss.
Students differentiate between thermal energy and temperature, exploring how molecular motion relates to heat.
Students investigate how thermal energy transfers through direct contact in various materials, identifying good and poor conductors.
Students model convection currents in liquids and gases, understanding how density differences drive heat transfer.
Students explore how thermal energy can transfer through electromagnetic waves, even in a vacuum.
Students investigate real-world applications of thermal energy transfer, such as insulation, heating, and cooling systems.
Students explore the basic properties of waves, including amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed, and differentiate between transverse and longitudinal waves.
Students investigate the production, transmission, and perception of sound, exploring how sound waves interact with different media.
Students explore the properties of light as an electromagnetic wave, focusing on how light interacts with surfaces through reflection.
Students investigate how light bends as it passes from one medium to another, exploring the phenomenon of refraction and its applications.
02The Architecture of Life
This unit focuses on the structure and function of cells as the building blocks of all living organisms.
Students identify and explain the fundamental characteristics that define living organisms, distinguishing them from non-living matter.
Students learn to use microscopes to observe various cell types and understand the historical context of cell theory.
Students compare and contrast the basic structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, understanding their evolutionary relationship.
Students identify the organelles of plant and animal cells and their specific roles in maintaining life.
Students investigate how substances move into and out of cells through processes like diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.
An investigation into how specialized cells form tissues, organs, and complex body systems.
Students explore the structure and function of the digestive system, tracing the path of food and nutrient absorption.
Students investigate how the circulatory and respiratory systems work together to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Students explore how the nervous and endocrine systems coordinate body functions through electrical signals and hormones.
Students trace the flow of energy and the cycling of matter through cellular processes, focusing on how plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
Students investigate how organisms break down glucose to release energy for life processes.
Students analyze the complementary relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of matter and flow of energy.
Students review and synthesize their understanding of the major human body systems and their interactions.
03Inheritance and Variation
Students explore how genetic information is passed from parents to offspring and how mutations can lead to variation.
Students learn about the structure of DNA as the blueprint of life and its organization into chromosomes.
An introduction to DNA, genes, and the mechanisms of sexual and asexual reproduction.
Students compare and contrast sexual and asexual reproduction, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Students use Punnett squares to predict the probability of offspring inheriting specific traits.
Students explore how changes in DNA (mutations) can lead to new traits and genetic variation within a population.
Students examine various lines of evidence, including fossils, anatomical similarities, and DNA, that support the theory of evolution.
Students analyze how environmental pressures influence the survival and reproduction of specific traits.
Students investigate how organisms develop specific adaptations that increase their chances of survival and reproduction in particular environments.
Students compare natural selection with artificial selection, examining how humans have influenced the traits of domesticated plants and animals.
Students explore the importance of biodiversity and the factors that contribute to species extinction.
Students investigate the components of ecosystems and how different biomes are characterized by their climate and dominant life forms.
Students analyze the flow of energy and cycling of matter through food chains and food webs within an ecosystem.
Students investigate factors that influence population size and growth, including birth rates, death rates, and carrying capacity.
04Earth's Changing Surface
This unit examines the geological processes that shape Earth's landscape over varying timescales.
Students explore the composition and characteristics of Earth's layers, from the crust to the core, and how scientists study them.
Students investigate the historical development of the theory of plate tectonics, starting with continental drift and seafloor spreading.
Students model the movement of tectonic plates and the resulting geological features.
Students explore the causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, relating them to plate boundaries.
An investigation into how water, ice, and wind break down and transport Earth's materials.
Students investigate how water, ice, wind, and gravity transport weathered materials and deposit them in new locations.
Tracing the transformation of mineral matter through igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic stages.
Students identify common minerals based on their physical and chemical properties and understand their importance.
Students investigate the processes of the water cycle and the distribution and importance of freshwater resources.
Students explore the causes and effects of ocean currents and their influence on global climate patterns.
Students investigate the layers of Earth's atmosphere and the composition of gases that support life and influence weather.
An exploration of how pressure, temperature, and moisture interact to create weather events.
Students evaluate evidence for historical and modern shifts in Earth's climate.
Students research the distribution of resources and the consequences of their extraction.
A project based approach to mitigating human impact on air, water, or soil quality.