Course Description

Building upon the foundation created in the 6th Grade Science program at Cary Academy, Science 7 focuses upon the methods of the scientist, basic chemistry concepts and reactions, electricity/magnetism, astronomy, cell biology, and the the surface of the Earth. Students design and conduct experiments within the content areas and then use their scientific writing and data analysis skills to present the findings. The concept that science is universal and touches all aspects of life is also emphasized.

Topics (Outline)

I.  Methods of the scientist including laboratory safety, the metric system, measurement and data analysis, the relationship between science and technology, and the scientific method.    

A.  Methods and equipment of the scientist

B.  Measurements and unit conversions used by the scientist

C.  Transforming and interpreting scientific data

D.  Scientific reports and abstracts

E.  Use of computer integrated probes to obtain data

II.  Chemistry

A.  Chemical Bonds

1.  Basic Properties of the Periodic table

2.  How do atoms combine?

3.  How do elements bond?

B.  Chemical Reactions

1.  Chemical Formulas and Equations

2.  Rates of Chemical Reactions

C.  Substances, Mixtures, and Solubility

1.  Solutions

2.  Solubility

3.  Acid/Base Chemistry

D.  Carbon Chemistry

1.  Simple Organic Compounds

2.  Other Organic Compounds

3.  Biological Compounds

III.  Electricity and Magnetism

A.  General Electricity Concepts

1.  Electric Charge as Related to Chemistry

2.  Electrical Current

3.  Electric Circuits

B.  Magnetism

1.  Basic Concepts of magnetism

2.  Electricity and Magnetism

C.  Electronics and Computers

1.  Electronic Equipment

2.  Computer Equipment

IV.  Astronomy

A.  Stars and Galaxies

1.  Stars

2.  Our Sun

3.  Evolution of Stars

4.  Galaxies and the Universe

B.  Sun/Earth/Moon System

1.  Earth

2.  The Earth’s Satellite

3.  Exploring Earth’s Moon

4.  The Earth's, Moon's, and Sun's movements

C.  Solar System

1.  General Solar System

2.  Inner Planets

3.  Outer Planets

4.  Other Objects in the Solar System

D.  Exploring Space

1.  Radiation from space

2.  Early Space Missions (History)

3.  Current and Future Space Missions

V.  Cell Biology

A.  Exploring and classifying life

1.  Living Things

2.  Where Does Life Come From?

3.  How are Living Things Classified

B.  Cells

1.  Cell Structure

2.  Viewing Cells (Microscopy)

3.  Viruses

C.  Cell Processes

1.  Chemistry of Life

2.  Moving Cellular Materials

3.  Energy for Life

D.  Cell Reproduction

1.  Cell Division and Mitosis

2.  Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

3.  DNA

E.  Heredity

1.  Genetics

2.  Genetics Beyond Mendel

3.  Advance in Genetics

F.  Adaptations Over Time

1.  Theories about the Diversity of Life

2.  Clues about Evolution

3.  Evidence for the Evolution of Primates

VI.  The Earth's Surface

A.  Views of Earth

1.  Landforms

2.  Viewpoints

3.  Maps

B.  Weathering and the Soil

1.  Weathering

2.  Nature of the Soil

3.  Soil Erosion

C.  Erosional Forces

1.  Erosion by Gravity

2.  Glaciers

3.  Wind

D.  Water Erosion and Deposition

1.  Surface Water

2.  Groundwater

3.  Ocean Shoreline

E.  Clues to the Earth’s Past

1.  Fossils

2.  Relative Ages of Rocks

3.  Absolute Ages of Rocks

F.  Geologic Time

1.  Life and Geologic Time

2.  Early Earth History

3.  Middle and Recent Earth History