Albany Middle School

The AMS Science Department follows the Next Generation Science Standards, California Integrated model for Seventh Grade Science. The content involves a variety of science topics from the main three categories: physical science, life science, and earth science. The curriculum involves mostly hands-on inquiry based activities that encourage creativity and critical thinking.

During the Photosynthesis and Respiration Unit, students conduct a scientific investigation by applying their knowledge of the scientific design to formulate their own testable question.

Science Notebooks
Students keep all their work in their Science notebook, just as a scientist would. There is a notebook quiz every Friday. Students use their notebooks to answer questions showing that they are completing their work and that they understand the material.

Topics covered:

Introduction to Science

What is Science?, Thinking like a Scientist, Types of Scientists & Engineers

Earth’s Systems

Plate Tectonics, Pangaea

Earthquakes, Volcanoes

Properties of Matter

Mass, Volume, Density

States of Matter

Identifying an Unknown

Elements & Periodic Table

Atoms, Elements

Molecules & Compounds

Periodic Table

Chemical Reactions

Physical & Chemical Changes

Evidence of chemical reactions

Endothermic & Exothermic

Photosynthesis & Respiration

Cycling of matter
Flow of energy

Ecology

Ecosystems, Interaction Patterns, Biodiversity

Population, Resource Availability

Earth & Human Impact

Earth’s Resources, Renewable/Non-renewable

Predicting and Preparing for Catastrophic Events