Science
Science
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