The curriculum for this course is a general science
course covering a variety of subjects.
The topics emphasized are representative of Life Science, Chemistry, and
Earth Science. It highlights the
integration of science and engineering where students follow the engineering
design process for themes such as global warming. For example, students research the effects of global warming
on penguins and then design and build an igloo to protect the penguins. Observation, interaction and comprehension
are three main components. As the
scientific method is used as the basis of exploration, discussions, laboratory
work, computer simulations, guest speakers, and field trips reinforce the text
and lecture material. Simulating
space travel at the Challenger Space Center provides an opportunity for
stimulating the love of science.
The curriculum continues the program begun in Sixth Grade
with a general science course.
Topics include the nature of science, geology (rocks and minerals), Life
Science (cell genetics, plant evolution), conserving resources (matter and
energy), and physical and chemical properties. The topics discussed will be explored in weekly laboratory
demonstrations and experiments.
The hands-on work will be backed up with written competency of the
concepts in the results and conclusions section of the lab notebooks. One of the interdisciplinary projects
with English and Computer class is researching and writing a report on an
The culmination of Middle School Science is an intensive
look at Physical Science and its interaction throughout Earth and Space. Topics will include electricity
(magnetism and electro-magnetic waves), physics, chemistry (atomic structure,
the periodic table and organic chemistry), and genetics (living and non-living
environments). The topics
discussed will be explored in weekly laboratory demonstrations and
experiments. The hands-on work
will be backed up with written competency of the concepts in the results and
conclusions section of the lab notebooks.
One of the interdisciplinary projects with English is the researching, designing, and
building of a 3-D molecule.