Course Overview:
This course introduces middle school students to the disciplines of life science, physical science, and earth-space science. In addition, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts are integrated throughout the course. The lessons make real-world connections and require students to apply STEM skills like analysis, problem solving, science knowledge, and engineering practices. Students learn about forces, energy, earth systems, cells, classifying life and Body systems. Hands-on and virtual laboratory investigations are included throughout the course to provide students opportunities for exploration through scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, and experimental procedures. By the end of the course, students will be practicing, experimenting, thinking, and talking like a scientist!
Prerequisites:
Grade 5 Science
Required Materials:
Student-Supplied Resources
Students need to supply the following materials to complete the coursework.
Segment 01
01.02 Types of Forces
- Steps, hard-cover books, blocks, or boxes to hold up the ramp
- Wood, foam board, hard-cover notebook, cookie sheet, or other flat surface for ramp
- Small ball (rubber, golf, tennis, etc.) or can to roll down the ramp
- Ruler or tape measure
- Towel, carpet, cotton fabric, sandpaper, or other material to alter the surface texture of the ground
01.05 Graphing Speed
- Timer
- Meter stick or tape measure
- Masking tape, sticky notes, paper, toilet paper, or other material that can be used to indicate distance
- Marker
02.04 Spheres of Earth
- Two matching containers (clear glass or plastic bottles or cups such as milk jugs, soda bottles, or mason jars)
- Gravel or small rocks
- Soil (potting soil or dirt)
- Two small plants (moss, grass, small potted plant)
- Water
- Plastic wrap
- Marker
- Ruler
Segment 02
06.05 Infections and Health
- Cheesecloth
- Coffee filters
- Cotton balls
- Funnel
- Old T-shirt
- Pantyhose
- Sock
- Water bottle
- "Swamp water" (water from an outside source like a hole in ground, puddle, lake, river, or swamp, or students can add dirt to tap water)
Other Resources
- Adobe Flash Player
- Java
- Windows Media Player
- Apple iTunes
Syllabus:
Segment 01:
Module 01: Force and Energy
- 00 Module Pretest
- 01 Gravitational Law
- 02 Types of Forces
- 03 Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
- 04 Speed and Motion
- 05 Graphing Speed
- 06 Energy Transfer
- 07 Discussion-Based Assessment
- 08 Module Exam
Module 02: The Earth
- 00 Module Pretest
- 01 Landforms
- 02 Weathering and Erosion
- 03 Shaping the Surface
- 04 Spheres of Earth
- 05 Heat Transfer
- 06 Advanced Heat Transfer Through Earth
- 07 Discussion-Based Assessment
- 08 Module Exam
Module 03: The Atmosphere
- 00 Module Pretest
- 01 Energy and Temperature
- 02 Weather and Climate
- 03 Global Weather Patterns
- 04 The Water Cycle and Its Effects
- 05 The Atmosphere and You
- 06 Advanced Predicting Severe Weather
- 07 Discussion-Based Assessment
- 08 Module Exam
- 09 Segment One Exam
Segment 02:
Module 04: Cells and Life
- 00 Module Pretest
- 01 Organization of Organisms
- 02 Cells and the Structure of Life
- 03 Cell Structure and Functions
- 04 Advanced Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
- 05 Discussion-Based Assessment
- 06 Module Exam
Module 05: Classifying Life
- 00 Module Pretest
- 01 Maintaining Balance
- 02 Advanced Cell Cycle and Mitosis
- 03 Classification
- 04 Keys and Kingdoms
- 05 Discussion-Based Assessment
- 06 Module Exam
Module 06: Body Systems
- 00 Module Pretest
- 01 Nervous and Musculoskeletal
- 02 Endocrine and Reproductive
- 03 Digestive and Excretory
- 04 Respiratory and Circulatory
- 05 Infections and Health
- 06 Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07 Module Exam
- 08 Segment Two Exam
