South Lewis Central School

 

Students of science learn best  by performing hands-on activities.  With this in mind, the science 7 curriculum allows students to actively participate in their learning.  Be prepared to perform dissections of a burdock flower, a petunia flower, a lima bean seed, a sheep heart, and a  cow eye.   We will learn the structure and function of the human organ systems.

During the winter we will learn why our weather changes.  The students will learn how to read a weather map and will be able to predict the weather based on current weather maps.  The students love to predict snow days. 

We will learn about matter and energy by performing activities that will help the students understand the principles of the laws of conservation of matter and energy.  The students will demonstrate the various forms of energy such as potential, kinetic, electrical, mechanical, thermal and light.   During the last part of the year the students will design, build and test various type of simple machines. .

The 7th grade science course is designed to be aligned with the NYS standards for intermediate science.  The course has two major objectives.  The first is to teach topics the students have not covered in grades 5 through 6.  The second objective is to review and expand on topics that were covered in earlier grades.  This two-fold approach is designed to prepare the students to succeed on the New York State Intermediate Science Assessment they will take in 8th grade, as well as to prepare them with the basic science background they will need to succeed in high school and to be able to participate in life. 

The curriculum also includes many hands-on laboratory experiments and activities  that are designed to help prepare the students for the performance portion of the NYS 8Th grade assessment the students will take in 8Th grade.