Siebern's+Science+Curriculum

So what are you going to study in 7th grade science?

**Unit One: Science Inquiry** **The Process of Inquiry Leads to Scientific Understanding** Qualitative and Quantitative Observations ** 7.1.8.B. **** Scientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observations. ** a. Make qualitative observations using the five senses.  b. Determine the appropriate tools and techniques to collect data.  c. Use a variety of tools and equipment to gather data (e.g., microscopes, thermometers, analog and digital meters,  computers, spring scales, balances, metric rulers, graduated cylinders, stopwatches).  d. Measure length to the nearest millimeter, mass to the nearest gram, volume to the nearest milliliter, force (weight) to  the nearest Newton, temperature to the nearest degree Celsius, time to the nearest second.  e. Compare amounts/measurements.  f. Judge whether measurements and computation of quantities are reasonable.  g. Calculate the range and average/mean of a set of data.

Experimental Design ** 7.1.8.A. Scientific inquiry includes the ability of students to formulate a testable question and explanation, and to select appropriate investigative methods in order to obtain evidence relevant to the explanation. ** a. Formulate testable questions and hypotheses. b. Identify and describe the importance of the independent variable, dependent variables, control of constants, and multiple trials to the design of a valid experiment. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">c. Design and conduct a valid experiment. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">d. Evaluate the design of an experiment and make suggestions for reasonable improvements or extensions of an <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">experiment. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">e. Recognize that different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific investigations (e.g., some involve <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">observing and describing objects organisms, or events; some involve collecting specimens; some involve experiments; <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">some involve making observations in nature; some involve discovery of new objects and phenomena; some involve <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">making models). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">f. Acknowledge there is no fixed procedure called “the scientific method”, but some investigations involve systematic <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">observations, carefully collected and relevant evidence, reasoning, and imagination in developing hypotheses <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and other explanations.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Scientific Explanations <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** 7.1.8.D Scientific inquiry includes evaluation of explanations (laws/principles, theories/models) in light of evidence (data) and scientific principles (understandings) ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a. Use quantitative and qualitative data as support for reasonable explanations (conclusions). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">b. Use data as support for observed patterns and relationships, and to make predictions to be tested. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">c. Determine the possible effects of errors in observations, measurements, and calculations on the formulation of <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">explanations (conclusions). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">d. Evaluate the reasonableness of an explanation (conclusion). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">e. Analyze whether evidence (data) and scientific principles support proposed explanations (hypotheses, laws, theories).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** 7.1.8.E The nature of science relies upon communication of results and justification of explanations ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a. Communicate the procedures and results of investigations and explanations through: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">⇛ oral presentations <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">⇛ drawings and maps <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">⇛ data tables (allowing for the recording and analysis of data relevant to the experiment, such as independent and dependent variables, multiple trials, beginning and ending times or temperatures, derived quantities) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">⇛ graphs (bar, single line, pictograph) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">⇛ equations and writings