Middle School Science Course Description (Grades 6-8)

Middle School Science Course Description (Grades 6-8)

Course Overview:

The Middle School Science course for grades 6-8 aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Earth science, life science, and physical science. The course includes interactive lessons, hands-on lab assignments, and educational field trips to places like Busch Gardens, Sea World, Bowling Alley, and the Florida Aquarium to enhance their understanding of scientific concepts.

Course Objectives:

  • Understand Earth structures, systems, and patterns.
  • Learn about the organization, development, diversity, and evolution of living organisms.
  • Practice scientific methods and understand scientific knowledge.
  • Explore properties and changes of matter.
  • Understand forms of energy, energy transfer, and motion.
  • Study forces and changes in motion.
  • Develop critical thinking, observation, and experimental skills.

Florida State Standards for Science and Corresponding Field Trips:

Earth Structures:

  1. SC.6.E.6: Earth Structures
    • Standard: Describe the layers of the Earth and the processes that change the Earth’s surface.
    • Field Trip: Visit a local geological park or nature reserve.

Earth Systems and Patterns:

  1. SC.6.E.7 / SC.912.E.7: Earth Systems and Patterns
    • Standard: Understand the processes of the water cycle, weather, and climate.
    • Field Trip: Visit the Florida Aquarium to learn about the water cycle and marine ecosystems.

Organization and Development of Living Organisms:

  1. SC.6.L.14 / SC.912.L.14: Organization and Development of Living Organisms
    • Standard: Describe the structures and functions of living organisms.
    • Field Trip: Visit Sea World to study marine biology and the organization of living organisms.

Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms:

  1. SC.6.L.15: Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms
    • Standard: Understand how living organisms are classified and how they have evolved over time.
    • Field Trip: Visit Busch Gardens to explore animal diversity and evolution.

The Practice of Science:

  1. SC.6.N.1 / SC.8.N.1: The Practice of Science
    • Standard: Use scientific methods for observations, hypotheses, and experiments.
    • Lab Assignment: Conduct simple experiments to practice the scientific method.

The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge:

  1. SC.6.N.2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
    • Standard: Understand that scientific knowledge is based on evidence and can change with new information.
    • Lab Assignment: Research historical scientific discoveries and how they have changed over time.

The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models:

  1. SC.6.N.3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models
    • Standard: Explain the difference between theories, laws, hypotheses, and models.
    • Lab Assignment: Create models to demonstrate scientific concepts.

Energy Transfer and Transformations:

  1. SC.6.P.11: Energy Transfer and Transformations
    • Standard: Describe how energy is transferred and transformed.
    • Field Trip: Visit a local science museum with energy exhibits.

Motion of Objects:

  1. SC.6.P.12: Motion of Objects
    • Standard: Explain how force affects the motion of objects.
    • Field Trip: Visit a bowling alley to study force and motion.

Forces and Changes in Motion:

  1. SC.6.P.13: Forces and Changes in Motion
    • Standard: Describe the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
    • Lab Assignment: Conduct experiments to demonstrate forces and motion.

Properties of Matter:

  1. SC.8.P.8 / SC.912.P.8: Properties of Matter
    • Standard: Understand the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, and how they change.
    • Lab Assignment: Conduct experiments to observe properties of matter.

Earth in Space and Time:

  1. SC.912.E.5: Earth in Space and Time
    • Standard: Understand the structure and formation of the universe.
    • Field Trip: Visit the local planetarium.

Heredity and Reproduction:

  1. SC.912.L.16: Heredity and Reproduction
    • Standard: Understand how genetic information is passed from one generation to the next.
    • Field Trip: Visit Sea World to learn about animal genetics and reproduction.

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