MSAD #55
Grade
Seven Science Benchmarks
And
Units
10/05
A. Students
will understand that there are similarities within the diversity of all living
things. Students will be able to:
1. Compare systems of classifying organisms including systems used by scientists.
q
Diversity
of Life
2. Decipher the system for assigning a scientific name to every living thing.
q
Diversity
of Life
3. Describe some structural and behavioral adaptations that allow organisms to survive in a changing environment.
q
Diversity of Life
4. Compare and contrast the life cycles, behavior, and structure of different organisms.
q
Diversity
of Life
B. Students
will understand how living things depend on one another and on non-living
aspects of the environment.
Students will be able to:
1. Describe in general terms the chemical processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
q
Diversity
of Life
2. Analyze how the finite resources in an ecosystem limit the types and populations of organisms within it.
q
Diversity
of Life
3. Describe succession and other ways that ecosystems can change over time.
q
Diversity
of Life
4.
Generate examples of the variety of ways that organisms
interact (e.g., competition, predator/prey, parasitism/mutualism).
q
Diversity
of Life
5.
Describe various mechanisms found in the natural world for
transporting living and nonliving matter and the results of such movements.
q
Diversity
of Life (Soils)
C. Students
will understand that cells are the basic units of life. Students will be able to:
1. Compare and contrast human organ systems with those of other species.
q
Cells
2. Prepare and examine microscopic slides of single-celled and multi-celled organisms.
q
Cells
3.
Describe
the structure and function of major organs in human systems.
q
Human
Body
4. Identify
the causes and effects of diseases, explain their transmission, and identify
prevention strategies.
q
Human
Body
5.
Describe
how body systems work together.
q
Human
Body
D. Students
will the basis for all life and that all living things change over time. Students will be able to:
1. Describe how fossils can be used by scientists to trace the history of a species.
q
Fossils
2. Explain how scientists use fossils to prove that life forms, climate, environment, and geologic features in a certain location are not the same now as they were in the past.
q
Fossils
3. Provide
examples of the concept of natural and artificial selection and its role in
species changes over time.
q
Genetics
4. Compare
how sexually and asexually reproducing species transfer genetic information to
offspring.
q
Cells
The Universe
G. Students will gain knowledge about the universe and how humans have learned about it, and about the principles upon which it operates. Students will be able to:
1. Compare past and present knowledge about characteristics of stars (e.g., composition, location, life cycles) and explain how people have learned about them.
q Universe
2.
Describe
the concept of galaxies, including size and number of stars.
q
Universe
3.
Compare and contrast distances and the time required to
travel those distances on earth, in the solar system, in the galaxy, and
between galaxies.
q
Universe
4.
Describe scientistsŐ explanation of space and the objects
they have found (e.g., comets, asteroids, pulsars).
q
Universe
5.
Describe
the motions of moons, planets, stars, solar systems, and galaxies.
q Universe
J. The student
will apply inquiry and problem-solving approaches in science and
technology. Students will be able
to:
1. Make accurate observations using appropriate tools and units of measure.
q
Plants and Cells
2. Design
and conduct scientific investigations which include controlled experiments and
systematic observations. Collect
and analyze data, and draw conclusions fairly.
q
Plants and Cells
3. Verify
and evaluate scientific investigations and use the results in a purposeful way.
q
Plants and Cells
4. Compare and
contrast the processes of scientific inquiry and the technological method.
q
Plants
and Cells
5. Explain
how personal bias can affect observations.
q
Plants and Cells
Scientific Reasoning
K. Students will
learn to formulate and justify ideas and to make informed decisions Students will be able to:
1. Examine
the ways people form generalizations.
q
Universe
q
Diversity
of Life/Genetics
2.
Identify exceptions to proposed generalizations.
q
Universe
q
Diversity of Life/Genetics
3.
Identify basic informal fallacies in arguments.
q
Universe
q
Diversity of Life/Genetics
4.
Analyze means of slanting information.
q
Genetics
5.
Identify stereotypes.
q
Diversity of Life
6.
Support reasoning by using a variety of evidence.
q
Genetics
q
Diversity of Life
7.
Show that providing a hypothesis false is easier than
proving it true, and explain why.
q
Genetics
8.
Construct
logical arguments.
q
Genetics
9. Apply
analogous reasoning.
q
Genetics
Communication
L. Students
will communicate effectively in the application of science and technology. Students will be able to:
1.
Discuss
scientific and technological ideas and make conjectures and convincing
arguments.
q
Genetics
2.
Defend
problem-solving strategies and solutions.
q
Diversity of Life
3.
Evaluate individual and group communication for clarity, and
work to improve communication.
q
Diversity of Life
4.
Make and use scale drawings, maps, and three-dimensional
models to represent real objects, find locations, and describe relationships.
q
Cells
q
Universe
5.
Access information at remote sites using telecommunications.
q
All
6.
Identify and perform roles necessary to accomplish group
tasks.
q
All
Implications of Science and Technology
M. Students will
understand the historical, social, economical, environmental, and ethical
implications of science and technology.
Students will be able to:
1. Research and
evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological
developments.
q
Genetics
2.
Describe
the historical and cultural conditions at the time of an invention or
discovery, and analyze the societal impacts of that invention.
q
Genetics
3.
Discuss
the ethical surrounding a specific scientific or technological development.
q
Genetics
5
Identify
factors that have caused some countries to become leaders in science and
technology.
q
Universe
.8. Recognize scientific and
technological contributions of diverse people including women,
different ethnic groups,
races, and physically disabled.
q
Genetics
q
Universe