I. COURSE TITLE:
= Seventh Grade Life Science
II. TEXTBOOK:
=
Life
Science. Katy Allen, Linda Berg, Barbara
Christopher, Jennie Dusheck, and Mark Taylor. Holt, Rinehart, and
III. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to meet the New Jer= sey State Core Curriculum Science Standards. It is a general overview of the st= udy of life science from the basic cell to the higher order of organisms--plants and animals. In addition, the interaction of living and nonliving things in= the environment will be discussed. The study of these topics will be enhanced through the use of the scientific method in a lab-oriented manner.
IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of the requireme= nts of this course, the students should be able to demonstrate a proficiency in the skills and areas indicated below:
&= nbsp; A. Examine the features, needs, and origins of living things. (CCCS 5.5A, 5.5B)
&= nbsp; B. Explain and apply the steps of the scientific method. (CCCS 5.1A, 5.1B )
&= nbsp; C. Know and apply approved safety standards in laboratory situations. (CCCS 5.1C)
&= nbsp; D. Know and apply appropriate techniques when using classroom lab equipment. (CCCS 5.1C)
&= nbsp; E. Select and use appropriate metric measurement. (CCCS 5.3B)
&= nbsp; F. Explain the structure, function, and reproduction of cells. (CCCS 5.5A)
&= nbsp; G. Explore the increasing complexity of structure in living things from cell to organi= sm. (CCCS 5.5A)
&= nbsp; H. Describe patterns of heredity and how inherited changes can influence evolutionary trends. (CCCS 5.5B, 5.5C)
&= nbsp; I. Describe and evaluate methods of classification of organisms. (CCCS 5.5B)
&= nbsp; J. Compare and contrast common characteristics among members of the various kingdoms. (CCCS 5.5B)
&= nbsp; K. Examine the structure, processes, and reproduction of plants. (CCCS 5.5A)
&= nbsp; L. Explore characteristics of vertebrates. (CCCS 5.5B)
&= nbsp; M. Analyze the components of various ecosystems and the effects of those components on each other. (CCCS 5.10A, 5.10B)
&= nbsp; N. Describe the water and oxygen/carbon dioxide cycles. (CCCS 5.10A)
&= nbsp; O. Examine the pros and cons of current global and/or local environmental issues. (CCCS 5.10B)
&= nbsp; P. Identify the elements that a biome is comprised of and the ecosystems within a biome. (CCCS 5.5B, 5.10A)
&= nbsp; Q. Identify the various systems of the human body, and explain how systems and their or= gans interact. (CCCS 5.5A)
&= nbsp; R. Explore careers in life science and their impact on society. (CCCS 5.2A, 5.2B)
&= nbsp; S. Research individual or group topics using various reference materials and techniques. (CCCS 5.1B)
V. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE:
&= nbsp; A. Exploring Life (Chapter 1-all) &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; (4 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Features and needs of living things
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Theories of the origin of life
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Measuring with Scientific Units
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Use of lab equipment and lab safety
= ; &n= bsp; 5. Scientific method
= ; &n= bsp; 6. Parts of a controlled experiment
= ; &n= bsp; 7. Writing a lab report
&= nbsp; B. Ecology (Chapter 18, 29, and 20-all) &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; (7 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Abiotic and biotic factors
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Levels of biological organization
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Characteristics of populations
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Interactions in communities
= ; &n= bsp; 5. Flow of energy through ecosystems
= ; &n= bsp; 6. Water and oxygen-carbon dioxide cycles
= ; &n= bsp; 7. Ecological succession
= ; &n= bsp; 8. Factors that determine climate
= ; &n= bsp; 9. Land and water biomes
&= nbsp; C. Cells (Chapter 3-all; Chapter 4, section 3; Chapter 5, section 3; Chapter 6, sect= ions 1 and 2)(6 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Proper use of the compound light microscope
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Structure and function of cells
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Internal organization of living things
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Cell reproduction
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; a. = ; Mitosis
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; b. = ; Meiosis
= ; &n= bsp; 5. Structure and replication of DNA
&= nbsp; D. Heredity (Chapter 5-all) &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = (3 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Mendel's theory of inheritance
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Determining genotypes and phenotypes with Punnett squares
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Human Genome Project (add other sources including video and Glencoe science book)=
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Natural selection
&= nbsp; E. Classification of Living Things (Chapter 9-all) &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; (3 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. History of classification
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Scientific naming
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Six kingdom system
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Groups within kingdoms
= ; &n= bsp; 5. Using dichotomous keys
&= nbsp; F. Plants (Chapter 12-all) &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; (3 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Characteristics of seed plants
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Gymnosperms and angiosperms
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Parts of complex plants
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Seed plant reproduction
&= nbsp; G. Animals (Chapter 14, section 1; Chapter 16-all; Chapter 17-all) &n= bsp; (5 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Animal characteristics
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Vertebrate characteristics
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Fish
= ; &n= bsp; 4. Amphibians
= ; &n= bsp; 5. Reptiles
= ; &n= bsp; 6. Birds
= ; &n= bsp; 7. Mammals
&= nbsp; H. Human Body (Chapter 24-all; Chapter 23, sections 1 and 2) &= nbsp; (2 weeks)
= ; &n= bsp; 1. The digestive system
= ; &n= bsp; 2. The circulatory system
= ; &n= bsp; 3. The urinary tract system
VI. STUDENT ACTIVITIES:
A. &nbs= p; Class participation
= 1. S= mall group interaction
= 2. C= lass discussion
= 3. N= ote-taking
B. &nbs= p; Laboratory activities
= ; &n= bsp; 1. Laboratory experiments (individual/group)
= 2. W= ritten, formal lab reports
= 3. A= ppropriate lab behavior
C. &nbs= p; Homework and written class work
D. Individual and/or group project
E. Viewing of audio-visual materials
F. Viewing of teacher demonstrations
&= nbsp; G. Computer Activities
VII. EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING:
A. &nbs= p; Tests and quizzes &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; - 50%
B. &nbs= p; Laboratory reports and/or projects &= nbsp; - 25%
C. &nbs= p; Homework/class work/class participation - 25%
VIII. TEACHING AIDS AND MATERIALS:
A. &nbs= p; Laser disc
= 1. W= indows on Science - Life Science Volumes 1 and 2
= 2. B= ioscience
B. &nbs= p; Interactive CD-ROMs
= 1. G= lencoe Life Science CD-ROM
= ; &n= bsp; 2. Genetics - Patterns of Inheritance
= ; &n= bsp; 3. Operation: Frog Deluxe
C. &nbs= p; VHS videos
D. &nbs= p; Overhead transparencies
E. &nbs= p; Models/charts
F. &nbs= p; www.glencoe.com; www.scilinks.org; www.hrw.com
G. &nbs=
p; Supplemental
reference materials: Life Science. Biggs, Daniel=
, and Ortleb. Glencoe/McGraw-Hil=
l,
&n= bsp; H. Internet sites
ld revised 6/04
BOARD ADOPTED: June 29, 2004