Download Grade 7

EARTH SCIENCE STRAND
PROCESSES
CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS
Grades 6, 7, & 8:
 Describe natural phenomena with appropriate scientific terms.
 Explain natural phenomena with scientific concepts.
 Predict future events based on scientific knowledge.
 Apply scientific reasoning and knowledge.
 Interpret and communicate scientific information using words, equations, graphs, and charts.
EXPERIMENTATION
Grades 6, 7, & 8:
 Recognize and define a problem.
 Design appropriate investigations to solve the problem.
 Predict the results of the investigation.
 Conduct investigations, collect data, and record observations.
 Interpret data, draw conclusions and assess their validity.
ASTRONOMY
As a result of learning about the solar system and the universe:
Grade 6:
None
Grade 7:
None
Grade 8:
Students understand the structure of the solar system including movement of the
sun, moon, Earth, and other planets.
 Relate the orientation, direction and duration of the movement of the Earth around its
axis and around the sun to day/night cycles and the seasons.
 Explain how the changes in the relative position of the sun, moon and Earth affect the
phases of the moon, eclipses and ocean tides.
 Describe the solar system as consisting of one star, nine planets, and lesser members
different in size, composition and surface features, which revolve around the sun in
nearly circular orbits.
Students understand theories about the structure and origin of the universe.
 Recognize that the solar system is part of a vast, expanding and constantly changing
universe which contains millions of galaxies.
 Recognize that galaxies contain billions of stars that are born, change and die.
EARTH’S NATURAL RESOURCES
As a result of studying Earth’s natural resources:
Grade 6:
None
Grade 7:
Students understand that the Earth has various natural resources important to all
living organisms.
 Recognize that important natural resources (i.e., air, soil, minerals) vary in their
abundance and the ability to recover and recycle is important.
 Recognize the sources of fresh water and the importance of water to life.
Students understand the use of the Earth’s natural resources by humans.
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EARTH SCIENCE STRAND – (Continued)
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Grade 8:
Describe major sources of energy and the advantages and disadvantages of using
them in modern societies.
Use maps to identify geological features and their location.
None
METEOROLOGY
As a result of studying the Earth’s weather and climate patterns:
Grade 6:
Students infer that our atmosphere is dynamic and has patterns of weather
systems.
 Explain how wind results from unequal heating of the Earth’s surface.
 Examine the water cycle and the energy that drives it.
 Relate weather conditions to meteorological data collected from various sources.
Students describe and explain the reasons for the distribution of climates around
the world.
 Recognize that regional climates are determined by energy transfer from the sun and
are influenced by cloud cover, the Earth’s rotation, oceans and mountains.
 Examine the possible causes and effects of global phenomena including El Nino,
global warming, and ozone depletion.
Grade 7:
Students infer that our atmosphere is dynamic and has patterns of weather
systems.
 Explain the water cycle and the energy that drives it.
Students describe and explain the reasons for the distribution of climates around
the world.
 Explain how regional climates are determined by energy transfer from the sun and are
influenced by cloud cover, the Earth’s rotation, oceans and mountains.
 Discuss the possible causes and effects of global phenomena including El Nino,
global warming, and ozone depletion.
Grade 8:
None
EARTH HISTORY AND DYNAMICS
As a result of studying the composition of the Earth and the changes it undergoes:
Grade 6:
Students explain interactions between the Earth’s lithosphere, hydrosphere,
atmosphere, and biosphere.
 Describe the interior composition of the Earth, including its core, mantle, and crust.
 Examine how the formation, weathering, sedimentation and reformation of rock
constitute a continuing rock cycle.
 Examine evidence showing how waves, wind, water and ice shape and reshape the
Earth’s land surface by eroding rock and soil in some areas and depositing them in
other areas.
Students understand the theory of plate tectonics and the Earth’s geological
timeline.
 Explain the causes of major geological events, including earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, mountain building, and continental drift as a result of the motion of the
Earth’s plates.
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EARTH SCIENCE STRAND – (Continued)
Grade 7:
Students explain interactions between the Earth’s lithosphere, hydrosphere,
atmosphere, and biosphere.
 Explain how the formation, weathering, sedimentation and reformation of rock
constitute a continuing rock cycle.
 Describe how waves, wind, water and ice shape and reshape the Earth’s land surface
by eroding rock and soil in some areas and depositing them in other areas.
Students understand the theory of plate tectonics and the Earth’s geological
timeline.
 Recognize that the geological history of the Earth can be divided into major time
periods, which are characterized by distinct forms of life.
 Examine how geological time can be determined using evidence from fossils and rock
sequences.
Grade 8:
Students understand the theory of plate tectonics and the Earth’s geological
timeline.
 Understand that the geological history of the Earth can be divided into major time
periods, which are characterized by distinct forms of life.
 Describe how geological time can be determined by using evidence from fossils and
rock sequences.
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