Middle School Science

Redesigned Middle School Science Program

The redesigned middle school science program is being field tested in ten middle schools all K–8 schools during the 2005–2006 school year and is scheduled to be implemented in all middle schools during the 2006–2007 school year. The new curriculum:

Focuses on principles (big ideas) in earth, life, and physical sciences;
Incorporates a research-based, constructivist approach to learning;
Includes embedded formative assessments;
Teaches science as inquiry;
Aligns with Colorado science standards and CSAP science assessment frameworks; and
Includes materials for hands-on learning.

UNIFYING CONCEPTS	Abilities to do Scientific Inquiry (all grades) Inquiry involves engaging in scientifically oriented questions, giving priority to evidence in responding to questions, formulating explanations based on evidence, connecting explanations to scientific knowledge, and communicating and justifying explanations.
	Understandings about the Nature of Science (all grades) The development of scientific knowledge is based on questioning current knowledge, using empirical facts to develop logical theories, and verifying observations and claims.
	Literacy in Geoscience (Grade 6—Earth Science) Geoscientific literacy is knowing how the Earth works as a system in which humans as citizens have a responsibility to sustain the delicate balance of these systems through careful stewardship, informed decision making, and the wise use of Earth’s resources.
	Decision-Making, Personal and Societal (Grade 7—Life Science) Personal and societal decision-making is a complex endeavor, involving a consideration of the relevant evidence and trade-offs associated with the decision.
GRADE 6—EARTH SCIENCE Program: Investigating Earth Systems (IES) Developed by the American Geological Institute Published by It’s About Time
UNITS OF STUDY	Unit 1—Rocks and Landforms Rocks and landforms are part of the geosphere but are changed over time by interaction with the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere through constructive and destructive forces.
	Unit 2—Dynamic Planet Earth is an evolving planet undergoing constant change due to the heat dynamics within its interior and the associated movement of lithospheric plates that make up its crust.
	Unit 3—Astronomy Earth, and its moon, is one of nine planets in the solar system, which is part of the Milky Way galaxy, whose central body is the sun, around which these planets orbit due to gravitational forces.
	Unit 4—Water as a Resource All of planet Earth’s water (the hydrosphere), is essential for life, circulates through Earth systems, shapes the land, and is used as both an essential and non-essential resource by humans.
	Unit 5—Climate and Weather Weather comprises all the various phenomena that occur in the atmosphere. Climate represents the average pattern of weather variation at a certain location over several decades.
GRADE 7—LIFE SCIENCE Program: Science and Life Issues (SALI) Developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science Published by Lab-Aids
UNITS OF STUDY	Unit 1—Studying People Scientifically Scientists use inquiry-based techniques to solve problems in systematic and varied ways.
	Unit 2—Body Works The human body is a complex organization of many systems—digestion, circulation, respiration and others—all working together for the overall health of the individual.
	Unit 3—Micro-Life The cell, the basic unit of all life, contains smaller organelles that assist in life processes that are similar in function to the larger organism.
	Unit 4—Our Genes, Our Selves All organisms contain a "blueprint" for their growth, development and maintenance, and physical appearance in the DNA that is contained in genes on their chromosomes.
	Unit 5—Ecology Ecosystems are composed of biotic (plants, animals, fungi, microbes) and abiotic (soils, minerals, water, air) components and are complex interconnected systems.
	Unit 6—Evolution Living things change over time as a result of natural mutations that occur in their genomes and the process of natural selection, and evidence for this exists within the fossil record.
GRADE 8—PHYSICAL SCIENCE Program: InterActions in Physical Science (IPS) Developed by San Diego State University Published by It’s About Time
UNITS OF STUDY	Unit 1—Foundations Scientists believe that all events can be explained in terms of the interactions between objects. Scientists study interactions through observations and experimentation to determine the properties of objects and the nature of the interactions.
	Unit 2—Interactions and Energy Scientists can describe, analyze, and explain interactions by considering the energy transferred between the objects.
	Unit 3—Interactions and Forces Scientists can describe, analyze, and explain interactions by considering the forces between objects such as the gravitational forces between Earth and other objects.
	Unit 4—Interactions and Conservation Despite the changes that often occur during interactions, some things remain the same. During interactions in closed systems the total mass and energy stay the same.
	Unit 5—Materials and Other Interactions Scientists classify materials by their characteristic properties and interactions. When two materials interact and a new material is formed it is called a chemical interaction; otherwise, it is a physical interaction.
	Unit 6—Physical Interactions and Phases Scientists use models to help them think about things at scales too small or large to observe directly or with tools that extend the senses. The Small Particle Theory is a powerful model for thinking about matter and how it interacts with other matter.
	Unit 7—Chemical Interactions Scientists use the Small Particle Theory to understand what is happening to the mass and energy of a chemical system during a chemical reaction.

All middle school science programs were developed and nationally field tested with support from the National Science Foundation.

If you have technical questions about this Web site, contact Joel' Bradley-Hess at
joel_bradley-hess@dpsk12.org or 720-423-3723.