Dear Parents,
I hope all is well and that you’ve had a great winter break. Here is what we’ll be doing in our Science class this upcoming quarter. I am looking forward to an exciting 2012.
Grade 6:
• Plate Tectonics (Ch. 6)
o Identify & describe the layers of the Earth
o Understand the three types of tectonic plates
o Explain major types of faults
o LAB=Crack in the Hard-Boiled Earth
• Earthquakes (Ch. 7)
o What are the causes of earthquakes? Where do earthquakes come from?
o How detected? How to locate?
o Safeguarding buildings
o Earthquake safety procedures
o LAB=Create an earthquake proof building
Grade 7:
• Heredity (Ch. 6)
o Experiments of Gregor Mendel
o Recessive trait & dominant trait
o Genes and alleles related to phenotypes and genotypes
o Differences between mitosis and meiosis
o LAB=Tracing Traits-goldfish
o LAB=Round or Wrinkled
• Genes and Gene Technology (Ch. 7)
o Describe the basic structure of the DNA molecule
o Explain how DNA molecules can be copied
o Define mutation, and give an example of it
o Explain how DNA works
o LAB=Extracting DNA from a kiwi
o LAB=Fingerprint your friends
Grade 8:
Matter in Motion (Ch. 5)
o Observations of motion/speed/acceleration/velocity
o What is a force?
o Force that opposes motion
o Gravity force of attraction
o LAB=Domino Derby
o LAB=Hot Wheels
Forces in Motion (Ch. 6)
o Gravity & Motion
o Air Resistance/ Projectile Motion
o Newton’s Laws- 1st/2nd/3rd
o Momentum
o LAB= Projectile Motion
o LAB=Let’s go fly!
