Rockingham County Public Schools
Seventh Grade Science Benchmarks
A Guide
for Parent Involvement |
|
1st Nine Weeks
Lab safety Plan and conduct investigations; LS.1 á Organizing
data using the Scientific Method (including – hypothesis, variables,
controls, constants, models, repeated trials) á Metric
System á
Why we use the metric system á
Prefixes á
Length, volume, mass, density, temperature á
Metric conversions á Constructing
and interpreting graphs and data tables á An
understanding of the nature of science is developed and reinforced Needs and Characteristics of organisms; LS.4 á Plant
needs á Animal
needs á Characteristics
common to all organisms á Factors
that influence life processes á Plan and
conduct investigations involving the needs of organisms; LS.1 á Adaptations á Interdependence;
LS.7 á Relationships
among organisms; LS.9 |
2nd Nine Weeks
Understand and investigate that all living things are
composed of cells and patterns of cellular organization; LS.2, LS.3 á Historical
contributions á Development
of the cell theory á Differences
and similarities between plant and animal cells á Cell
structure and organelles á Levels
of organization (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems) á Life
functions and processes of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems á Diffusion/osmosis á Mitosis/meiosis á Respiration á Reproduction/Growth á Digestion/waste
removal á Transport Cycles in nature; LS.7 á Water
cycle á Oxygen/carbon
dioxide cycle á Nitrogen
cycle á Energy
and matter interactions in life systems Investigating and understanding biotic and abiotic factors in a biome and relationships in
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; LS.7, LS.10 á Differences
between ecosystem and biomes á Relationships
in ecosystems and in biomes á Characteristics
of specific land and water biomes á Adaptations
that enable organisms to live in a specific biome Changing ecosystems, populations, communities, and human
activity; LS.11, LS.12 á Daily,
seasonal, long term changes á Succession á Limiting
factors á Climate
change á ManÕs
impact on change á Food
production and harvest á Environmental
issues á Change
in competition á Population
disturbances |
3rd Nine Weeks
Understand and investigate that all living things are
composed of cells and patterns of cellular organization; LS.2, LS.3 á Historical
contributions á Development
of the cell theory á Differences
and similarities between plant and animal cells á Cell
structure and organelles á Levels
of organization (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems) á Life
functions and processes of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems á Diffusion/osmosis á Mitosis/meiosis á Respiration á Reproduction/Growth á Digestion/waste
removal á Transport Understanding and investigating photosynthesis; LS.6 á Energy
transfer between sunlight and chlorophyll á Converting
water, carbon dioxide, and sunÕs energy into glucose and oxygen Organisms reproduce and transmit genetic material; LS.13,
LS.14 á Historical
studies and Mendelian genetics á Dominant
and recessive genes á Function
of genes/chromosomes á Genotypes/Phenotypes á Factors
affecting expression of traits á Probability á Punnet squares á Role of
DNA á Karyotypes á Inherited/non-inherited
traits á Genetic
mutations á Genetic
engineering and selective breeding Understanding organisms can be classified; LS.5 á
Distinguishing characteristics of kingdoms of
organisms á
Distinguishing characteristics of major animal and
plant phyla á
Characteristics of the species Organisms change over time; LS.14 á Genetic
mutations á Darwin
and natural selection á Extinction á Evidence
of evolution in the fossil record á Variation
within and the diversity among species |
4th Nine Weeks
Understanding organisms can be classified; LS.5 á Distinguishing
characteristics of kingdoms of organisms á Distinguishing
characteristics of major animal and plant phyla á Characteristics
of the species Organisms change over time; LS.14 á Genetic
mutations á Darwin
and natural selection á Extinction á Evidence
of evolution in the fossil record á Variation
within and the diversity among species Review previous units in preparation for the Eighth Grade
Science SOL test Review of previous units, enrichment activities,
investigations and projects based on interest areas in science. Continue investigation of the 5 kingdoms |
** The numbers throughout the Benchmarks refer to the
Virginia Science Standards of Learning objectives. For example, ÒLS.4Ó refers to Seventh Grade Life Science SOL
objective number Ò4Ó.