Grade 6
The textbook is Glencoe: Structure and Function. It encompasses all aspects of Earth and space, life, and physical sciences with technology/engineering gives Grade 6 students relevant and engaging opportunities with natural phenomena and design problems that highlight the relationship of structure and function in the world around them. Students relate structure and function through analyzing the different features of the world, such as Earth characteristics and processes, the role of cells and our anatomy in supporting living organisms, also the properties of materials and waves. Students will use models and provide evidence to make claims and explanations about structure-function relationships in different science and technology/engineering domains.
Grade 7
The textbook is Glencoe: Systems and Cycles. In Grade 7 we will focus on systems and cycles using their understanding of structures and functions from their experience with their grade 6 text, connections, and relationships in systems, and they will study the flow of matter and energy. A focus on systems requires students to apply concepts and skills across disciplines since most natural and designed systems and cycles are complex and interactive. They gain experience with plate tectonics, interactions with humans and Earth processes, anatomy and life cycles of humans, ecosystem dynamics, motion and energy systems, and key technology used in society. At this point students begin a process of moving from a more concrete to an abstract thinking since many of the systems and cycles studied are not directly observable or experienced. This also creates a foundation for exploring cause and effect relationships in more depth in grade 8.
Grade 8
The textbook is Glencoe: Cause and Effect. Students use more abstract thinking skills to explain causes of complex systems. Many causes are not immediately or physically visible to students. An understanding of cause and effect of key natural phenomena and designed processes allows students to explain patterns and make predictions about future events. In Grade 8 these include causes/reasons why we have the seasons and tides, explains causes of plate tectonics and difference between weather and climate, the role of genetics in reproduction, heredity, and artificial selection, and how atoms and molecules interact to explain the substances that make up the world and how materials change. Being able to analyze evidence of causes and processes that often cannot be seen, and being able to understand and describe those, is a significant outcome for Grade 8 students.