Grade 6

High School Credit: 1 (0.5 credit earned at end of each semester)

Course Weight: 4.5

This honors-level course is an investigation into Earth and what makes it unique. Students take an advanced approach to investigating the structure and composition of the earth, meteorology, earth processes, oceanography, geology, space exploration and astronomy, as well as Scientific Inquiry and the nature of science. The academic pace and rigor will be greatly increased for this honors-level course work since this is a high school credit course. Laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, critical thinking, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures are an integral part of this course. Laboratory investigations and activities in this course will provide students with opportunities to interact directly with natural phenomena and/or with data collected by others using tools, materials, data collection techniques, and models. Completion of a science fair project is a mandatory component of this course.

Grade 7

Laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures are an integral part of this course. Laboratory investigations (both in class and virtual) will help all students develop a growing understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills to calibrate and troubleshoot equipment used to make observations. Learners should understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Topics to be discussed will include but is not limited to: Scientific method and experiment design, characteristics of living things, classifying living things, cells, mitosis and meiosis, genetics, change over time, human body systems, and ecology. Completion of a science fair project is a mandatory component of this course.

Grade 8

High School Credit: 1 credit (0.5 credit earned at end of each semester) 

Course Weight: 4.5 

While the content focus of this course is consistent with the Physical Science course, students will explore these concepts in greater depth. In general, the academic pace and rigor will be greatly increased for honors level course work. Laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures are an integral part of this course. The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) recommends that at the high school level, all students should be in the science lab or field, collecting data every week. School laboratory investigations (labs) are defined by the National Research Council (NRC) as an experience in the laboratory, classroom, or the field that provides students with opportunities to interact directly with natural phenomena or with data collected by others using tools, materials, data collection techniques, and models. Laboratory investigations in the high school classroom should help all students develop a growing understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills to calibrate and troubleshoot equipment used to make observations. Learners should understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Completion of a science fair project is a mandatory component of this course.