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In order for a student to be promoted to high school from the middle grades, they must successfully complete the following courses:
End of Year District Final - Counts for 10% of Final Course Grade
This is the standard grade 7 science course. All grade 7 students who have successfully completed a grade 6 science course (M/J Comp Sci 1 or M/J Comp Sci 1 Adv) are eligible. Teacher input and student interest should be considered.
Successful completetion of a grade 6 science course (M/J Comp Sci 1 or M/J Comp Sci 1 Adv)
Advanced science courses include additional Next Generation Sunshine State High School Science Standards (NGSSS).
Advanced science courses will include the requirement for students to complete a scientific research project.
Access the Instructional Materials page to see approved instructional resources for this course.
Advanced science courses include additional Next Generation Sunshine State High School Science Standards (NGSSS).
Advanced science courses will include the requirement for students to complete a scientific research project.
M/J Comprehensive Science 2 is a basic intermediate course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in the physical universe. This course expands on the Gr 6 course, providing a set of basic scientific skills and a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in this course include the scientific method, overview of the four major areas of science, mathematics in science, astronomy, the atmosphere, natural cycles, weather and climate, human anatomy and physiology, and careers in science.
The curriculum seeks to develop the students' ability to be aware of and participate in scientific inquiry. The units contain experiments and projects to capitalize on the students' natural curiosity. The students will explore, observe and manipulate everyday objects and materials in their environment. Students at this level should show understanding of interrelationships between organisms, recognize patterns in systems, and expand their knowledge of cellular dimensions of living systems. Collectively, this should help students develop and build on their subject-matter knowledge base.
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 middle school level, all students should have multiple opportunities every week to explore science laboratory investigations (labs). School laboratory investigations 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 (NRC, 2006, p. 3). Laboratory investigations in the middle 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 (NRC 2006, p. 77; NSTA, 2007).
