Middle Grades Science Overview

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  • Middle school science courses assist students in becoming life-long learners who grow in their understanding of the world.  Science is everywhere and understanding how it plays a role in our daily lives gives students a great foundation for any career they choose.  Students are engaged in active learning by making real-world connections of scientific topics that are interconnected and multifaceted.  Students are given the opportunity to expand their skills in scientific explanations, methods, and critical thinking by practicing in laboratory investigations. Each grade level has its own standards from each science domain that build upon the learning progression.

Middle Grades Science Courses at a Glance

  • Below is an overview of students' expectations in science for each grade level. The more children learn when they are young, the better they become as adults. We want to teach your children the academic skills they will need to prepare them for their next level of learning. Healthy, successful children can excel in many areas – in the classroom, on the court, and in their relationships with peers and adults. 

     
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  • Grade 6

    Sixth-grade students will engage in laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem-solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures as an integral part of this course.

    Throughout the year, your child will:

    • learn about the nature of science, energy transfer, the influence of global patterns, weather and climate, earth layers, landforms, changes to earth by human impact, astronomical bodies, the universe, solar system, and seasons.
    • have multiple opportunities to explore science laboratory investigations (labs).
    • interact directly with natural phenomena or with data collected by others using tools, materials, data collection techniques, and models
    • 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
    • understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data

    For additional information regarding the Grade 6 Science courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

  • Grade 7

    Seventh-grade students will engage in laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem-solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures. Students should have multiple opportunities every week to explore science laboratory investigations (labs).

    Throughout the year, your child will:

    • learn about Nature of science, cell theory, organization and classification of organisms, body systems, heredity, sexual/asexual reproduction, food webs, symbiotic relationships, photosynthesis, Law of Conservation of Mass
    • understand measurement error.
    • have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present results
    • 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.

    For additional information regarding the Grade 7 Science courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

  • Grade 8

    Eighth-grade students will engage in laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem-solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures. Students should have multiple opportunities every week to explore science laboratory investigations (labs).

    Throughout the year, your child will:

    • learn about Nature of science, properties of matter, classifying matter, atoms and the periodic table, waves, light and energy transformation, Law of Conservation of Energy, forces, and motion.
    • understand measurement error.
    • have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present results.
    • 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.

    For additional information regarding the Grade 8 Science courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

Contact Information

  • Secondary Science Department

    600 SE Third Avenue

    Fort Lauderdale , Florida 33301

    Phone: 754-321-2119

    Fax: --

    TTL: --

    Phone: --

    JP Keener

    Secondary Science Supervisor