Science+Curriculum+-+General

In all grades the students begin the year by learning the names of the various pieces of lab equipment that we will be using during the year. Laboratory safety rules are also learned.
 * General Christ King Middle School Science Curriculum: **

//The 6th graders// begin the year with an introduction to the metric system and the Scientific Method. This is followed by studying Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, as well as simple machines, heat, magnetism, static and current electricity, gravity, and friction. In the second semester students venture into the study of cells, microscopes, and genetics, as well as volcanoes, earthquakes, plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, and finally finishing the year with meteorology. The students do a Cell Model Project to help them learn and understand the cell's parts and how the cell works.

//The 7th graders// begin the year with a study of ecology. Then we have a study of the atom and elements and how they interact. This will be followed by our study of the systems of the human body: skeletal, muscular, skin, blood circulatory, lymphatic circulatory, digestive, respiratory, excretory, nervous and endocrine systems. After this, we learn about the invertebrate and vertebrate animals, leading into bacteria, archaea, protists, and finally plants. The students get Earth Science by learning about the weathering and erosion of our landscape.

//The 8th graders// begin the year with chemistry. Then there is a review of the Scientific Method. The 8th grade students’ three-month Science Fair Project includes an experiment done outside of the classroom, a research paper, a backboard and display, as well as an oral presentation to judges. This is their major project of the year. The 8th grade students will also learn about the Earth's surface water and oceans in the first semester. In the second semester they learn about paleontology while studying geologic time. Finally, the students end the year by learning some astronomy, starting with our own Earth and moon, but expanding to all the planets in our solar system, and then to the stars and galaxies.