Science in seventh grade explores geology, matter and energy, and the dynamic equilibrium of the human animal and other organisms.
By the end of the school year, all students should be able to:
■ Understand that rocks can be igneous (formed from cooled magma or lava), sedimentary (formed by settling and compression), and metamorphic (changed by heat and pressure).
■ Understand that rocks go through a cycle of changes from one form to another. For example, igneous rocks can be broken down by weather or other forces into particles that can become compressed into sedimentary rocks. Under pressure and heat, both igneous and sedimentary rocks can become metamorphic rocks.
■ Understand where fossils are found and understand the importance of fossils as records of the past.
■ Understand that the earth’s crust consists of plates that move and understand the evidence that supports that theory.
■ Understand that earthquakes are caused by faults and folding in the earth’s crust.
■ Understand the periodic table and the concepts of atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds.
■ Understand chemical reactions—the process of converting one substance into another substance with different properties. Recognize common chemical reactions, such as when hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms join together to make molecules of water.
■ Understand how the human body keeps its internal environment stable (maintains homeostasis) with its systems working smoothly together.
■ Understand how the body uses processes, such as respiration and metabolism, to regulate its internal environment.
■ Understand how plants and animals obtain energy and respond to their external environment.
Learning at Home
Together, see fossil specimens of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures at the American Museum of Natural History’s world-famous fossil halls. Ology, the museum’s Web site for young people, www.amnh.org/ology/paleontology/stuff/findfossils.html, offers tips for fossil hunters and links to other sites.
Challenge your child to identify chemical reactions that occur in your home. For example, think about the chemical reactions that occur in cooking, cleaning, and other daily activities. Remember that natural processes, such as photosynthesis and respiration, also are examples of chemical reactions.
Work up a sweat by taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood with your child. Pay attention to how your bodies react by breathing hard, increasing your heartbeat, and other regulatory measures. Whose body returns to normal the fastest?
Encourage your child to visit Volcano World, volcano.und.nodak.edu, a Web site with news and information, personal reports of close volcano encounters, and updates on eruptions around the world.