Science

SCIENCE 6

406                  Grade Level 6                        

Studying science in the sixth grade begins by studying populations and resources among an ecosystem.  The students apply their understanding of populations and resources by engaging in a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience that benefits their local community.  Students then investigate concepts related to Earth science where they focus on plate motion and rock transformations.  Continuing the focus on Earth science, students then look at the interactions between the Earth, Moon and Sun.  Students then use principles of physical science to investigate thermal energy transfer and how it can be controlled.  Finally, the course ends with a study in understanding the impacts to Earth’s Changing Climate. Students interact with these content ideas by making observations, asking questions, designing and conducting investigations, analyzing data, developing models and communicating evidence through scientific argumentation.

MERIT SCIENCE 6

416                  Grade Level 6                        

Studying science in the sixth grade begins by studying populations and resources among an ecosystem.  The students apply their understanding of populations and resources by engaging in a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience that benefits their local community.  Students then investigate concepts related to Earth science where they focus on plate motion and rock transformations.  Continuing the focus on Earth science, students then look at the interactions between the Earth, Moon and Sun.  Students then use principles of physical science to investigate thermal energy transfer and how it can be controlled.  Finally, the course ends with a study in understanding the impacts to Earth’s Changing Climate. Students interact with these content ideas by making observations, asking questions, designing and conducting investigations, analyzing data, developing models and communicating evidence through scientific argumentation. Merit science addresses the same science standards with greater emphasis on rigor, creativity, and problem solving.  In merit classes students are expected to engage with the science content, practices, and crosscutting concepts in greater depth and with more refined modeling and application.

MAGNET SCIENCE 6

416MG            Grade Level 6                        

Studying science in the sixth grade begins by studying populations and resources among an ecosystem.  The students apply their understanding of populations and resources by engaging in a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience that benefits their local community.  Students then investigate concepts related to Earth science where they focus on plate motion and rock transformations.  Continuing the focus on Earth science, students then look at the interactions between the Earth, Moon and Sun.  Students then use principles of physical science to investigate thermal energy transfer and how it can be controlled.  Finally, the course ends with a study in understanding the impacts to Earth’s Changing Climate. Students interact with these content ideas by making observations, asking questions, designing and conducting investigations, analyzing data, developing models and communicating evidence through scientific argumentation.

Magnet Science addresses the same science standards with greater emphasis on rigor, creativity, and problem solving.  In the magnet class, students are expected to engage with the science content, processes, and crosscutting concepts in greater depth and with more refined modeling and application. Best practices from gifted education, as well as gifted education resources from the College of William and Mary and Gallagher’s Problem Based Instructional Units, are woven into the curriculum. Projects and topics often overlap the Magnet 6 Accelerated and Enriched Math course and integrate the school’s STEM Magnet Program Theme. Prerequisite: Acceptance to Magnet Program at Springfield Middle School in Grade 6, only.

SCIENCE 7

407                  Grade Level 7                        

Studying science in the seventh grade begins with students building an understanding of the interacting subsystems that are present in life science.  Students use their conceptual understanding to investigate the role of microbiomes in the human body.  Continuing the study of life science, students build background on how feedback systems function while looking at metabolism in the human body.  Students then build scientific explanations on how matter and energy is transformed within an ecosystem.  The students apply their understanding of matter and energy in ecosystems by engaging in a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience that benefits their local community. Models are then used to understand and explain the concepts behind gene expression and inherited traits.  Students explore and apply the physical science of light waves to determine the impact on the transfer of energy in different scenarios.  Students complete their scientific studies by developing and using models to explore phenomena related to the interactions between ocean and atmosphere that lead to changes in cloud formation, weather and climate.

MERIT SCIENCE 7

417                  Grade Level 7                        

Studying science in the seventh grade begins with students building an understanding of the interacting subsystems that are present in life science.  Students use their conceptual understanding to investigate the role of microbiomes in the human body.  Continuing the study of life science, students build background on how feedback systems function while looking at metabolism in the human body.  Students then build scientific explanations on how matter and energy is transformed within an ecosystem.  The students apply their understanding of matter and energy in ecosystems by engaging in a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience that benefits their local community. Models are then used to understand and explain the concepts behind gene expression and inherited traits.  Students explore and apply the physical science of light waves to determine the impact on the transfer of energy in different scenarios.  Students complete their scientific studies by developing and using models to explore phenomena related to the interactions between ocean and atmosphere that lead to changes in cloud formation, weather and climate. Merit science addresses the same science standards with greater emphasis on rigor, creativity, and problem solving.  In merit classes students are expected to engage with the science content, practices, and crosscutting concepts in greater depth and with more refined modeling and application.

Prerequisite: Outstanding performance during Science 6 or satisfactory performance during Merit Science 6.

MAGNET SCIENCE 7

417MG            Grade Level 7                        

Studying science in the seventh grade begins with students building an understanding of the interacting subsystems that are present in life science.  Students use their conceptual understanding to investigate the role of microbiomes in the human body.  Continuing the study of life science, students build background on how feedback systems function while looking at metabolism in the human body.  Students then build scientific explanations on how matter and energy is transformed within an ecosystem.  The students apply their understanding of matter and energy in ecosystems by engaging in a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience that benefits their local community. Models are then used to understand and explain the concepts behind gene expression and inherited traits.  Students explore and apply the physical science of light waves to determine the impact on the transfer of energy in different scenarios.  Students complete their scientific studies by developing and using models to explore phenomena related to the interactions between ocean and atmosphere that lead to changes in cloud formation, weather and climate.

Magnet Science addresses the same science standards with greater emphasis on rigor, creativity, and problem solving.  In the magnet class, students are expected to engage with the science content, processes, and crosscutting concepts in greater depth and with more refined modeling and application. Best practices from gifted education, as well as gifted education resources from the College of William and Mary and Gallagher’s Problem Based Instructional Units, are woven into the curriculum. Projects and topics often overlap the Magnet Algebra 7 course and integrate the school’s STEM Magnet Program theme.

Prerequisite: Acceptance to Magnet Program at Springfield Middle School in Grade 6, only.

SCIENCE 8 

408                  Grade Level 8                        

Studying science in the eighth grade begins with students building an understanding of physical science principles by investigating concepts behind Magnetic Fields.  Students continue their study of physical science by using scientific models to predict states of matter using principles of thermal energy. The exploration of the properties of matter are then applied to investigate mechanisms behind chemical reactions.  The study of life science then begins as students use data to predict the likelihood of a species survival in various locations and environments.  Finally, students will use scientific principles to develop a method to monitor and minimize human impact on the environment. Students will take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) during this course. 

MERIT SCIENCE 8

418                  Grade Level 8                        

Studying science in the eighth grade begins with students building an understanding of physical science principles by investigating concepts behind Magnetic Fields.  Students continue their study of physical science by using scientific models to predict states of matter using principles of thermal energy. The exploration of the properties of matter are then applied to investigate mechanisms behind chemical reactions.  The study of life science then begins as students use data to predict the likelihood of a species survival in various locations and environments.  Finally, students will use scientific principles to develop a method to monitor and minimize human impact on the environment. Students will take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) during this course.  Merit science addresses the same science standards with greater emphasis on rigor, creativity, and problem solving. In merit classes students are expected to engage with the science content, practices, and crosscutting concepts in greater depth and with more refined modeling and application.

Prerequisite: Outstanding performance during Science 7 or satisfactory performance during Merit Science 7.

MAGNET SCIENCE 8

418MG            Grade Level 8                        

Studying science in the eighth grade begins with students building an understanding of physical science principles by investigating concepts behind Magnetic Fields.  Students continue their study of physical science by using scientific models to predict states of matter using principles of thermal energy. The exploration of the properties of matter are then applied to investigate mechanisms behind chemical reactions.  The study of life science then begins as students use data to predict the likelihood of a species survival in various locations and environments.  Finally, students will use scientific principles to develop a method to monitor and minimize human impact on the environment. Students will take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) during this course.

Magnet Science addresses the same science standards with greater emphasis on rigor, creativity, and problem solving. In the magnet class, students are expected to engage with the science content, processes, and crosscutting concepts in greater depth and with more refined modeling and application. Best practices from gifted education, as well as gifted education resources from the College of William and Mary and Gallagher’s Problem Based Instructional Units are woven into the curriculum. Projects and topics often overlap the Magnet Grade 8 Geometry course and integrate the school’s STEM Magnet Program theme.

Prerequisite: Acceptance to Magnet Program at Springfield Middle School in Grade 6, only.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME SCIENCES SUBJECT GROUP COURSES

The following courses are offered only at Northern Middle School. Discover more about the IB MYP at Northern Middle School by reading the Signature Programs Descriptions section. Each of these Grades 6, 7, 8 courses are part of the Sciences Subject Group. The Sciences Subject Group is one of the 8 MYP Subjects in which MYP students must participate. These courses include the content of the foundational courses that are similarly-named on the preceding pages. Additionally, the curriculum includes the following components:

o   Key Concepts and Related Concepts, such as Perspective and Models that are explored over an MYP student’s time in the Programme.

o   Global Contexts, such as Globalization & Sustainability and Scientific & Technical Innovation.

o   Approaches to Learning skills, such as Self-Management and Communication Skills.

o   Statements of Inquiry, which allow the students to explore the content and skills through a conceptual lens.

MYP Science

MYP406/MYP406SM  Grade Level 6

MYP407/MYP407SM  Grade Level 7

MYP408/MYP408SM  Grade Level 8

MYP Merit Science

MYP416/MYP416SM  Grade Level 6

MYP417/MYP417SM  Grade Level 7

MYP418/MYP418SM  Grade Level 8