Class Description - Standards Class Descriptions -- Science Department Ramsey Junior High The following material is a reference for all of the science classes taught by the science department staff. The basis of the courses is determined by the Content Standards and Preparatory Content Standards in Learning as determined by Saint Paul Public Schools and the State of Minnesota Department of Children and Learning. Individual staff members will approach the content and requirements with different experiences and in different depths. In some cases the material will be imbedded in the curriculum developed by the staff member. The department staff will also be guiding the students through an activity of their choice in our Ramsey Science Fair. Applied Scientific Methods (3) - life science, earth science, physical systems (challenge - 8th) Inquiry - direction observation - 7th grade - life science Inquiry - controlled experiment - 8th grade - earth science Research - 8th challenge Science - done in conjunction with the English Department The science program at Ramsey offers the following: 7th grade - regular life science - challenge life science, challenge earth science (2 years in one year) 8th grade - regular earth science - challenge inquiry science - completes the 9th grade program Applied Scientific Methods -- Living and Nonliving Systems (7th grade regular science and 7th grade challenge science) A student shall demonstrate: A. an understanding of.... 1. characteristics of organisms including plants, animals, and microorganisms 2. basic structures and functions of the human body 3. cycles and patterns in living organisms, earth systems and physical systems 4. how human behavior and technology impact the environment 5. characteristics of the physical world B. the ability to... 1. measure and classify objected, organisms and materials on the basis of properties and relationships 2. make systematic observations of objects, events or phenomena by recording data and predicting change 3. create a model to illustrate a concept, law, theory or principle 4. identify personal behaviors and use of materials that have a positive impact on the environment Applied Scientific Methods -- Earth Systems (8th grade regular science and 7th grade challenge science) A student shall demonstrate: A. an understanding of.... 1. earth systems including the geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere 2. concepts of change and constancy in the earth’s history and theories of origin through evidence found in fossils, rocks, and layers,, land forms and natural events 3. the relative positions and motion of objects in the solar system including moon phases and tides, seasons, eclipses, gravitational force, and planetary motion B. the ability to... 1. formulate questions to be answered based on measurement and observations 2. designing and conduction investigations and field studies 3. create a model to illustrate a concept, law, theory or principle 4. analyze data to support or refute hypotheses by identifying patterns in data; and comparing results to known scientific theories, currents models, or personal experience; and considering multiple interpretations of data 5. describe how a premise is supported by scientific concepts, principles, theories or laws Applied Scientific Methods -- Physical Systems (8th grade chlallenge science is the 9th grade inquiry science) A student shall demonstrate: A. an understanding of.... ...the fundamental laws and concepts of the physical world including properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, transfer of energy and force and motion. B. the ability to... 1. formulate questions to be answered based on measurement and observations 2. designing and conduction investigations and field studies 3. create a model to illustrate a concept, law, theory or principle 4. analyze data to support or refute hypotheses by identifying patterns in data; and comparing results to known scientific theories, currents models, or personal experience; and considering multiple interpretations of data 5. describe how a premise is supported by scientific concepts, principles, theories or laws Inquiry - Direct Observation (7th grade regular science) A student shall demonstrate the ability to gather information to answer a scientific question through.... ... direct observations, including framing a questions, framing and recording data, displaying data in appropriate format, looking for patterns in observable data, relating finds to new situation or large group findings, answering a question or presenting a position using data, and identifying areas for further investigation Inquiry -- Controlled Experiments (8th grade regular science, 7th grade challenge science) A student shall design and conduct a controlled experiments or investigation and interpret the results by.... 1. using relevant information to generate a hypothesis or frame a question in a given topic 2. defining the controls, variable, and sample size or number of repetitions 3. setting up a method to test the hypothesis 4. determining how to record and organize data 5. conducting the experiment and recording the data 6. analyzing data and evaluating the hypothesis 7. identifying areas for further investigation Inquiry - Research Paper (8th challenge science -- Inquiry Science); done in collaboration with the English Department