Science Essential Skills

Essential skills are the MINIMUM that we expect ALL students to leave 8^th grade science understanding. The values we should be looking for in the essential skills are: Endurance (they have value beyond this year), Leverage (They have value beyond this class), and Readiness (they will need this for school next year). The essential skills should be what we are teaching and assessing. We will go beyond these in our classrooms.

8th Grade (Physical, Earth Space, and Life Science)

Students will be able to pose questions and define problems, based on observations, that lead to explanations of the world and be scientifically tested.
Students will be able to develop and use models and tools.
Students will be able to revise and improve models and designs based identified limitations.
Students will be able to construct investigations, systematically encompassing identified variables and parameters while generating quality data.
Students will be able to analyze results by continually asking themselves questions.
Students will be able to mathematically and computationally use different approaches to predict the behavior of systems and test the validity of predictions.
Students will be able to construct and/or design coherent explanations or solutions that incorporate their understanding of science and engineering.
Students will be able to use argumentation and evidence-based conclusions and solutions to compare and evaluate competing ideas and methods.
Students will be able to communicate information and ideas in multiple formats.

7th Grade (Physical, Earth Space, and Life Science)

Students will be able to pose questions and define problems, based on observations, that lead to explanations of the world and be scientifically tested.
Students will be able to develop and use models and tools.
Students will be able to construct investigations, systematically identifying variables and parameters while generating quality data.
Students will be able to analyze results by continually asking themselves questions.
Students will be able to construct and/or design coherent explanations or solutions that incorporate their understanding of science and engineering.
Students will be able to design evidence-based.
Students will be able to communicate information and ideas in multiple formats.

Text Resizing

Science Essential Skills