Welcome to the Internet Resources for 7th Grade Integrated Science

Listed sites have been reviewed and correlated to the NEW core curriculum.  Take a moment to search these sites as many of them have other links that may be beneficial.  Also, please be advised that there are some interactive sites that may take a moment to download.
Happy Surfing!

Look for:
Link to 7th Grade Integrated Science Sci-ber Text.          Link to the 7th grade Core Experiments.

Science Benchmark All matter is made up of atoms that are far too small to see. Atoms are in perpetual motion and the more energy they contain the faster they move. Atoms combine to form molecules. Matter is made up of atoms and molecules that have measurable mass, volume, and density. Density is a measure of the compactness of matter. Density determines the way materials in a mixture are sorted. This property of matter results in the layering and structure of Earth’s atmosphere, water, crust and interior. Models are used to describe the structure of Earth.

Standard I: Students will understand the structure of matter.

Objective 1: Describe the structure of matter in terms of atoms and molecules.
a. Recognize that atoms are too small to see.
b. Relate atoms to molecules (e.g., atoms combine to make molecules).
c. Diagram the arrangement of particles in the physical states of matter (i.e., solid,liquid, gas).
d. Describe the limitations of the models used to represent atoms.
e. Investigate and report how our knowledge of the structure of matter has been developed over time.

Particle Adventure contains information about atoms and atomic structure.
The Miami Museum of Science has interactive lessons on the phases of matter and other topics.
The Physics 2000 site from the Univ. of Colorado, Boulder contains detailed information about atomic models.
The Jefferson Labs site is full of lessons, reference materials, activities, games and puzzles.
The Shodor Edu. Foundation /UNC site has helpful college level information on atoms.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Lab provides animated, interactive information about matter and atoms.
Spikes Science Projects contains very basic information about atoms, matter and a variety of other topics.

Objective 2: Accurately measure the characteristics of matter in different states.
a. Use appropriate instruments to determine mass and volume of solids and liquids and record data.
b. Use observations to predict the relative density of various solids and liquids.
c. Calculate the density of various solids and liquids.
d. Describe the relationship between mass and volume to density.
e. Design a procedure to measure mass and volume of gases.

Princeton Plasma Physics Lab provides animated, interactive information about density.
The Science Museum of Minnesota site contains information about mass, volume and density.
The Sciences Explorer byThinkQuest  contains a density experiment and links to other information.
Spikes Science Projects contains very basic information solids, liquids and gases, plus a variety of other topics.
Fun with Density is an AskERIC lesson plan.
The Reachout Michigan site has lesson plans for Volume of a Gas and Temperature,  Density and  Density with Balloons.

Objective 3:Investigate the motion of particles.
a.Identify evidence that particles are in constant motion.
b. Compare the motion of particles at various temperatures by measuring changes in the volume of gases, liquids, or solids.
c. Design and conduct an experiment investigating the diffusion of particles.
d. Formulate and test a hypothesis on the relationship between temperature and motion.
e. Describe the impact of expansion and contraction of solid materials on the design of buildings, highways, and other structures.

Miami Museum of Science has interactive lessons on the motion of particles.
Motion of Molecules is an AskERIC lesson plan.
The Sciences Explorer byThinkQuest contains a egg drop experiment and a heated fan experiment with links.
The Reachout Michigan site has a lesson plan for the Diffusion of Molecules and  Expansion of Water as it Freezes.
Spikes Science Projects contains very basic information about diffusion of gases and expansion/contraction of soilds.

Link to the 7th Grade Sci-berText .                                                       Link to the 7th grade Core Experiments.

Standard II: Students will understand the relationship between properties of matter and Earth’s structure.

Objective 1: Examine the effects of density and particle size on the behavior of materials in mixtures.
a. Compare the density of various objects to the density of known earth materials.
b. Calculate the density of Earth materials (e.g., rocks, water, air).
c.Observe and describe the sorting of Earth materials in a mixture based on density and particle size (e.g. sorting grains of sand of the same size with different densities,sort materials of different particle size with equal densities).
d. Relate the sorting of materials in streambeds, road cuts or beaches to the density and particle size of those materials.
e. Design and conduct an experiment that provides data on the natural sorting of various earth materials.

The Structure of the Earth site contains notes from a Phys. Geology course.  Simple outline of information.
The Earth Science Australia site contains information about sorting and gives examples. 
Spikes Science Projects contains very basic information about sorting  and particle shape.

Objective 2: Analyze how density affects Earth's structure.
a. Compare the densities of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior layers.
b. Relate density to the relative positioning of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust and interior.
c. Model the layering of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior due to density differences.
d. Distinguish between models of Earth with accurate and inaccurate attributes.

The Saddleback College site has a page about the densities of the layers of Earth.
The Univ. of North Dakota Volcano World site has an interactive site about the layers of the Earth.
The Univ. of Arizona SEDS site contains all of the basics about the Earth's structure.
The SolarViews site contains detailed information about the Earth's interior.
The 3-D Earth Structure activity and extensions were developed by a Prof. Braile at Purdue Univ.
The Earth's Interior activity and extensions were developed by a Prof. Braile at Purdue Univ.

Link to the 7th Grade Sci-berText .

  Science language students should use: atmosphere, atom, crust, density, diffusion, gas, liquid, models, mass, matter, molecule, particle, solid, temperature, heat energy, volume

Science Benchmark Living things are made of smaller structures whose functions enable the organisms to survive. The basic unit of structure in all living things is the cell. Cells combine to form tissues that combine to form organs. While all cells have common structures, there are differences between plant and animal cells. Cell details are usually visible only through a microscope. Reproduction passes information from parent to offspring. Asexual reproduction requires one parent and produces nearly identical offspring. Sexual reproduction requires two parents, and provides variety in a species. This variety may allow the species to adapt to changes in the environment and help the species survive. A species may change due to the passing of traits naturally or by techniques used and developed by science. Genetic information is passed on in a predictable manner.

Standard III: Students will understand that the organs in an organism are made of cells that have structures and perform specific life functions.

Objective 1: Observe and describe cellular structures and functions.
a. Use appropriate instruments to observe, describe and compare various types of cells (e.g., onion, diatoms).
b. Observe and distinguish the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, chloroplast, and cytoplasm of cells.
c. Differentiate between plant and animal cells based on cell wall and cell membrane.
d. Model the cell processes of diffusion and osmosis and relate this motion to the motion of particles.
e. Gather information to report on how the basic functions of organisms are carried out within cells (e.g., extract energy from food, remove waste, photosynthesis).

Virtual Cell Tour is an animated tour thorugh a cell.  It also has worksheets to use.
Dr. Saul's Organize It program allows you to quiz yourself on plant and animal cell organization.
The Biology Project from the Univ. of Arizona has a section on cell biology and genetics.
Egg-cellent Ideas for Osmosis and Diffusion is a lesson plan from the Science Spot.
Biology Lesson Plan links from the Science Spot.
Boston Museum of Science give instructions on how to make a homemade microscope (40x or 100x). EASY
Westminister Seconday Schools site with clickable diagrams of cells and descriptions of organelles.
Cells Alive has more clickable plant and animal cell diagrams.
The Bullis School site contains a slide presentation on cell organelles.
Mr. Lubey's Biology help site has interactive lessons on all the basics of cells.
Portland State University tutorial on Osmosis and Diffusion.
San Diego State University Biology Lessons site contains many adaptable activities including one on Osmosis.
Cell Structures and Processes:  Clickable tour of the organelles and cell processes.
The Sciences Explorer byThinkQuest  contains a virtual cell tour and links to other information.

Objective 2: Identify and describe the function and inter-dependence of various organs and tissues.
a. Order the levels of organization from simple to complex (e.g., cell, tissue, organ, system, organism).
b. Match a particular structure to the appropriate level (e.g. heart to organ, cactus to organism, muscle to tissue).
c. Relate the structure of an organ to its component parts and the larger system of which it is a part.>
d. Describe how the needs of organisms at the cellular level for food, air, and waste removal are met by tissues and organs (e.g. lungs provide oxygen to cells, kidneys remove wastes from cells).

The California State Univ./Los Angeles site has a page that describes levels of organization for 10th grade Biology.  Adaptable.
Psionica Online Learning- Biology site covers many topics including Tissue, Organs and Systems.
Camilla Senior Public School Life Systems site has many links to cells, levels of organization, etc.

Standard IV: Students will understand that offspring inherit traits that make them more or less suitable to survive in the environment.

Objective 1: Compare how sexual and asexual reproduction passes genetic information from parent to offspring.
a. Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits.
b. Contrast the exchange of genetic information in sexual and asexual reproduction (e.g. number of parents, variation of genetic material).
c. Cite examples of organisms that reproduce sexually (e.g., rats, mosquitoes, salmon, sunflowers) and those that reproduce asexually (e.g., hydra, planaria, bacteria, fungi, cuttings from house plants).
d. Compare inherited structural traits of offspring and their parents.

Dolan DNA Learning Center site allows you to explore basic and molecular genetics with amazing animated segments.
The Biology Project from the Univ. of Arizona has a section on cell biology and genetics.
The Genetics Science Learning Center at the U of Utah has information on cells and genetics and materials and kits to carry out extended activites.
How Does Chance Influence  Inheritance? is an Access Excellence lesson plan.
Asexual reproduction information including specific types at About.com.
General types of animal sexual reproduction at About.com.

Objective 2: Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
a. Predict why certain traits (e.g., structure of teeth, body structure, coloration) are more likely to offer an advantage for survival of an organism.
b. Cite examples of traits that provide an advantage for survival in one environment but not other environments.
c. Cite examples of changes in genetic traits due to natural and man-made influences (e.g. mimicry in insects, plant hybridization to develop a specific trait, breeding of dairy cows to produce more milk).
d. Relate the structure of organs to an organism’s ability to survive in a specific environment (e.g., hollow bird bones allow them to fly in air, and hollow structure of hair insulates animals from hot or cold, dense root structure to grow in dense soil, fish fins to move in water).

Desert USA describes adaptations of desert animals.
A PBS lesson plan about nocturnal animals in the Canyonlands discusses animal adaptation.
A PBS lesson plan about mammal adaptations has 3 adaptable activities.  The links and video's are helpful.
The Nature Works site  has a variety of lessons, activities and links dealing with animal adaptations.

Link to the 7th Grade Sci-berText.                                      Link to the 7th grade Core Experiments.

Science language students should use:  asexual reproduction, genetics, nucleus, organ, organism, osmosis, system,             tissue, inherited trait, offspring, sexual reproduction, cytoploasm, diffusion, membrane, chloroplast, cell, cell wall

Science Benchmark Classification schemes reflect orderly patterns and observable distinctions among objects and organisms. One of the most general distinctions among organisms is between plants and animals. Biologists consider an organism's structural features more important for classifying organisms than behavior or general appearance. Geologists classify earth materials based upon structure. Chemists classify matter based upon structure. Classification systems may change as science develops new knowledge.

Standard V: Students will understand that structure is used to develop classification systems.

Objective 1: Classify based on observable properties.
a. Categorize non-living objects based on external structures (e.g., hard, soft).
b. Compare living, once living, and non-living things.
c. Defend the importance of observation in scientific classification.
d. Demonstrate that there are many ways to classify things.

The Virginia Standards of Learning site has a classification lab using fingerprints.
The Marshall Univ. site contains a simple classification activity.
The Lesson Plans Page.com site has an adaptable activity on Classifying the Solar System.
The Boston Museum of Science activity called Making Collections starts students collecting and drawing samples.

Objective 2: Use and develop a simple classification system.
a. Using a provided classification scheme, classify things (e.g., shells, leaves, rocks, bones, fossils, weather, clouds, stars, planets).
b. Develop a classification system based on observed structural characteristics.
c. Generalize rules for classification.
d. Relate the importance of classification systems to the development of science knowledge.
e. Recognize that classification is a tool made by science to describe perceived patterns in nature.

The Sidewell Friends School site contains a classification lab with background information.  Clickable pictures.
Science NetLinks activity Classify That  uses the site Classifying Critters to help students learn to classify organisms.
Microbe.org Creepy Critters activity that involves simple classification.
Mr. Lubey's Biology help site has interactive lessons on all the basics of classification. 
The Classifying Animals page on the Fact Monster site provides basic classification information.
The Palaeos.com site describes the importance of classification.
An AskERIC lesson plan on the Variety of Life on Earth.

Objective 3: Classify organisms using an orderly pattern based upon structure.
a. Identify types of organisms that are not classified as either plant or animal.
b. Arrange organisms according to kingdom (i.e., Plant, animal, monera, fungi, protist).
c. Use a classification key or field guide to identify organisms.
d. Report on changes in classification systems as a result of new information or technology.

Michigan State University's Microbe World has great visual links to microbial organisms in different environments.
Dr. Saul's Organize Itprogram allows you to quiz yourself on the classification of living things.
The EMCC On-Line Biology Book site contains detailed notes on classification.  Be sure to take a look at the links!
PC Physical Anthropology tutorial ofClassification of Living Things site is detailed and has suggested links.
The QUT contains an exercise using a Dichotomous Key and inforamtion in a Teacher's Corner.
Saskatchewan Learning Biology 20 Online has a section of Modules on the Diversity of Life with lessons and activities.
ENature.com has online field guides.
UEN.org link to the Leaf Classification activity.

Link to the 7th Grade Sci-berText .

   Science language students should use:  classification, classification key, kingdom, organism, species