Learning Standards
7.ESS.1: The hydrologic cycle illustrates the changing states of water as it moves through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
7.ESS.1.a: Thermal energy is transferred as water changes state throughout the cycle. The cycling of water in the atmosphere is an important part of weather patterns on Earth. The rate at which water flows through soil and rock is dependent upon the porosity and permeability of the soil or rock.
7.ESS.2: Thermal-energy transfers in the ocean and the atmosphere contribute to the formation of currents, which influence global climate patterns.
7.ESS.2.a: The sun is the major source of energy for wind, air and ocean currents and the hydrologic cycle. As thermal energy transfers occur in the atmosphere and ocean, currents form. Large bodies of water can influence weather and climate. The jet stream is an example of an atmospheric current and the Gulf Stream is an example of an oceanic current. Ocean currents are influenced by factors other than thermal energy, such as water density, mineral content (such as salinity), ocean floor topography and Earth’s rotation. All of these factors delineate global climate patterns on Earth.
Coastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
Water Cycle
7.ESS.3: The atmosphere has different properties at different elevations and contains a mixture of gases that cycle through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
7.ESS.3.a: The atmosphere is held to the Earth by the force of gravity. There are defined layers of the atmosphere that have specific properties, such as temperature, chemical composition and physical characteristics. Gases in the atmosphere include nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide and other trace gases. Biogeochemical cycles illustrate the movement of specific elements or molecules (such as carbon or nitrogen) through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Carbon Cycle
Cell Energy Cycle
7.ESS.4: The relative patterns of motion and positions of Earth, moon and sun cause solar and lunar eclipses, tides and phases of the moon.
7.ESS.4.a: The moon’s orbit and its change of position relative to Earth and sun result in different parts of the moon being visible from Earth (phases of the moon).
Moonrise, Moonset, and Phases
Phases of the Moon
7.ESS.4.b: A solar eclipse is when Earth moves into the shadow of the moon (during a new moon). A lunar eclipse is when the moon moves into the shadow of Earth (during a full moon).
7.ESS.4.c: Gravitational force between Earth and the moon causes daily oceanic tides. When the gravitational forces from the sun and moon align (at new and full moons) spring tides occur. When the gravitational forces of the sun and moon are perpendicular (at first and last quarter moons), neap tides occur.
7.ESS.5: The relative positions of Earth and the sun cause patterns we call seasons.
7.ESS.5.a: Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5°. This tilt along with Earth’s revolution around the sun, affects the amount of direct sunlight that the earth receives in a single day and throughout the year. The average daily temperature is related to the amount of direct sunlight received.
Seasons Around the World
Seasons in 3D
Seasons: Why do we have them?
Summer and Winter
7.LS.1: Energy flows and matter is transferred continuously from one organism to another and between organisms and their physical environments.
7.LS.1.a: Plants use the energy in light to make sugars out of carbon dioxide and water (photosynthesis). These materials can be used or stored for later use. Organisms that eat plants break down plant structures to release the energy and produce the materials they need to survive. The organism may then be consumed by other organisms for materials and energy.
Cell Energy Cycle
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Photosynthesis Lab
Prairie Ecosystem
7.LS.1.c: The total amount of matter and energy remains constant, even though its form and location change.
7.LS.2: In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
7.LS.2.a: The variety of physical (abiotic) conditions that exists on Earth gives rise to diverse environments (biomes) and allows for the existence of a wide variety of organisms (biodiversity).
Comparing Climates (Metric)
Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
7.LS.2.c: Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; the number and types of species fluctuate over time. Disruptions, deliberate or inadvertent, to the physical (abiotic) or biological (biotic) components of an ecosystem impact the composition of an ecosystem.
Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Pond Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem
Rabbit Population by Season
7.PS.1: Elements can be organized by properties.
7.PS.1.a: Elements can be classified as metals, non-metals and metalloids, and can be organized by similar properties such as color, solubility, hardness, density, conductivity, melting point and boiling point, viscosity, and malleability.
Circuit Builder
Melting Points
7.PS.2: Matter can be separated or changed, but in a closed system, the number and types of atoms remains constant.
7.PS.2.a: When substances interact and form new substances the properties of the new substances may be very different from those of the original substances, but the amount of mass does not change.
Chemical Changes
Chemical Equations
7.PS.3: Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
7.PS.3.a: When energy is transferred from one system to another, the quantity of energy before transfer equals the quantity of energy after transfer. When energy is transformed from one form to another, the total amount of energy remains the same.
Air Track
Energy Conversion in a System
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics
Sled Wars
Trebuchet
7.PS.4: Energy can be transferred through a variety of ways.
7.PS.4.a: Mechanical energy can be transferred when objects push or pull on each other over a distance.
7.PS.4.b: Mechanical and electromagnetic waves transfer energy when they interact with matter.
Heat Absorption
Longitudinal Waves
Radiation
Waves
7.PS.4.c: Thermal energy can be transferred through radiation, convection and conduction.
Conduction and Convection
Heat Absorption
Heat Transfer by Conduction
Herschel Experiment - Metric
Radiation
7.PS.4.d: An electrical circuit transfers energy from a source to a device.
Correlation last revised: 9/15/2020