Middle School Science

Grade Level Specific Science Curriculum Information

The Michigan Science Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) identify what students are expected to know and be able to do. Students are tested in science by the state (MEAP) in grades four and eight, so the GLCEs are clustered by grades K-4 and 5-7 targets.

The eighth grade science targets address High School Content Expectations (HSCEs)

The Ann Arbor Public Schools use a variety of materials to meet these content expectations. All of these materials contribute to an inquiry-based program. Students engage in hands-on science, apply the investigative skills used by scientists, read to support their learning and understanding of science concepts, and write to clarify their thinking and document their conclusions and reflections. The units are blocked so that sixth graders study earth science, seventh graders study life science and eighth graders study physical science.

Middle School students in science class Although the GLCEs have been written to address specific outcomes at each grade, because the middle school science MEAP is not administered until eighth grade, the state outcomes may be addressed in a different order than they appear in the state documents. In this way, the integrity of the adopted programs are maintained, and all state outcomes are addressed by the time they are tested in eighth grade. Teachers use multiple opportunities to assess student learning throughout and at the end of each unit.

What follows is a list of the big ideas addressed in the units scheduled at each grade level. In addition to these science content topics, students are taught and develop the following inquiry, analysis and communication skills that are crucial for building science literacy.

Other Resources

Extended Grade Level Content Expectations for Science:

Using Earth Science Knowledge 501kb Word Doc
Constructing New Scientific Knowledge 205kb Word Doc
Using Life Science Knowledge 430kb PDF
Reflecting on Scientific Knowledge 235kb PDF
Using Physical Science Knowledge 537kb PDF

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