Dover Sherborn Middle School Curriculum Road Maps

 

 

Course Title:                 Science                                    Grade:              7         

 

Unit:                 Vertebrates                                                     

Month Presented:         Apr-May                               Unit Length (in weeks):  4-6

 

 

Essential Question (s):

Why do we have a spine? Who needs a spine?

 

Learning Objectives:

  1. To understand the interactions between vertebrate organisms and the environment.
  2. To understand how a vertebrate organism obtains and uses energy.
  3. To compare morphology of organisms and how it has increased in complexity over time.
  4. To understand how the various vertebrate organisms accomplish the 5 life functions of: respiration, reproduction, responsiveness, nutrition and excretion.

 

Skills:

  1. Observing the anatomy of vertebrate organisms.
  2. Drawing skills to accurately represent the specimen.
  3. Reading and using a science text properly.
  4. Dissection skills.

 

Instructional Strategies & Activities:

  1. Research
  2. Dissections
  3. Model Construction
  4. Observational sketches
  5. Teacher-led discussion
  6. Presentations

 

Materials Utilized:

  1. Supplemental video
  2. Publisher supplements
  3. Dissection animals: fish, frog
  4. Animal models
  5. Digital Frog Computer Software Program

 

Assessment Strategies:

  1. Class participation
  2. Class discussion
  3. Quiz/Test
  4. Homework
  5. Presentation
  6. Research Paper
  7. Specimen Models/Drawings