MS Science
Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics
Engage. Connect. Transform.
Middle School Science
The Ann Arbor middle school science curriculum is in-process of a multi-year transition to the Michigan Science Standards adopted the State of Michigan in November of 2015. These standards describe the knowledge and skills with which students will be proficient and able to perform by the end of grade 8.
These standards represent a shift to an expectation that students will demonstrate knowledge in use. They will do so by engaging with the science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas to explain phenomena they encounter in the world every day and to design solutions to challenges they encounter. We like to describe this as a shift to "figuring out" rather than "learning about."
Please see the diagram below for an overview of the transition in Grades 6, 7 and 8 Science courses over the coming years. Note that we will be integrating the science disciplines across the grades in a step-wise fashion to ensure that students will be ensured instruction in all disciplines. Also note that all students will begin to engage with instruction that includes the science and engineering practices and cross-cutting concepts beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
The State of Michigan will assesses student learning in Science using a pilot of the newly aligned Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, (M-STEP) in grades five, eight and eleven during spring of 2018, and anticipates a fully implemented, aligned assessment during the spring of 2020.
The table below provides an overview of the unit titles in each grade for the current school year as well as a link to more detailed information about the objectives for each unit of instruction.
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7th Grade Science |
8th Grade Science |
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Physical / Earth / Life Science & Engineering and Applications of Science in Society. |
Life Science Focus |
Physical Science Focus |
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Structures and properties of Matter Space Systems: Sun, Earth, Moon System Earth Systems: Geoscience Weather & Climate Human Impact Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
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Organization of Living Things Heredity Climate Change Human Body Systems Natural Selection Evolutionary History
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Force and Motion Electricity Energy Properties of Matter Changes in Matter Waves Magnetism |
All middle school Science courses engage students in the science and engineering practices essential to career and college readiness. These practices include the following.
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Using mathematics and computational thinking
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information
The Michigan K-12 Science Standards can be found at the following link:
Contact:
Amy Deller-Antieau
District Science Department Chair
deller@aaps.k12.mi.us