State Curriculum - Science

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Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
Standard 4.0 Chemistry: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the composition, structure, and interactions of matter in order to support the predictability of structure and energy transformations. Standard 4.0 Chemistry: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the composition, structure, and interactions of matter in order to support the predictability of structure and energy transformations. Standard 4.0 Chemistry: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the composition, structure, and interactions of matter in order to support the predictability of structure and energy transformations.
A. Structure of Matter A. Structure of Matter A. Structure of Matter
1. Cite evidence to support the fact that all matter is made up of atoms, which are far too small to see directly through a microscope.
1. Provide evidence to explain how compounds are produced. (No electron transfer)
  a. Recognize and describe that the atoms of each element are alike but different from atoms of other elements.
a. Describe how elements form compounds and molecules.
  b. Recognize and describe that different arrangements of atoms into groups compose all substances.
b. Investigate and describe what happens to the properties of elements when they react chemically with other elements.
  c. Provide evidence from the periodic table, investigations and research to demonstrate that elements in the following groups have similar properties.
  • Highly reactive metals, such as magnesium and sodium
  • Less-reactive metals, such as gold and silver
  • Highly reactive non-metals, such as chlorine, flourine, and oxygen
  • Almost non-reactive gases, such as helium and neon
c. Based on data from investigations and research compare the properties of compounds with those of the elements from which they are made.
  d. Provide examples to illustrate that elements are substances that do not breakdown into smaller parts during normal investigations involving heating, exposure to electric current or reactions with acids.
 
  e. Cite evidence to explain that all living and non-living things can be broken down into elements.
 
B. Conservation of Matter B. Conservation of Matter B. Conservation of Matter
1. Provide evidence to support the fact that the idea of atoms explains conservation of matter.
    a. Use appropriate tools to gather data and provide evidence that equal volumes of different substances usually have different masses.
    b. Cite evidence from investigations that the total mass of a system remains the same throughout a chemical reaction because the number of atoms of each element remains the same.
    c. Give reasons to justify the statement, "If the number of atoms stays the same no matter how the same atoms are rearranged, then their total mass stays the same."
C. States of Matter C. States of Matter C. States of Matter
1. Provide evidence and examples illustrating that many substances can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas depending on temperature.
1. Describe how the motion of atoms and molecules in solids, liquids, and gases changes as heat energy is increased or decreased.
a. Use evidence from investigations to describe the effect that adding heat energy to different types of matter has on changing matter from one state to another.
  a. Based on data from investigations and video technology, describe and give reasons for what happens to a sample of matter when heat energy is added to it (most substances expand).
b. Based on data from investigations describe the effect that removing heat energy from different types of matter has on changing matter from one state to another.
  b. Describe what the temperature of a solid, or a liquid, or a gas reveals about the motion of its atoms and molecules.
c. Analyze data gathered and formulate a conclusion on the effects of temperature change on most substances.
  c. Formulate an explanation for the different characterisctics and behaviors of solids, liquids, and gases using an analysis of the data gathered on the motion and arrangement of atoms and molecules.
D. Physical and Chemical Changes D. Physical and Chemical Changes D. Physical and Chemical Changes
1. Cite evidence to support the fact that some substances can be separated into the original substances from which they were made.
1. Compare compounds and mixtures based on data from investigations and research.
a. Investigate and identify ways to describe and classify mixtures using the observable and measurable properties of their components.
  a. Cite evidence from investigations to explain how the components of mixtures can be separated.
b. Based on data gathered, identify and describe various processes used to separate mixtures.
  b. Use evidence from data gathered to explain why the components of compounds cannot be separated using physical properties.
c. Use data gathered to provide a reasonable explanation for the idea that the mass of a mixture is equal to the sum of the masses of its components.
  c. Analyze the results of research completed to develop a comparison of compounds and mixtures.
2. Cite evidence and give examples of chemical properties of substances.
    a. Based on data from investigations and research, identify and describe chemical properties of common substances.
  • Reacts with oxygen (rusting/tarnishing and burning
  • Reacts with acids (dissolves metal)
  • Reacts with bases (forms soap)
    b. Use information gathered from investigations using indicators and the pH scale to classify materials as acidic, basic, or neutral.
3. Provide evidence to support the fact that common substances have the ability to change into new substances.
    a. Investigate and describe the occurrence of chemical reactions using the following evidence:
  • Color change
  • Formation of a precipitate or gas
  • Release of heat or light
    b. Use evidence from observations to identify and describe factors that influence reaction rates.
    c. Identify the reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction given a symbolic equation, a word equation, or a description of the reaction.
    d. Provide data from investigations to support the fact that energy is transformed during chemical reactions.
    e. Provide examples to explain the difference between a physical change and a chemical change.
 

Note: Highlighting identifies assessment limits. All highlighted Indicators will be tested on the Grades 5 and 8 MSA. The highlighted Objectives under each highlighted Indicator identify the limit to which MSA items can be written. Although all content standards are tested on MSA, not all Indicators and Objectives are tested. Objectives that are not highlighted will not be tested on MSA, however are an integral part of Instruction.

 

MSDE has developed a toolkit for these standards which can be found online at: http://mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/science/vsc_toolkit.html.

 

January 2008