Science Standards Grades 6-8 – 2025-26 focus – Matter and Its Interactions & Energy, Forces and Motion<\/b><\/p>\n
Matter and Its Interactions <\/span><\/i>and<\/span> Energy, Forces and Motion <\/span><\/i>addresses the performance expectations, attendant science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts deemed appropriate for grades 6 through 8 by the Next Generations Science Standards (NGSS). It allows students to develop an understanding of fundamentals of chemistry and physics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each lesson in this unit builds on the skills and concepts presented in previous lessons.\u00a0 As students progress through the unit, they take increasing responsibility for their own learning.\u00a0 Therefore, the unit will be taught in its entirety.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n To structure and scaffold the development of students\u2019 knowledge, skills, and cognitive reasoning, these units include three primary lesson types: pre-assessment, skills and knowledge, and assessment. The pre-assessment lesson allows the teacher to assess students\u2019 preconceptions, misconceptions, and skills. The skills and knowledge building lessons provide multiple opportunities for students to grow and learn through formative assessment. The assessment lesson includes both performance and written assessment activities that function together as a summative assessment of student learning.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Grading<\/span><\/p>\n Middle School Science uses the Standards Based grading system of 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5 and 1.0.\u00a0 Practice is not included in the final grades, as we recognize that students make mistakes while they are learning the material presented.\u00a0 All final grades are based on Assessments that include specific rubrics for the given assignments.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Text<\/span><\/p>\n Smithsonian Education Center – Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School – Matter and Its Interactions<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Smithsonian Education Center – Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School – Energy Forces and Motions<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n