Matter, Motion, Life, and Earth

The year opens with asking questions and designing tests, including hypotheses, variables, data tables, and conclusions drawn from home experiments. Study then turns to matter, atoms, and changes, with work on elements, compounds, mixtures, particle motion, and density. Units on forces, motion, simple machines, energy, and electricity follow. Attention shifts to cells, body systems, genes, traits, and heredity. The course closes with ecosystems, food webs, rivers, the water cycle, weather, and climate.

Materials and booklist

• Spectrum Science Grade 7 · Carson-Dellosa Publishing (optional)Short lessons and quizzes make steady backup practice; skip or swap any pages that feel like pure review.
• Khan AcademyUse the middle-school biology, physics, and earth science videos and practice sets that match each unit.
• CK-12 FlexBooks · CK-12 Foundation (optional)Free middle-school life, physical, and earth science flexbooks give clear readings and practice when you want a second explanation.
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind · William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (optional)A true engineering story that pairs well with the forces and energy units and sparks good real-world talks.

1. 1. Asking Questions and Designing Tests · weeks 1–4

   Start the year learning how scientists and engineers think. Practice asking testable questions, planning fair tests with household materials, recording data cleanly, and writing short conclusions. A mini challenge (improve a simple robot-arm grabber or a fishing-gear idea) keeps it concrete and fun.

   Learns to: writes a testable question and a simple hypothesis for a home experiment · lists the independent variable, dependent variable, and constants in a planned test · records measurements in a clear data table · writes a short conclusion that matches the data collected

2. 2. Matter, Atoms, and Changes · weeks 5–8

   Explore what stuff is made of, from particles to mixtures and everyday changes. Use kitchen and household items to investigate density, states of matter, and simple physical versus chemical changes, then write up the results.

   Learns to: classifies everyday materials as elements, compounds, or mixtures in writing · describes particle motion in solids, liquids, and gases · predicts and records observations from a simple physical or chemical change · calculates density from mass and volume measurements

3. 3. Forces, Motion, and Simple Machines · weeks 9–13

   Dig into how things move and what makes them start, stop, or change direction. Measure speed, sketch force diagrams, and build or test simple machines and robot-like levers or wheeled models with cardboard, string, and tape.

   Learns to: calculates average speed using distance and time · draws force diagrams that show balanced and unbalanced forces · identifies simple machines in everyday tools and robot-style designs · explains in plain words how friction and gravity affect motion

4. 4. Energy and Electricity · weeks 14–17

   Trace forms of energy and how energy moves and changes. Build and sketch basic circuits with batteries, bulbs, and wires, then connect the ideas to motors, gadgets, and real devices a robot builder would care about.

   Learns to: identifies forms of energy and describes energy changes in a real system · draws a complete series circuit diagram with clear labels · predicts whether a simple circuit will work and explains the reasoning in writing · describes energy transfer in a system such as a small motor or fishing reel

5. 5. Cells and Body Systems · weeks 18–22

   Zoom into the building blocks of life and how organ systems work together. Make labeled cell models from household materials, compare plant and animal cells, and trace paths of food, oxygen, and waste through major human systems.

   Learns to: labels the main parts of plant and animal cells on a diagram · compares plant and animal cells in a written chart · traces the path of oxygen or nutrients through major body systems in writing · explains how cells, tissues, organs, and systems work together in plain words

6. 6. Genes, Traits, and Heredity · weeks 23–26

   Discover why living things look and act the way they do. Practice simple Punnett squares, sort inherited traits from learned behaviors, and look at how genes and environment both play a part using clear, everyday examples.

   Learns to: completes a Punnett square to predict trait probabilities · distinguishes inherited traits from learned behaviors with written examples · describes how genes and environment both influence traits · interprets a simple pedigree chart in writing

7. 7. Ecosystems, Food Webs, and Rivers · weeks 27–31

   Study how living things depend on each other and their surroundings, with a special focus on freshwater and river ecosystems that connect to fishing. Build food webs, follow energy flow, and look at real human impacts on local waterways.

   Learns to: draws a food web for a river or pond ecosystem with at least six organisms · explains the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in plain words · describes how energy and matter move through an ecosystem · identifies human impacts on a waterway and suggests one conservation action in writing

8. 8. Earth's Water, Weather, and Climate · weeks 32–36

   Follow the water cycle, read simple weather patterns, and see how climate and water shape land and habitats. Tie the ideas to river conditions, seasonal fishing changes, and everyday weather observations.

   Learns to: labels the stages of the water cycle and explains each stage in plain words · reads a simple weather map and describes the conditions shown · compares weather and climate with clear written examples · explains how water systems shape land and support living things