Grade 7 Recommendations
Earth and Space Science
Cycles and patterns of Earth and the Moon: This topic focuses on Earth's hydrologic cycle, patterns that exist in atmospheric and oceanic currents, the relationship between thermal energy and the currents, and the relative position and movement of the Earth, sun, and moon.
Book Recommendations:
Cycles and patterns of Earth and the Moon: This topic focuses on Earth's hydrologic cycle, patterns that exist in atmospheric and oceanic currents, the relationship between thermal energy and the currents, and the relative position and movement of the Earth, sun, and moon.
Book Recommendations:
Come See The Earth Turn by Lori Mortensen (fiction, RL=5)
This book tells the story of Leon Foucault. Foucault grew up as a poor child and later dropped out of medical school. Thus, it was unlikely that he would later discover how the Earth moves on its axis. Prior to Foucault's demonstration, other scientists knew that the Earth moved on its axis, but could not prove it. Foucault demonstrated in front of a crowd that a pendulum swings because the earth is rotating beneath it. This book not only explains to students Earth's motion but also depicts how the process used by scientists.
Content statement(s):
The relative patters of motion and positions of the Earth, moon, and sun cause solar and lunar eclipses, tides, and phases of the moon.
Academic vocabulary: Earth, light, pendulum
Content statement(s):
The relative patters of motion and positions of the Earth, moon, and sun cause solar and lunar eclipses, tides, and phases of the moon.
Academic vocabulary: Earth, light, pendulum
Mapping Oceans by Barbara Bakowski (nonfiction, RL=7)
Basic knowledge about oceans is covered in the beginning of this nonfiction text. For example, the book explains how water covers about 70% of Earth. Next, it is explained the key skills needed to read oceans maps. Also, the author explains that ocean maps are used to show tides, water temperatures, and the speed, energy, and direction of ocean currents. The format of this book is welcoming with vivid illustrations, maps, activities, and did you know facts.
Content statement(s):
The hydrologic cycle illustrates the chaniging states of water as it moves through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Thermal-energy transfers in the ocean and the atmosphere contribute to the formation of currents, which influence global climate patterns.
Academic vocabulary: ocean, tides, currents
Content statement(s):
The hydrologic cycle illustrates the chaniging states of water as it moves through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Thermal-energy transfers in the ocean and the atmosphere contribute to the formation of currents, which influence global climate patterns.
Academic vocabulary: ocean, tides, currents
Eclipses by Jessica Morrison and Steve Goldsworthy (nonfiction, RL=7)
Eclipses covers foundation regarding eclipses, types of eclipses, history of eclipses, and astronomy. Authors explain eclipses by relating them to everyday situations. For example, "an eclipse occurs when one object moves in front of another, hiding it from view. When a person wears a hat with a large brim to shield his or her eyes, the brim eclipses the sun". The book defines and illustrates solar and lunar eclipses. The illustrations display real images of eclipses. The book also includes diagrams, glossary, index, and "brain booster" and "think about it" facts.
Content statement(s):
The relative patters of motion and positions of the Earth, moon, and sun cause solar and lunar eclipses, tides, and phases of the moon.
Academic vocabulary: astronomy, atmosphere, lunar eclipse, solar eclipse, orbit
Content statement(s):
The relative patters of motion and positions of the Earth, moon, and sun cause solar and lunar eclipses, tides, and phases of the moon.
Academic vocabulary: astronomy, atmosphere, lunar eclipse, solar eclipse, orbit
Physical Science
Conservation of Mass and Energy: This topic focuses on the empirical evidence for the arrangements of atoms on the Periodic Table of Elements, conservation of mass and energy, transformation and transfer of energy.
Book Recommendations:
Conservation of Mass and Energy: This topic focuses on the empirical evidence for the arrangements of atoms on the Periodic Table of Elements, conservation of mass and energy, transformation and transfer of energy.
Book Recommendations:
The Powerful World of Energy with Max Axiom by Agineszka Biskup (fiction, RL=7)
Students who read this book will follow the adventures of Max Axiom, who is a super scientist hero. This book captures the story, in comic book format, of Max as he explores the energy around him at a camp ground, interacts with his friends by explaining key energy concepts, and, ultimately, Max teaches students about different sources of energy and how to conserve energy. Additionally, Max explains to campers that energy can take many forms, but can never be destroyed. As students read the "comic book", there are side note nonfiction facts that explains energy more in depth.
Content statement(s):
The properties of matter are determined by the arrangement of atoms.
Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
Academic vocabulary: atoms, chemical energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, nonrenewable and renewable energy
Content statement(s):
The properties of matter are determined by the arrangement of atoms.
Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
Academic vocabulary: atoms, chemical energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, nonrenewable and renewable energy
I've discovered Energy by Todd Plummer (nonfiction, RL=8)
I've discovered Energy embeds a variety of components to engage students in reading. There are sections of the book that explains essential concepts pertaining to energy. These concepts include the nature of energy, conservation of energy, and types of energy. Also, there are sections of the book that offer biographies of scientists who contributed to the understanding of energy. These scientists include Galileo Galilei, Dr. Thomas Young, James Clerk Maxwell, and John Dalton. The final section of the book provides experiments related to energy that students can complete to deepen their understanding.
Content statement(s):
The properties of matter are determined by the arrangement of atoms.
Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
Energy can be be transformed through a variety of ways
Academic vocabulary: atoms, energy (chemical, kinetic, potential, thermal), force, law of conservation of energy, mass
Content statement(s):
The properties of matter are determined by the arrangement of atoms.
Energy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
Energy can be be transformed through a variety of ways
Academic vocabulary: atoms, energy (chemical, kinetic, potential, thermal), force, law of conservation of energy, mass
The Elements: The building blocks of the universe by Dan Green (nonfiction, RL=9)
This book serves as a dual purpose because it is offered in print, as well as a digital book. In the beginning of the book, element is defined and examples of elements are given. Then, the book covers the essential elements on the Periodic table such as the alkai metals, alkai earth metals, transition metals, radioactive metals, nonmetals, and gases. The book can serve as a reference book and creates the feel of a magazine, which students may enjoy compared to reading a traditional reference book.
Content statement(s):
The properties of matter are determined by the arrangement of atoms.
Academic vocabulary: element, atom, metal, substances
Content statement(s):
The properties of matter are determined by the arrangement of atoms.
Academic vocabulary: element, atom, metal, substances
Life Science
Cycles of Matter and Flow of Energy: This topic focuses on the impact of matter and energy transfer within the biotic component of ecosystems.
Book Recommendations:
Cycles of Matter and Flow of Energy: This topic focuses on the impact of matter and energy transfer within the biotic component of ecosystems.
Book Recommendations:
Exploring Ecosystems with Max Axiom by Agniesezka Biskup (fiction, RL=6)
This Max Axiom adventure explores ecosystems with the Super Scientist. This story takes place across various biomes such as the rain forest, ocean, and a desert. Max explains that ecosystems with similar climates, plants, and animals are called biomes. Different types of biomes are specified such as desert, grassland, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, rain forest, tundra, and ocean. In addition to ecosystems, Max discusses biotic and abiotic features of each biome. This Max Axiom adventure is filled with science concepts involving ecosystems.
Content statement(s):
In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
Academic vocabulary: ecology, organism, biome, consumers, producers, biotic, abiotic
Content statement(s):
In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
Academic vocabulary: ecology, organism, biome, consumers, producers, biotic, abiotic
Many Biomes, One Earth by Sneed Collard III (nonfiction, RL=7)
This book opens with the question, "Where do we live?". The author then explains how on the surface this question seems simple, but it is actually very complex. At this point, biomes are introduced as terrestrial lands with specific characteristics. Next, readers will explore different biomes. For example, the author explains tundra by stating, "if you like cold- and I mean cold- weather, you'll love this biome. During the long, dark winter, temperatures plunge to seventy degrees below zero". To add, this book contains painted illustrations, which adds an unique aspect to the text.
Content statement(s):
In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
Academic vocabulary: biome, terrestrial
Content statement(s):
In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
Academic vocabulary: biome, terrestrial
Biomes and Ecosystems by Barbara Davis (nonfiction, RL=8)
This book follows the format of a traditional nonfiction science text, and may even resemble a textbook. However, this book does a wonderful job at examining biomes and ecosystems in deeper and complex terms. For instance, the book addresses ecosystems and biomes, and then investigates how energy flows through each area. The role the water cycle plays in biomes is also discussed. When discussing types of biomes, the author describes the biomes in a way that it is vivid and readers get the feeling that they actually visited the area. For illustration, when describing rain forests, there is a section titled "Living in the Canopy", which gives a real-life account about life in the rain forest.
Content statement(s):
Matter is transferred continuously between one organism to another and between organisms and their physical environments.
In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
Academic vocabulary: biome, ecosystem, abiotic, biotic, energy pyramid, mutualism, commensalism, consumer, producer
Content statement(s):
Matter is transferred continuously between one organism to another and between organisms and their physical environments.
In any particular biome, the number, growth and survival of organisms and populations depend on biotic and abiotic factors.
Academic vocabulary: biome, ecosystem, abiotic, biotic, energy pyramid, mutualism, commensalism, consumer, producer