New Mexico Science<br>Teachers Association
 

GR 5-8 Lesson Plans

Lesson plans for the 5-8 learners organized by state science strand,  standard and benchmark.


For more specific information on your particular grade level's content of science learning objectives, click the link to your grade level below:
5th Grade           6th Grade
7th Grade        8th Grade

Feel free to contribute lesson plans to this page-- it is designed as a place for NM science teachers to help and support each other with respect to science curriculum.  
To share a plan,  send your documents (in an editable form like Word or Pages) to webmaster@nmsta.org.

Also, collaborate and connect with other teachers at your grade level via our Middle School Curriculum Discussion Room. Using the forum you can connect, post questions or comments and seek/offer help and support to other middle school teachers that are members of NMSTA. 

Content of Science



Standard #1:

Students will understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy and the interactions between matter and energy.

That means students...
1. Know the forms and properties of matter and how matter interacts

2. Explain the physical processes involved in the transfer, change and conservation of energy.

3. Describe and explain forces that produce motion in objects.

5th Grade           6th Grade
7th Grade        8th Grade

Standard #2:

Students will understand the properties, structures and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments.

That means students...
1. Explain the diverse structures and functions of living things and the complex relationships between living things and their environments.

2. Understand how traits are passed from one generation to the next and how species evolve.

3. Understand the structure of organisms and the function of cells in living systems.

5th Grade           6th Grade
7th Grade        8th Grade

Standard #3:

Students will understand the structure of earth, the solar system and the universe, the interconnections among them and the processes and interactions of earth's system.

That means that students..
1.  Describe how the concepts of energy, matter and force can be used to explain the observed behavior of the solar system, the universe and their structures.

2. Describe the structure of earth and its atmosphere, and explain how energy, matter and forces shape earth's systems.

5th Grade           6th Grade
7th Grade        8th Grade

Science and Society



Standard #1:

Students will understand how scientific discoveries, inventions, practices and knowledge influence and are influenced by individuals and societies.

That means students...
1. Explain how scientific discoveries and inventions have changed individuals and societies.

Specifically, in 5th Grade students...
  • Describe the contributions of science to understanding local or current issues (e.g., watershed and community decisions regarding water use).
  • Describe how various technologies have affected the lives of individuals (e.g., transportation, entertainment, health);
      Specifically,  in 6th Grade students...
      • Examine the role of scientific knowledge in decisions (e.g., space exploration, what to eat, preventive medicine and medical treatment).
      • Describe the technologies responsible for revolutionizing information processing and communications (e.g., computers, cellular phones, internet).
      Specifically,  in 7th Grade students...
        • Analyze the contributions of science to health as they relate to personal decisions about smoking, drugs, alcohol and sexual activity.
        • Analyze how technologies have been responsible for advances in medicine (e.g., vaccines, antibiotics, microscopes, DNA technologies).
        • Describe how scientific information can help individuals and communities respond to health emergencies (e.g., CPR, epidemics, HIV, bio-terrorism).
          That means in 8th Grade students...
          • Analyze the interrelationship between science and technology (e.g., germ theory, vaccines).
          • Describe how scientific information can help to explain environmental phenomena (e.g., floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, fire, extreme weather).
          • Describe how technological revolutions have significantly influenced societies (e.g., energy production, warfare, space exploration).
          • Critically analyze risks and benefits associated with technologies related to energy production.
              

            Scientific Thinking & Practices


            Standard #1:

            Students will understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting and validating in order to think critically. 

            That means students...
            1. Use scientific methods to develop questions, design and conduct experiments using appropriate technologies, analyze and evaluate results, make predictions and communicate findings.

            Cookieology--teach the scientific method using cookies and milk

            Nature Journaling-- fun and cross-curricular way to practice observations skills

            Large Than Life: Magnification of Sand-- explore sand using magnification, make & record detailed observations about composition, texture and source!
            Supporting resources:
            Geology Lite Magazine Magnification Issue-- great article on evolution of magnification

            That means students...

                  2. Understand the processes of scientific investigation and how scientific inquiry results in scientific knowledge.

                  That means students...
                  3. Use mathematical ideas, tools and techniques to understand scientific knowledge

                   
                   
                   


                  New Mexico Science Teachers Association (NMSTA)


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