7th Life Science
Pond Water Identification
Above - It is amazing the diversity of life in a drop of pond water!
Below - Carefully recording details of a mysterious bone fragment.
The Field Guide to the Seven Hills School
A 7th Grade Biology Project
Project Outline
This two week unit will introduce students to natural history, biologic classification, scientific observation skills, and careful data logging and presentation. We will survey as many living species on our campus as we can find in 10 days. Each species will be carefully draw from at least two perspectives. Organism will be researched and classified with genus and species names memorized. Students will finish the project by presenting their drawings and written observations, and presenting a short oral description of one campus organism.
Grading criteria will include:
Detailed and accurate drawings
Careful, accurate, and thoughtful written observations
Accurate research and classifications
Concise and useful web page
Rehearsed and interesting 2 minute speech
Web pages will be compiled into one large campus page stored at shargelscience.com
Project Objectives
Students will observe, draw, and describe species found on the Seven Hills Campus.
Students will memorize and use genus and species names for common organisms.
Students will classify organism into Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
Students will research and record genus and species meanings.
Students will use maintain and use track boxes to capture small mammal tracks.
Students will use binoculars to identify and describe bird species on campus.
Students will present one species to the class as a webpage and memorized speech.
Project Timeline
Homework each night is to complete drawings and notes of the days discoveries.
Bird watching each day as we explore the campus.
Week 1 - Plants
Monday - Tree Survey Lower Campus
Tuesday - Tree Survey Upper Campus
Wednesday - Shrubs and other Perennials
Thursday - Grasses and Annuals
Friday - Free Exploring
Week 2 - Animals
Monday - Track Boxes Set Out / Insect Collecting
Tuesday - Insect Collecting
Wednesday - Insect Collecting / Underground Creatures
Thursday - Free Exploring / Work Period
Week 3 - Project Completion
Monday - Free Exploring / Work Period / Web Page Submitted to Mr. Shargel
Tuesday - Free Exploring / Work Period
Wednesday - Free Exploring / Work Period / Project Due Date