Middle School Science Department
Phillipsburg Middle School Science Department
The Phillipsburg Middle School science department is comprised of dedicated professionals who are committed to engaging students in inquiry-based activities through active learning. Teachers collaborate in designing lessons that integrate technology, ask students to be critical thinkers, and provide students with an opportunity to communicate their understanding of scientific information through technical literacy activities. The science curriculum is designed to offer students experiences to investigate scientific phenomena stemming from the performance expectations of New Jersey’s Students Learning Standards for Science. Our science program is grounded in the “all standards for all students” philosophy, seeking to prepare students for success in high school courses and beyond.
Sixth grade students will be introduced to the basic concepts of Earth and Space Science. The following topics will be addressed: Minerals of the Earth's Crust, Rocks: Mineral Mixtures, The Rock and Fossil Record, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Weathering and Soil Formation, Agents of Erosion and Deposition, The Flow of Fresh Water, Exploring the Ocean, The Movement of Ocean Water, The Atmosphere, Understanding Weather, Climate, Observing the Sky, Formation of the Solar System, A Family of Planets, The Universe Beyond, and Exploring Space, and human impacts to Earth’s systems.
Seventh grade students will be introduced to the basic concepts of Life Science. The following topics will be addressed: It's Alive! Or is it!, Bacteria and Viruses, Protists and Fungi, Introduction to Plants, Plant Processes, Animals and Behavior, Invertebrates, Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles, Birds and Mammals, Cells: The Basic Units of Life, The Cell in Action, Heredity, Gene and Gene Technology, The Evolution of Living Things, The History of Life on Earth, Classification, Body Organization, Circulation and Respiration, The Digestive and Urinary Systems, Communication and Control, Reproduction and Development, Body Defenses and Disease, Staying Healthy, Interactions of Living Things, Cycles in Nature, The Earth's Ecosystem, Environmental Problems and Solutions, and Earth Resources.
Eighth grade students will be introduced to the basic concepts of Physical Science. Main course topics include: The Properties of Matter, States of Matter, Elements, Compounds and Mixtures, Introduction to Atoms, the Periodic Table, Chemical Bonding, Chemical Reactions, Chemical Compounds, Atomic Energy, Matter in Motion, Forces in Motion, Forces in Fluids, Work and Machines, Energy and Energy Resources, Heath and Heat Technology, Introduction to Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronic Technology, The Energy of Waves, The Nature of Sound, The Nature of Light, and Light in Our World.