Karen A. Beitler
The first and last units of the seventh grade curriculum in science are respectively, chemistry and food preservation. During the year students progress the complexity of their learning from the atom through the cell, human systems and lastly, food preservation. This unit seeks to make connections by first reviewing simple chemistry and previous lessons on atoms, molecules, compounds and their physical and chemical properties. And then connect those lessons to how elements and inorganic molecules are related to organic or living, things. The lesson plans use food to review the chemical components of living things, with emphasis on the macromolecules. The students will learn to break down the macromolecules into their individual monomer components and be introduced to simple chemical composition of basic food molecules. Students will build on their knowledge of chemistry in living things. Then they will incorporate lessons in physical science into biological processes and bridge the gap between organic and inorganic. The use of food to teach chemistry will further assist students in discovering the connections between elements and living organisms.
Academic setting
The intention of this unit is to introduce monomers, polymers and macromolecules to students in grade seven. Using food will teach students about how molecules are intricately connected to each other and help them link scientific principles to everyday life. The unit assumes students have some prior knowledge of the atom and elements in the periodic table and have discussed the difference between living and non-living things.
Six characteristics define living organisms; they are made of cells, obtain and use energy, grow and develop, reproduce, respond to their environment and adapt to the environment. Something must possess all six characteristics to be considered an organic living thing
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While the focus is to engage the middle school student, adaptations of the unit will be suggested for grades six through twelve and elementary teachers can certainly take smaller parts of the unit to use in their classroom. The unit can be taught as a whole or integrated into another part of the curriculum.