Welcome to Amplify @ St. Matthew's

There are four categories of Science Standards in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) adopted by Illinois; Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Life Science and Engineering, Technology and Applied Sciences. Amplify Science uses a "spiraling" approach to instruction. This means that all 4 of the groups of standards will be taught in grades 6, 7, and 8. I like that it uses a Phenomena-based approach (see picture below). 

/Physical Sciences
/Life Sciences
/Earth and Space Sciences
/Engineering, Technology and Applied Sciences

In the Phenomena-Based Approach to Science, students are introduced to a real world problem. Then research the science behind the problem from a variety of sources, in conjunction with labs to apply the science to learn about the phenomena. Amplify units are broken into chapters. Each chapter presents a new level of depth of learning for the Phenomena of the unit. For more information click the link below.
https://amplify.com/science-caregivers/

7th Grade Units

8th Grade Units

This year students will explore;
-Traits and Reproduction
-Plate Motion
-Plate Motion: Engineering Internship
-Rock Transformations
-Phase Change
-Phase Change: Engineering Internship
-Chemical Reactions
-Populations and Resources
-Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

This year students will explore;
-Harnessing Human Energy
-Force and Motion
-Force and Motion: Engineering Internship
-Magnetic Fields
-Light Waves
-Earth, Moon and Sun
-Natural Selection
-Natural Selection: Engineering Internship
​-Evolutionary History