Science, Grade 7

Biotic and abiotic factors

I can identify the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors of a local ecosystem.

Interactions in an ecosystem

I can describe the interactions in an ecosystem — biotic with abiotic, abiotic with abiotic, and biotic with biotic.

Producers, consumers, and decomposers

I can identify the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers and classify organisms into them.

Energy flow in food chains and webs

I can describe how energy from the Sun flows through a food chain and a food web.

Recycling matter in ecosystems

I can describe how matter, unlike energy, is recycled through an ecosystem.

How ecosystems change over time

I can identify natural and human-caused changes that occur in an ecosystem over time.

Measuring temperature

I can describe different instruments used to measure temperature and how they work.

Temperature and moving particles

I can define temperature using the particle theory — as a measure of how fast the particles are moving.

How states react to temperature

I can explain how solids, liquids, and gases react to temperature changes, using the particle theory.

Changes of state

I can explain melting, freezing, and evaporation using the particle theory.

How heat moves

I can compare the three ways heat moves — conduction, convection, and radiation — and describe how surfaces absorb radiant heat.

How much heat materials hold

I can compare how easily different materials heat up and cool down (their specific heat capacity), in general terms.

Pure substances and mixtures

I can distinguish pure substances from mixtures using the particle theory.

Heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures

I can tell the difference between heterogeneous (mechanical) mixtures and homogeneous (solution) mixtures.

Dissolving

I can describe dissolving using the particle theory — the solute particles spread evenly among the solvent particles.

Concentration of solutions

I can describe how concentrated or dilute a solution is, in words and with numbers.

Solubility

I can describe the factors that affect how much of a solid or gas will dissolve.

Separating a mixture's parts

I can safely use apparatus to separate the parts of different mixtures.

Everyday separation techniques

I can identify common separation techniques used in everyday life and tell which mixture each suits.

Classifying minerals

I can classify minerals based on their physical properties, like hardness, luster, colour, and streak.

Classifying rocks

I can classify rocks into the three main types by how they form: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Studying Earth's crust

I can describe Earth's crust and the technologies scientists use to study it.

Earthquakes and volcanoes

I can describe catastrophic events like earthquakes and volcanoes and what causes them.

Where earthquakes and volcanoes occur

I can analyze where earthquakes and volcanoes occur and find the patterns in their distribution.

How mountains form

I can explain how mountains form as tectonic plates push together over long periods of time.

Geological time

I can build a model of geological time showing major events in Earth's long history in order.

From rock to soil

I can explain the ways rocks are weathered and eroded to form soils.

Classifying soil types

I can classify soils by their texture — coarse (sandy), medium (loamy), and fine (clay).