The Everything Parent's Guide to Common Core Science Grades 6-8: Understand the New Science Standards to Help Your Child Learn and Succeed

by Laurie Bloomfield

Overview

Take the mystery out of middle-grade science!

The Common Core, a new set of national educational standards, has been adopted by 45 states across the nation. But if you learned about science the "old" way, you may be having a hard time understanding what your kids are bringing home from school—and why. With information on Next Generation Science Standards and practice exercises and experiments, you'll learn:

• The rationale behind Common Core standards
• The major scientific concepts your child will be learning at each grade level
• The new requirements for learning concepts and applying them in practical ways
• How the Next Generation Science Standards relate to the Common Core Math and English Language Arts standards
• How to help your child with homework and studying

The Everything Parent's Guide to Common Core Science: Grades 6-8 will give you the confidence to help your kids meet the science expectations for their grade level, excel at school, and prepare for high school and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440592720
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	12/11/2015
Series:	Everything® Series
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Laurie Bloomfield is an accomplished teacher and curriculum writer with more than twenty-five years of experience in teaching, from prekindergarten through eighth grade. She uses her understanding of the Common Core standards, their purpose, and the most common hurdles students encounter to coach parents, giving them a clear understanding of how to best prepare their children for the new requirements. As a technology coordinator, she is actively involved in linking science and technology to curriculum and instruction throughout her school.

Table of Contents

Introduction 10

1 What Are the Common Core Standards? 13

What Are Academic Standards? 14

What Are the Common Core English Language Arts Standards? 14

What Are the Common Core Mathematics Standards? 15

Key Shifts for English Language Arts 16

Key Shifts for Mathematics 18

Why Focus on Math and English Language Arts? 19

2 What Are the Next Generation Science Standards? 20

Why Were the Next Generation Science Standards Developed? 21

Previous Science Benchmark Standards 21

The Next Generation Science Standards Dimensions 23

Key Shifts in the Next Generation Science Standards 24

How Can You Help Your Child Be Successful? 26

Understanding Science 27

Developing Good Study Habits 27

Interactive Science Notebook 29

Note-Taking Strategies 32

Strategies for Responding to Questions 33

Illustrations and Models 34

The Metric System 35

4 Writing Science and Technical Subjects 38

Encourage Writing Skills 39

Text Types and Purposes 39

Research to Build and Present Knowledge 43

Range of Writing 46

5 Reading in Science 47

Develop a Love of Reading 48

Tips for Reading Through Science Textbooks 48

Key Ideas and Details 50

Craft and Structure 52

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 54

6 The Three Dimensions of Science 56

What Are the Scientific and Engineering Practices? 57

What Are Crosscutting Concepts? 63

What Are the Disciplinary Core Ideas? 67

7 Matter and Its Interactions 68

What Should My Child Already Understand? 69

Disciplinary Core Ideas 69

Key Matter Terms 71

Key Matter Concepts 72

Key Atomic Terms 75

Key Atomic Concepts 76

Key Chemical Reaction Terms 80

Key Chemical Reaction Concepts 81

Science and Engineering Practices 85

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 86

Matter Experiment 90

Let's Review-Checklist 91

8 Motion and Stability-Forces and Interactions 93

What Should My Child Already Understand? 94

Disciplinary Core Ideas 94

Key Force and Motion Terms 96

Key Force and Motion Concepts 97

Science and Engineering Practices 101

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 102

Forces and Motion Experiment 108

Let's Review-Checklist 109

9 Energy 111

What Should My Child Already Understand? 112

Disciplinary Core Ideas 113

Key Energy Terms 114

Key Energy Concepts 115

Science and Engineering Practices 118

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 119

Energy Experiment 123

Let's Review-Checklist 124

10 Waves and Their Applications 126

What Should My Child Already Understand? 127

Disciplinary Core Ideas 127

Key Wave Terms 129

Key Wave Concepts 130

Science and Engineering Practices 133

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 134

Waves Experiment 138

Let's Review-Checklist 138

11 From Molecules to Organisms-Structures and Processes 140

What Should My Child Already Understand? 141

Disciplinary Core Ideas 141

Key Molecule Terms 143

Key Molecule Concepts 146

Science and Engineering Practices 152

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 153

Organism Experiment 160

Let's Review-Checklist 161

12 Ecosystems-Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics 162

What Should My Child Already Understand? 163

Disciplinary Core Ideas 163

Key Ecosystem Terms 166

Key Ecosystem Concepts 167

Science and Engineering Practices 172

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 172

Ecosystem Experiment 177

Let's Review-Checklist 178

13 Heredity-Inheritance and Variation of Traits 180

What Should My Child Already Understand? 181

Disciplinary Core Ideas 181

Key Heredity Terms 183

Key Heredity Concepts 184

Science and Engineering Practices 189

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 190

Heredity Experiment 192

Let's Review-Checklist 193

14 Biological Evolution-Unity and Diversity 195

What Should My Child Already Understand? 196

Disciplinary Core Ideas 196

Key Evolution Terms 198

Key Evolution Concepts 199

Science and Engineering Practices 201

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 202

Evolution Experiment 207

Let's Review-Checklist 208

15 Earth's Place in the Universe 210

What Should My Child Already Understand? 211

Disciplinary Core Ideas 211

Key Earth's Place Terms 214

Key Earth's Place Concepts 215

Science and Engineering Practices 218

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 219

Soil Experiment 224

Let's Review-Checklist 225

16 Earth's Systems 226

What Should My Child Already Understand? 227

Disciplinary Core Ideas 227

Key Earth's Systems Terms 229

Key Earth's Systems Concepts 231

Science and Engineering Practices 236

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 237

Earth's Systems Experiment 244

Let's Review-Checklist 245

17 Earth and Human Activity 246

What Should My Child Already Understand? 247

Disciplinary Core Ideas 247

Key Earth and Human Activity Terms 249

Key Earth and Human Activity Concepts 250

Science and Engineering Practices 254

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 255

Earth and Human Activity Experiment 260

Let's Review-Checklist 261

18 Engineering Design 263

What Should My Child Already Understand? 264

Disciplinary Core Ideas 264

Key Engineering Design Terms 266

Key Engineering Design Concepts 267

Science and Engineering Practices 271

Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations 271

Engineering Design Experiment 275

Let's Review-Checklist 276

19 Science Fair Projects 278

Helping Your Child Choose a Project 279

Designing Experiments and Recording Results 280

Science Fair Project Stages 284

Science Project Safety Tips 285

Science Fair Project Reports 286

Appendix A Resources 289

Appendix B Bibliography 291

Index 293