Revision of Middle School Science Courses

SEPUP has revised all three middle school science curricula: Issues and Earth Science, Issues and Life Science, and Issues and Physical Science. The second edition of these courses have been revised to include updated data and information regarding recent events. Specific changes for each course include:

Issues and Earth Science

• Updated data from NASA’s Kepler Mission
• Activity 32, “Modeling Erosion,” has been revised as an Engineering Design activity, consistent with the recommendations of the Next Generation Science Framework
• Additional information on recent events, such as the 2011 earthquake in Japan, the Fukushima nuclear accident, Yucca Mountain, and global climate change

Issues and Life Science

• Updated data throughout the course
• Additional set of geologic event cards to help students understand mass extinctions and the role of geologic events in determining the changes used to define geologic time periods
• Additional sections on How cells Work Together (Activity 42) and Defining Life (Activity 45)

Issues and Physical Science

• An entire new unit consisting of eleven activities, titled Waves
• Added engineering aspects to three activities, consistent with the recommendations of the Next Generation Science Framework
• Two new laboratory activities in Unit D (Energy) on electric motors and generators, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism