Prince William County Public Schools

Grade 6 Science Pacing and Units of Study

Grade 6 students in Prince William County Public Schools learn the 2018 Science Standards of Learning (SOL) set by the Virginia Department of Education. The 2018 SOL require the Scientific and Engineering Practices (SOL 6.1 a-f) to be embedded throughout all units of study. Students will experience the following units in this course: 

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Solar System

Earth’s position in the solar system resulted in characteristics that support life. The solar system is a complex network of celestial bodies, each with unique features shaped by their composition and the forces acting upon them. Gravity serves as the pivotal force that maintains the orbits of planets around the sun, illustrating the interconnectedness of the system. Technological advancements have continually reshaped our understanding of the solar system, revealing a dynamic and ever-expanding universe.

Standards Covered: 6.2a-d

Assessment Window: 09/23-09/27/24

Unit 2: Earth-Moon-Sun Relationships

Earth’s position in the solar system resulted in characteristics that support life. Students learn about our planet’s unique properties, orientation within the solar system, tilt, rotation, and revolution create the hospitable planet.

Standards Covered: 6.3a-e

Assessment Window: 10/28-11/01/24

Quarter 2 

Unit 3: Energy & Energy Transformations

The major source of energy on Earth is solar radiation.

Standards Covered: 6.4a-d

Assessment Window: 12/02-12/06/24

Unit 4: Matter

This unit introduces students to the foundational concepts of atomic structure and elemental composition. Students will explore how atoms, consisting of electrons, protons, and neutrons, form the building blocks of matter and how atoms of different elements have unique properties. The unit will cover the use of chemical symbols and formulas to represent elements and compounds and will explain how atoms bond to create new substances. Additionally, students will learn to model chemical changes with chemical equations and understand the prevalence of certain elements in the Earth’s crust, living organisms, oceans, and atmosphere.

Standards Covered: 6.5a-g

Assessment Window: 01/13-01/17/25

Quarter 3

Unit 5: Water

This unit explores the unique properties of water and its essential role in Earth’s processes. Students will investigate how water shapes landscapes through weathering and erosion and examine the impact of human activities on water quality, availability, and distribution. Through hands-on activities and discussions, students will understand water’s critical importance to our planet.

Standards Covered: 6.6a-f

Assessment Window: 02/17-02/21/25

Unit 6: Atmosphere & Weather

This unit delves into the dynamic nature of Earth’s atmosphere, exploring how various factors like pressure, temperature, and energy transfers influence weather patterns and conditions. Students will learn how atmospheric models are used to predict weather and understand the impact of thermal energy on molecular movement and phase changes. Students will gain insights into the complex systems that drive our planet’s weather in this unit.

Standards Covered: 6.7a-f

Assessment Window: 03/24-03/28/25

Quarter 4

Unit 7: Watershed Systems

In this unit, students will explore local watersheds, understand the importance of wetlands and estuaries, and assess factors affecting water quality. They will also evaluate human impacts and develop strategies to protect these vital ecosystems. Watershed systems are dynamic and complex, and interactions within these systems may influence the overall health of the watershed.

Standards Covered: 6.8a-d

Assessment Window: 05/05 - 05/09/25

Unit 8:  Natural Resources & Human Impact

In this unit, students will learn how human activities like population growth and resource use affect Earth's systems. They will differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources and understand the roles of conservation professionals. Additionally, students will explore the impact of pollution on health, compare energy sources, and analyze how personal choices influence waste and environmental health.

Standards Covered: 6.9a-f

Assessment Window: 06/02 - 06/06/25

Grade 7 Science Pacing and Units of Study

Grade 7 students in Prince William County Public Schools learn the 2018 Science Standards of Learning (SOL) set by the Virginia Department of Education. The 2018 SOL require the Scientific and Engineering Practices (SOL 7.1 a-f) to be embedded throughout all units of study. Students will experience the following units in this course:

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Cell Structure & Function

All living things are composed of cells; these cells have different structures and organelles that support life processes. Cell theory describes the current understanding of cells. Theories and laws in science are used by scientists to describe natural phenomena. Theories and law are equal in terms of scientific validity.

Standards Covered: LS.2a-c

Assessment Window: 09/16 - 09/20/24

Unit 2: Cellular Transport & Cellular Organization

This unit explores the essential life processes and cellular organization, emphasizing the movement of materials via diffusion and osmosis, and the hierarchical structure of organisms from atoms to ecosystems. It highlights the universality of life functions and the specialized cellular systems that support growth, reproduction, and response in both unicellular and multicellular organisms.

Standards Covered: LS.2a-b, LS.2e

Assessment Window: 10/14 – 10/18/24

Unit 3: (Begin) Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration

This unit explores the fundamental processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, which are essential for the flow of energy through living systems. It delves into how energy from the sun is harnessed by producers to create glucose, forming the basis of food webs, and how this energy is utilized and transformed within cells, highlighting the conservation of matter and energy in biological systems.

Standards Covered: LS.4a-b

Assessment Window: 11/11 – 11/15/24

Quarter 2

Unit 3: (Continued) Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration

This unit explores the fundamental processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, which are essential for the flow of energy through living systems. It delves into how energy from the sun is harnessed by producers to create glucose, forming the basis of food webs, and how this energy is utilized and transformed within cells, highlighting the conservation of matter and energy in biological systems.

Standards Covered:  LS.4a-b

Assessment Window: 11/11 – 11/15/24

Unit 4: Cell Growth & Reproduction

Reproduction is the vital biological process through which organisms pass on genetic information to their offspring, ensuring the continuity and diversity of life. This unit explores the mechanisms of cell division and genetic transfer, including mitosis for growth and repair, and meiosis for creating varied reproductive cells, underpinning the stability and evolution of species.

Standards Covered: LS.2d; LS.10b

Assessment Window: 12/02 – 12/06/24

Unit 5: DNA & Heredity

DNA’s double helix structure is intricately connected to its function of coding for proteins, which are crucial for building and maintaining life. This unit delves into the relationship between DNA, genes, and chromosomes, the role of proteins in cellular functions, and the use of Punnett squares to predict genetic inheritance, emphasizing the distinction between inherited genetic traits and acquired characteristics.

Standards Covered: LS.10a, c

Assessment Window: 01/06 – 01/10/25

Unit 6: Evolution & Genetic Variation

In this unit, students will explore the concept of genetic stability across generations, understanding that genetic variation is maintained in a population barring factors like mutations and natural selection. They will examine how environmental changes and genetic mutations influence organism survival, leading to adaptations that contribute to the diversity of life and drive evolutionary processes.

Standards Covered: LS.11a-c

Assessment Window: 02/03 – 02/07/25

Quarter 3

Unit 6: Evolution & Genetic Variation (Continued)

In this unit, students will explore the concept of genetic stability across generations, understanding that genetic variation is maintained in a population barring factors like mutations and natural selection. They will examine how environmental changes and genetic mutations influence organism survival, leading to adaptations that contribute to the diversity of life and drive evolutionary processes.

Standards Covered: LS.11a-c

Assessment Window: 02/03 – 02/07/25

Unit 7: Classification of Living Things

In this unit, students will delve into the world of biological classification, learning how scientists use taxonomy to systematically name, organize, and determine relationships among species. They will discover that classification is based on various factors, from cellular structures to feeding methods, and understand that classifications can change with new discoveries and may differ when comparing physical traits to genetic data.

Standards Covered: LS.3c

Assessment Window: 02/24 – 02/28/25

Unit 8: Ecosystems & Adaptations

This unit will guide students through the intricate web of interactions within ecosystems, emphasizing the roles of Earth’s various spheres and the impact of Earth’s axial tilt and orbit on climate. They will learn about the dynamic nature of ecosystems, how they can vary in size and type, and the adaptations organisms have developed to thrive within these systems.

Standards Covered: LS.7a, LS.7b

Assessment Window: 03/17-03/21/25

Quarter 4

Unit 9: Energy Flow & Cycling of Matter

In this unit, students will investigate the continuous flow of matter and energy through living systems, emphasizing the cycling of key elements and compounds between biotic and abiotic factors. They’ll learn about the critical roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in ecosystems, and how human actions can impact these delicate cycles and the availability of resources.

Standards Covered: LS.5 a-c

Assessment Window: 04/21 - 04/25/25

Unit 10: Communities & Interactions

In this unit, students will learn about the interconnectedness of life processes in ecosystems, focusing on the flow of energy and the cycling of matter. They will explore predator-prey dynamics, social behaviors in animals, the concept of interdependent populations within communities, and the impact of environmental factors on species survival. Additionally, the unit will cover symbiotic relationships and the importance of an organism’s niche in its habitat.

Standards Covered: LS.6 a-d

Assessment Window: 05/12 - 05/16/25

Unit 11: Ecosystem Dynamics

In this unit, students will examine the optimal conditions for the survival of living things and their adaptive responses to environmental changes. They will learn about the dynamic nature of ecosystems, the factors that can disrupt them, and the significant role humans play in influencing these systems and the balance of life within them. 

Standards Covered: LS.8 a-c,  L.S.9 a-c

Assessment Window: 06/02 - 06/06/25

Grade 8 Science Pacing and Units of Study

Grade 8 students in Prince William County Public Schools learn the 2018 Science Standards of Learning (SOL) set by the Virginia Department of Education. The 2018 SOL require the Scientific and Engineering Practices (SOL 8.1 a-f) to be embedded throughout all units of study. Students will experience the following units in this course:

Quarter 1

Unit 1: Properties of Matter

In this unit, students focus on understanding that all matter is composed of particles (atoms), which are in constant motion. Substances have unique, identifiable chemical and physical properties which affect how they behave. These characteristics can be used to identify an unknown substance by comparing its characteristics to a known substance through investigations. Atoms are composed of subatomic particles, each with their own location and characteristics. Matter exists as different substances which can be utilized based on their properties.

Standards Covered: PS.2c, 3a

Assessment Window: 09/09 - 09/13/24

Unit 2: Atoms & Atomic Theory

Atoms are composed of subatomic particles, each with their own location and characteristics. Atomic structure and properties are reflected in the periodic table.

Standards Covered: PS.2a-b

Assessment Window: 10/07 - 10/11/24

Unit 3: The Periodic Table

The periodic table is a foundational organizational tool that outlines knowledge about matter in the discipline of chemistry. Memorizing information is not nearly as important as being able to use the tool to understand the interactions and nature of the elements that make up the natural world.

Standards Covered: PS.2b, PS.4a

Assessment Window: 11/04 - 11/08/24

Quarter 2

Unit 4: Conservation of Matter

Energy is a quantifiable property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system. That there is a single quantity called energy is due to the fact that a system’s total energy is conserved, even as, within the system, energy is continually transferred from one object to another between various forms.

Standards Covered: PS.3b-d

Assessment Window: 12/09 - 12/13/24

Unit 5: Conservation of Energy

Energy is a quantifiable property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system. A single quantity called energy exists because a system’s total energy is conserved, even as energy is continually transferred from one object to another between various forms within the system.

Standards Covered: PS.5a-c

Assessment Window: 01/13 - 01/17/25

Quarter 3

Unit 6: Work, Force & Motion

In this unit, students will explore the fundamental concepts of how forces influence object movement. They will compare object positions, force directions, and motions using a chosen reference frame and units of size. Students will learn that forces can cause objects to start moving, stop, change speed, or change direction. Additionally, they will delve into Newton’s laws of motion, which describe the relationships between a body and the forces acting upon it, and how these laws apply to everyday objects.

Standards Covered: PS.8a-b

Assessment Window: 02/10-02/14/25

Unit 7: Waves

In this unit, students will explore different types of waves and their characteristics, including how they transfer energy and interact with materials. They will investigate sound waves, model longitudinal and transverse waves, and learn about wave behaviors like reflection, refraction, and diffraction. Additionally, students will examine the technological applications of waves and how they function.

Standards Covered: PS.6a-d

Assessment Window: 03/03-03/07/25

Unit 8: Electromagnetic Radiation

In this unit, students will learn that all electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light and exhibit the behavior and properties of waves. Due to the amazing range of frequencies and wavelengths, diffraction and reflection vary greatly.

Standards Covered: PS.7a-b

Assessment Window: 03/31-04/04/25

Quarter 4

Unit 8: Electromagnetic Radiation (cont'd)

In this unit, students will learn that all electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light and exhibit the behavior and properties of waves. Due to the amazing range of frequencies and wavelengths, diffraction and reflection vary greatly.

Standards Covered: PS.7a-b

Assessment Window: 03/31 - 04/04/25

Unit 9: Electricity & Magnetism

Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current. In the majority of applications, it is the electron that is in motion to transfer charge and thus create a flow of electrical current. Changing electric fields are the cause of magnetic fields and changing magnetic fields can
cause electrical charge to move.

Standards Covered: PS.9a-f

Assessment Window: 05/08 - 05/22/25