Middle School Curriculum
Back in 1963 when LAB-AIDS® shipped its first kit, we had a vision, to revolutionize the middle school classroom with one of the first inquiry-based approaches to learning science through hands-on activity. More Info
SEPUP Texas Edition, Science Grade 7, Life in Space Unit
30-40
Could life exist on those other planets outside the solar system? What are the characteristics of a planet that would make it habitable for life, and what is so special about the Earth that allows so many life forms to exist here? In this unit, students will explore these questions as they study how we discover planets orbiting other stars and the characteristics of planets and stars that might make a planet suitable for life. Students will also learn how we keep humans safe when exploring space, and the challenges to growing plants in space. At the end of this unit, students will evaluate various proposals about where to establish a permanent human settlement outside of the Earth.
Content in SEPUP Texas Edition, Science Grade 7, Life in Space Unit is organized into 8 activities, as follows:
| Activity Title | Activity Type | Activity Overview | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80. | Is Anybody Out There? | Investigation | In this activity students identify planets outside our solar system by examining light curves based on data adapted from the Kepler Mission. |
| 81. | Conditions for Life | Investigation | In this activity, students investigate the conditions necessary for life to exist on a planet. They examine exoplanet data to discover the concept of a habitable zone. |
| 82. | From the Earth to Space | Role Play | In this activity, students read about the various forces that act on rockets and spacecraft at different stages of flight. Students also learn about the amount of work done by rocket engines and spacecraft and how they stay in orbit around the Earth. |
| 83. | Manned Space Flight | Laboratory | In this activity, students investigate the resources people need for survival in various terrestrial environments. Students then apply what they have learned to determine the accommodations essential for manned space flight. |
| 84. | Plant Responces | Reading | Students design experiments to investigate the effects of gravity and light on the growth of seedlings in agar. They are introduced to the concept of tropism as they learn that a plant’s parts respond in different ways to light and gravity. |
| 85. | Observing Plants | Laboratory | Students conduct an experiment to investigate how the xylem carries water from the roots to the leaves in a celery stalk. They also examine normal and plasmolyzed onion cells under the microscope. |
| 86. | Plants and Water | Modeling | Students complete the previous activity and then read about the role of water in plant growth and the challenges of growing plants away from the Earth. The reading connects students to the previous laboratory activity as they learn about turgor pressure, transpiration, and the structure and function of the xylem, stomata, and guard cells. |
| 87. | Space Settlements | Reading | In this activity, students examine information about four locations in the solar system. They make recommendations for the best location for setting up a permanent settlement or base for deeper exploration of space. |
A full suite of course tools is available for teachers, as follows:
Student Edition
The Student Edition guides investigations and provides related readings. It uses a variety of approaches to make science accessible for all students. SEPUP’s integrated literacy strategies help students process new science content, develop their analytical skills, make connections between related concepts, and express their knowledge orally and in writing.
eStudent Edition
Availible in both download and online access platforms.
Teacher Edition
The SEPUP Core Curriculum Teacher’s Edition takes you through each activity in the Student Edition and helps you see the development of concepts within the big picture of the units and the course you are teaching. It helps you set up the equipment from the kit, organize the classroom, conduct activities, and manage practical details, all of which enhance students’ learning environment. The Teacher’s Edition is packaged as a series of loose-leaf binders that you can personalize with annotations, rearrangements, and insertions. The Teacher’s Edition provides full support for teaching the program. Additional support resources can also found in the Teacher’s Edition.
Complete Material Package
All SEPUP materials packages are designed with teachers, students and environmental considerations in mind. Traditional laboratory style classrooms are not necessary to teach SEPUP. Materials packages include most of the items needed for the activities. They support multiple classes – typically up to five classes of 32 students (160 total students) – before consumables need to be replaced. It’s important to note that materials are consumed at various rates; therefore, it will not be necessary to replace all consumable items every year. Exclusive to SEPUP programs are the molded tray liners that keep everything in place and easy to locate – even in a hurry.
Online and Technology Tools
These include the Exam View suite of assessment tools and more than 100 web links for each of the three SEPUP 6-8 courses, to be used for basic instruction and enrichment.
| SEPUP Texas Edition, Science Grade 7, Life in Space Unit | Item # | Price | Quantity |
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