Utah State Standards for Science: Grade 7

UT.I. Students will understand the structure of matter.

I.1. Describe the structure of matter in terms of atoms and molecules.

I.1.a. Recognize that atoms are too small to see. 17
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.1.a.

I.1.b. Relate atoms to molecules (e.g., atoms combine to make molecules). 17
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.1.b.

I.1.c. Diagram the arrangement of particles in the physical states of matter (i.e., solid, liquid, gas). 10
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.1.c.

I.1.d. Describe the limitations of using models to represent atoms (e.g., distance between particles in atoms cannot be represented to scale in models, the motion of electrons cannot be described in most models). 10
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.1.d.

I.1.e. Investigate and report how our knowledge of the structure of matter has been developed over time. 10
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.1.e.

I.2. Accurately measure the characteristics of matter in different states.

I.2.a. Use appropriate instruments to determine mass and volume of solids and liquids and record data. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.2.a.

I.2.b. Use observations to predict the relative density of various solids and liquids. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.2.b.

I.2.c. Calculate the density of various solids and liquids. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.2.c.

I.2.d. Describe the relationship between mass and volume as it relates to density. 3
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I.2.e. Design a procedure to measure mass and volume of gases. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.2.e.

I.3. Investigate the motion of particles.

I.3.a. Identify evidence that particles are in constant motion. 8
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.3.a.

I.3.b. Compare the motion of particles at various temperatures by measuring changes in the volume of gases, liquids, or solids. 8
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.3.b.

I.3.c. Design and conduct an experiment investigating the diffusion of particles. 8
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.3.c.

I.3.d. Formulate and test a hypothesis on the relationship between temperature and motion. 8
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.3.d.

I.3.e. Describe the impact of expansion and contraction of solid materials on the design of buildings, highways, and other structures. 8
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard I.3.e.

UT.II. Students will understand the relationship between properties of matter and Earth's structure.

II.1. Examine the effects of density and particle size on the behavior of materials in mixtures.

II.1.a. Compare the density of various objects to the density of known earth materials. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.1.a.

II.1.b. Calculate the density of earth materials (e.g., rocks, water, air). 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.1.b.

II.1.c. Observe and describe the sorting of earth materials in a mixture based on density and particle size (e.g., sorting grains of sand of the same size with different densities, sort materials of different particle size with equal densities). 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.1.c.

II.1.d. Relate the sorting of materials that can be observed in streambeds, road cuts, or beaches to the density and particle size of those materials. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.1.d.

II.1.e. Design and conduct an experiment that provides data on the natural sorting of various earth materials. 3
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.1.e.

II.2. Analyze how density affects Earth's structure.

II.2.a. Compare the densities of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior layers. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.2.a.

II.2.b. Relate density to the relative positioning of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior. 4
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II.2.c. Model the layering of Earth's atmosphere, water, crust, and interior due to density differences. 4
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II.2.d. Distinguish between models of Earth with accurate and inaccurate attributes. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard II.2.d.

UT.III. Students will understand that the organs in an organism are made of cells that have structures and perform specific life functions.

III.1. Observe and describe cellular structures and functions.

III.1.a. Use appropriate instruments to observe, describe, and compare various types of cells (e.g., onion, diatoms). 34
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.1.a.

III.1.b. Observe and distinguish the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, chloroplast, and cytoplasm of cells. 34
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.1.b.

III.1.c. Differentiate between plant and animal cells based on cell wall and cell membrane. 24
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III.1.d. Model the cell processes of diffusion and osmosis and relate this motion to the motion of particles. 34
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.1.d.

III.1.e. Gather information to report on how the basic functions of organisms are carried out within cells (e.g., extract energy from food, remove waste, produce their own food). 34
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.1.e.

III.2. Identify and describe the function and interdependence of various organs and tissues.

III.2.a. Order the levels of organization from simple to complex (e.g., cell, tissue, organ, system, organism). 24
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.2.a.

III.2.b. Match a particular structure to the appropriate level (e.g., heart to organ, cactus to organism, muscle to tissue). 12
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.2.b.

III.2.c. Relate the structure of an organ to its component parts and the larger system of which it is a part. 16
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.2.c.

III.2.d. Describe how the needs of organisms at the cellular level for food, air, and waste removal are met by tissues and organs (e.g., lungs provide oxygen to cells, kidneys remove wastes from cells). 16
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard III.2.d.

UT.IV. Students will understand that offspring inherit traits that make them more or less suitable to survive in the environment.

IV.1. Compare how sexual and asexual reproduction passes genetic information from parent to offspring.

IV.1.a. Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits. 16
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.1.a.

IV.1.b. Contrast the exchange of genetic information in sexual and asexual reproduction (e.g., number of parents, variation of genetic material). 16
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.1.b.

IV.1.c. Cite examples of organisms that reproduce sexually (e.g., rats, mosquitoes, salmon, sunflowers) and those that reproduce asexually (e.g., hydra, planaria, bacteria, fungi, cuttings from house plants). 5
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.1.c.

IV.1.d. Compare inherited structural traits of offspring and their parents. 17
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.1.d.

IV.2. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.

IV.2.a. Predict why certain traits (e.g., structure of teeth, body structure, coloration) are more likely to offer an advantage for survival of an organism. 2
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.2.a.

IV.2.b. Cite examples of traits that provide an advantage for survival in one environment but not other environments. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.2.b.

IV.2.c. Cite examples of changes in genetic traits due to natural and manmade influences (e.g., mimicry in insects, plant hybridization to develop a specific trait, breeding of dairy cows to produce more milk). 7
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.2.c.

IV.2.d. Relate the structure of organs to an organism's ability to survive in a specific environment (e.g., hollow bird bones allow them to fly in air, hollow structure of hair insulates animals from hot or cold, dense root structure allows plants to grow in compact soil, fish fins aid fish in moving in water). 7
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard IV.2.d.

UT.V. Students will understand that structure is used to develop classification systems.

V.1. Classify based on observable properties.

V.1.a. Categorize nonliving objects based on external structures (e.g., hard, soft). 8
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.1.a.

V.1.b. Compare living, once living, and nonliving things. 3
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V.1.c. Defend the importance of observation in scientific classification. 3
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V.1.d. Demonstrate that there are many ways to classify things. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.1.d.

V.2. Use and develop a simple classification system.

V.2.a. Using a provided classification scheme, classify things (e.g., shells, leaves, rocks, bones, fossils, weather, clouds, stars, planets). 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.2.a.

V.2.b. Develop a classification system based on observed structural characteristics. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.2.b.

V.2.c. Generalize rules for classification. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.2.c.

V.2.d. Relate the importance of classification systems to the development of science knowledge. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.2.d.

V.2.e. Recognize that classification is a tool made by science to describe perceived patterns in nature. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.2.e.

V.3. Classify organisms using an orderly pattern based upon structure.

V.3.a. Identify types of organisms that are not classified as either plant or animal. 6
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.3.a.

V.3.b. Arrange organisms according to kingdom (i.e., plant, animal, monera, fungi, protist). 6
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.3.b.

V.3.c. Use a classification key or field guide to identify organisms. 5
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.3.c.

V.3.d. Report on changes in classification systems as a result of new information or technology. 4
Suggested Titles for Utah Science State Standard V.3.d.