Life Science Home

Welcome to Mr. DeRosa’s web page. This web page will provide you with lots of information about our class. It will also give lots of life science information that we won’t always cover in class. This is a good place to come for a copy of study guides, additional information about what we are learning in class, and a place to get more information about topics we'll be covering in our class.

About this Web Site

This web site can be used (along with attending class) to learn the materials needed to be successful in 7^th grade science class. This web site will not provide all of the information you need to pass the class - you must attend class to be successful. This web page is to be used in addition to class.

How to use this web site

This web page is divided into 2 menu sections. Classroom rules, expectations, grading policies and other general information is contained in the menu at the top of this page. This menu is always present, and can be accessed at any time.

The second menu section is located at the left hand side of the screen. This section is divided into functional groups.

• The Marking Period information section provides a general idea of what we will cover in the specified marking period.
• The Course Detail section provides specific lessons, activities and other information that we cover daily in class. This is the section that you can review after school to be sure you understand what you need to know. This is also the place you would go if you miss a fay of class - you can usually catch up by completing the section that we are covering in class.
• The Science Extensions section provides additional information on topics that we won't cover in more detail in class. This section is not required reading for students. Parents and interested students can come here to get information beyond what is required in the 7^th grade curriculum. You will never be tested or required to know the information contained in this section.
• The Articles section contains articles that I have found that are interesting and provide a different perspective to what we are normallypresented. Students can read these articles when there is a concept that is of interest. I may assign a reading from this section occasionally for homework.

What is Science? Why do we study Science?

We study science because it is important to know about our world. It is important for us all to know how things work. Our world is getting more and more complex as our technology becomes more advanced. As our technology and tools improve, our understanding of t he natural world around us improves as well.

Scientists have a much better understanding of living things since the invention of the microscope. Every time the microscope was improved, our understanding of living things has improved.

Our technology has brought us to the point where our tools are so complex that most people can no longer understand how they work. We need to know the basics of how things work – for example, that all machines are based on just a few simple principles, or that all living things have some basic similarities. Once we understand simple principles, we can start to understand more complex principles, until we understand how very complex systems and machines function. Maybe we’ll invent new tools to learn more, improve existing tools, or learn more about living things things. All of these advances are based on our building knowledge on the basics that we learn in elementary and middle school.