Life Science
September:
Students are learning how questions fuel the study of
science and how scientists go about finding answers to these questions.
They have also been introduced to the Current
Science magazines which include all areas of science (life, earth, physical,
and health). Also, Science Trivia
is a fun way to learn science. Why
not join your son/daughter in a game of Science Trivia!
October:
Upon learning the steps of the scientific method, students will put those steps into practice to solve the problem of a "Cholera Outbreak". Learning about the characteristics and necessities of life along with its chemistry will follow.
November:
Students will learn about the characteristics that describe living
things, the basic necessities of life, and life on a cellular level.
Their studies will progress into how life is organized from a single cell
to an ecosystem. The cell theory is
introduced and differences between plant and animal cells will be described.
The cellular unit will end with the students making their very own edible
cell project.
January:
Upon learning the names and functions of organelles
in an eukaryotic cell and the differences between plant and animal cells,
students will make edible cells at home. They
can decorate a cookie, muffin, pizza, cake or any other base they like and
decorate their choice with edible organelles.
Before they eat their creations, they will show them to the rest of the
class and explain the way they've represented the cell's structure in food.
Students will then study the cell in action.
Topics include diffusion, osmosis, photosynthesis, and cellular
respiration along with fermentation. The
importance of cell division and how it differs in animals and plants will be
introduced.
Current Science magazine
articles and science trivia are incorporated throughout the quarter as well.
Don't forget to play a game of science trivia with your son or daughter!
February:
Students will learn the basic skills and techniques
required to handle and use microscopes properly. They will be making wet mounts to identify parts of a cell
and examining a variety of tissues using the compound microscope.
Students will then study the cell in action.
Comparing and contrasting various activities, such as diffusion, osmosis,
photosynthesis, and cellular respiration, are just a few of the topics on which
we will be focusing. The importance
of cell division will be introduced as well.
Also, watch for topics in Current Science magazines that are
incorporated into the curriculum. Join
your son or daughter in a game of science trivia!
March:
Students will
be studying various adaptations and methods of survival for those animals that
live in Alaska. After choosing a
particular animal from either the tundra or the taiga biome, the students will
be writing a report, which includes the animals scientific name, diet, habitat,
and specific adaptations. Each
student will then construct a clay model of their animal.
Life Science is the study of living things-from the tiniest bacterium to the largest tree. Students will discover the similarities of all living things, learn about the tools life scientists use and how the scientific method is utilized with problem solving skills. Studies throughout the year will also include units on cells and how they work, heredity, classification, the five major kingdoms, and ecology. Various lab actives are incorporated into each unit of study.
Current Science magazines are used throughout the year to reinforce curriculum topics, increase science vocabulary, encourage critical thinking, build inquiry skills and support cooperative learning
Enrichment
Science must be experienced, not memorized and that is what Science enrichment is all about. The course is activity based and focuses on creative effort and critical thinking from the students. Cooperative learning and problem solving situations center around each activity along with "inventioneering" skills. Labs include demonstrations which help students develop the science process, skills of observing, predicting, experimenting, eliminating data, and drawing conclusions. Owl pellet dissection, food webs, "flinking", Cartesian divers, polymer chemistry, and various dissections are also incorporated into the course.
