SCIENCE
TREES AND FORESTS
Students will learn about trees as individual plants and as a part of a forest ecosystem. By examining local species, they learn to recognize the characteristics of different trees and develop skill in describing and interpreting the structural features of trees. As a part of their studies, students learn about a broad range of living things found on, under and around trees and the larger environment. In examining human use of forests, they become aware of a broad range of environmental issues and develop an awareness for the need for responsible use.
EVIDENCE AND INVESTIGATIONS
Students will sharpen their skills in observing and interpreting what they see by investigating evidence of human activity. They explore and analyze indoor and outdoor environments as they look for footprints, markings, evidence of disturbance and things that are left behind. Through these studies, students learn to pose questions, devise investigations, recognize patterns and discrepancies, and think logically about what they have observed.
SKY SCIENCE
Students will learn about objects in the day and night sky. Through direct observations and research, students learn about the motions and characteristics of stars, moons, and planets. Using simple materials students will create models and diagrams which they will use to explore the relative position and motion of objects in the space. Students will begin to see Earth as a sphere in motion within a larger universe. With new understanding students will revisit the topics of seasonal cycles, phases of the moon and the apparent motion of stars.
AIR, AERODYNAMICS AND FLIGHT
Students will explore the characteristics of air and the interactions between moving air and solids. Students will learn that air is a compressible fluid, that is composed of many gases, and that moving air can support solid materials in sustained flight. By studying birds and airplanes, students will learn a variety of adaptations and designs that make flight possible and that provide propulsion and control.
Students will apply their knowledge of aerodynamics to design, build and test a variety of flying devices. In constructing models students will develop a basic design, then build it, test it, and solve the problems that inevitably arise. Through teamwork they will learn that planning, communication, cooperation, and flexibility are important to the overall result, even though parts of a task can be worked on individually. In the process students will learn about the parts of an aircraft, their role in controlled flight and the differences between aircraft and spacecraft.
Students will learn about trees as individual plants and as a part of a forest ecosystem. By examining local species, they learn to recognize the characteristics of different trees and develop skill in describing and interpreting the structural features of trees. As a part of their studies, students learn about a broad range of living things found on, under and around trees and the larger environment. In examining human use of forests, they become aware of a broad range of environmental issues and develop an awareness for the need for responsible use.
EVIDENCE AND INVESTIGATIONS
Students will sharpen their skills in observing and interpreting what they see by investigating evidence of human activity. They explore and analyze indoor and outdoor environments as they look for footprints, markings, evidence of disturbance and things that are left behind. Through these studies, students learn to pose questions, devise investigations, recognize patterns and discrepancies, and think logically about what they have observed.
SKY SCIENCE
Students will learn about objects in the day and night sky. Through direct observations and research, students learn about the motions and characteristics of stars, moons, and planets. Using simple materials students will create models and diagrams which they will use to explore the relative position and motion of objects in the space. Students will begin to see Earth as a sphere in motion within a larger universe. With new understanding students will revisit the topics of seasonal cycles, phases of the moon and the apparent motion of stars.
AIR, AERODYNAMICS AND FLIGHT
Students will explore the characteristics of air and the interactions between moving air and solids. Students will learn that air is a compressible fluid, that is composed of many gases, and that moving air can support solid materials in sustained flight. By studying birds and airplanes, students will learn a variety of adaptations and designs that make flight possible and that provide propulsion and control.
Students will apply their knowledge of aerodynamics to design, build and test a variety of flying devices. In constructing models students will develop a basic design, then build it, test it, and solve the problems that inevitably arise. Through teamwork they will learn that planning, communication, cooperation, and flexibility are important to the overall result, even though parts of a task can be worked on individually. In the process students will learn about the parts of an aircraft, their role in controlled flight and the differences between aircraft and spacecraft.
