Science

Unit 6: Earth's Waters

During May and June we will study Earth’s waters (properties of water, the importance of water in natural processes and as a resource to humans, and solving pollution problems). Students will create visual displays (poster, model, booklet, or brochure) to illustrate several key concepts. Rather than oral quizzes, students will be practicing using standardized test style questions (true/false, multiple choice). For project directions click here.

Unit 5: Nutrition

Our April science unit is on nutrition. We will be using activities from: www.mypyramid.gov. We will be collecting empty food containers that use nutrition to advertise (low sodium – high in calcium – no trans fat – all natural – no added sugar – high in fiber – no cholesterol…etc). We will analyze how nutritious these foods really are. Students will set and monitor nutrition goals.

Science Fair 2012

This year’s Science Fair will be on March 7^th. Students will be given time in class to conduct an experiment, type a report, and create a display. They may choose to work alone, or they may work with a partner. For directions, a timeline, and a rubric click here.

Fourth Science Unit: Weather & Climate

How do clouds, hurricanes, and tornados form? What causes wind? Why is the ozone layer important? What might have caused the ice ages? During February and March students will work with a team to learn concepts about weather and climate and take oral quizzes. They will also be assigned a topic for a diagram to draw and share with the class. For details, click here.

Third Science Unit: Astronomy

From Jan. 3 to Feb. 3 students will be taking daily 5 minute observations of the moon and weather for homework. This link shows how to take observations, but the handout I gave the students is more helpful because it has an example page and a diagram of various kinds of clouds.

Our in-class astronomy unit starts on January 3rd. It will last 3 or 4 weeks. Students will work in teams to present demonstrations of what causes the seasons, eclipses, solstices, equinoxes, days, months, years, tides, and phases of the moon. Each team will be given a topic to study and teach to the class. Topics are:

Rockets/Space Station/Space Probes/Satellites

Copernicus/Kepler/Galileo

The Sun’s Layers/Atmosphere/Phenomena

The Inner Planets (Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars)

The Outer Planets (Jupiter/Saturn/Uranus/Neptune/Pluto)

Asteroids/Comets/Meteors/Meteorites/Meteroroids

Galaxies/Formation of the Solar System

Classifying Stars/Life and Death of Stars

Our Moon and the Moons of Other Planets