| Science units we will be studying this year:
CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING - 5th & 6th Grades, Semester 1
“William Shakespeare considered creative imagination ‘the gift that makes
man the paragon of animals.’ This power of the human mind has lit lamps,
caused scientific discoveries, initiated acts of kindness, and spurred the
creation of institutions of progress.” (CPS for Kids, Eberle and Stanish)
In this creative problem solving unit, while working through a leveled
series of thinking exercises and using creativity tools, students will learn
how to systematically increase the number of factors they take into account
when coping with everyday decision-making. Participation in this unit can
help students: develop a greater awareness and appreciation of their ability
to be deliberately creative; develop their motivation to be creative;
cultivate creativity in themselves and others; and encourage the ideas of
others.
PLATE TECTONICS - 5th Grade, Semester 1
The theory of plate tectonics represents a revolutionary breakthrough in the
earth sciences, providing a coherent model of how the outer surface of the
Earth moves and changes. In Quest, students will investigate this theory and
create models of erupting volcanoes, strike-slip faults, rock layers, and
sea-floor spreading to help reveal the dynamic nature of the Earth's crust
ENVIRONMENTAL DETECTIVES - 5th Grade, Semester 1
Students will explore a range of crucial environmental issues as they
investigate and solve a "crime": a mysterious environmental calamity in
which fish die off over a five-year period. Potential causes of the fish
dying include chlorine pollution, acid rain, erosion and sediment pollution,
predator-prey relationships, phosphate pollution and algal blooms, and oil
pollution. In this real-world learning scenario, students become aware of
the interconnectedness of the natural world and the complexity of many
environmental problems. They discover that science and society are
inextricably linked, and that most solutions require compromise.
LEARNING ABOUT LEARNING - 6th Grade, Semester 2
How do humans learn? Do animals learn in a similar way? How do we learn
things that are important for survival? Does the structure of our brains
change as we learn? This unit focuses on these kinds of questions on how we
acquire, assess, and retain information. In this interdisciplinary guide,
students delve into the human organism and nervous system, animal behavior,
health and safety issues, product testing, and the ethics of
experimentation. In the process, they learn a great deal about what
scientists actually do.
PSYCHOLOGY FOR KIDS - 6th Grade, Semester 2
During this unit, students gain personal insight by exploring their
attitudes and feelings, as well as their own social, creative, thinking and
learning styles. During these exercises, students begin to understand
themselves to help them ultimately choose their own best direction, make
their own decisions, and follow their own dreams in shaping their futures.
LIVING WITH A STAR - 6th Grade, Semester 2
During this unit, students become solar scientists, studying fascinating and
lesser-known aspects of Sun and Earth interactions. Using research,
experiments and simulations, students learn important and useful concepts in
earth and space science, technology, physics, and health science. Students
will also gain experience making considered choices—now and in the future—
that will impact themselves, their community and the planet as a whole.
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