Science 5 for Homeschoolers

Science is an ongoing process that constantly renders new discoveries! In this first semester course, the student will be sharpening his investigative skills and expanding upon his existing knowledge in order to make his own new discoveries. The McGraw-Hill textbook, Science: A Closer Look, and the science kit are the primary resources for the course. The opening unit explores the role of scientists and the scientific method. The life science units explore cells and heredity. The Earth science units provide an opportunity for the student to design experiments to investigate Earth's composition and the factors that affect its composition.

The lessons in this course are designed to accommodate many learning styles, and to provide a variety of opportunities for the entire family to participate in the student's education. Some lessons, or groups of lessons, in each unit are activity-centered, which allow the student to engage the new concepts he encounters through exploration and discovery; others are more traditional, requiring the student to read, research, and reflect on the underlying theory. In the second semester, students sharpen their investigative skills and expand their scientific knowledge in order to make new discoveries. They learn about the living world in the life science units. The physical science units examine the characteristics of matter, sound, and light. The Earth science units provide an opportunity for students to investigate Earth's composition and the factors that shape its surface. Students continue to explore