This course is available in the Fall only.
Description:
Students become investigators in this course where they use a variety
of techniques to collect information about the world around them. In
Earth science, our investigators study the effects of different climates
on Earth and begin exploring the solar system. In our physical science
unit, they study the composition and use of different forms of energy.
Through a range of hands-on experiments and observation, they analyze
the effect of warmed air on weather, explore chemical reactions, and
create a compound machine. Students deepen their understanding of the
material through a long-term science project chosen from an approved
list and shared at the semester’s end with fellow students.
Units:
Weather and Climate
In the beginning of this unit, your student will be introduced to different types of weather.
By studying the water cycle, your student will be able to explain how
water moves on Earth’s surface and through its atmosphere. He will read
about various forms of precipitation and will learn how different types
of weather, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, form.
In the latter part of the unit, your student will explore climate.
He will learn that climates differ on Earth; for example, some regions
have cold and dry climates, while others have warm, humid, and rainy
climates. Your student will complete the unit by conducting an
experiment to investigate how large masses of warm air can affect
regional climates.
The final lesson in this unit introduces the
long-term project. In this lesson, your student will be given the
project guidelines as well as the project rubric and a list of possible
topics. Your student will be given opportunities to work on the
long-term project during each remaining unit.
The Solar System and Beyond
In
this unit, your student will explore the many wonders of the universe.
She will complete reading assignments that focus on Earth, the moon and
sun, the inner and outer planets, and stars and constellations. Your
student will practice the inquiry skill of data interpretation as she
investigates a record of the moon’s phases.
During the unit, your student will learn that gravity
is the force of attraction between the sun and planets in the solar
system. She will learn how scientists use telescopes to study the rocky
planets and the gas giants. By the end of the unit, your student will
have a greater understanding of the universe and its phenomena,
including constellations.
During this unit, your student will
select the topic for her long-term science project and submit the
project proposal to her teacher for approval. She will also be given the
opportunity to complete any research on her topic.
Properties of Matter
In
this unit, your student will investigate matter and how it can be
measured and classified. His reading assignments will cover the states
of matter, properties of matter, and the system of measurement that
scientists use to measure matter—the metric system. Your student will
focus on length, width, area, volume, mass, and density.
In addition to measurement, your student will study classification. He will define the terms element, atom, metal, nonmetal, and metalloid;
and he will learn how the elements are organized in the periodic table.
By the end of the unit, your student will be prepared to study how
matter can change states.
During this unit, your student will
begin the experiment or investigation for his long-term project. He will
make daily observations and record data on the lab report sheet.
Matter and Its Changes
In
this unit, your student will continue to learn about different types of
matter. She will learn how to differentiate between a physical change
and a chemical change and will discover that mixtures are simply
combinations of matter.
In the beginning of the unit, your
student will conduct an experiment that will allow her to practice using
variables. She will determine how heat affects a liquid’s evaporation
rate. Towards the end of the unit, your student will conduct another
experiment to determine if lemon juice can prevent fruit from turning
brown.
Your student will continue to observe the experiment for
her long-term science project. She will complete the experiment by the
end of this unit and begin to focus on her project presentation.
Forces
Throughout this unit, your student will study forces and motion. She will define motion, speed, velocity, and acceleration,
and she will learn how they are all related. Your student will watch
movies that explain work, energy, and simple machines. She will discover
how simple machines are used in everyday life.
By the end of
the unit, your student will have a better understanding of how balanced
forces and unbalanced forces affect an object’s motion. She will be able
to explain potential energy and kinetic energy, and she will also be
able to describe the following forms of energy: chemical, electrical,
light, mechanical, thermal, and nuclear. Your student will read how
energy can be transferred and transformed.
The long-term science project will be completed and submitted to the teacher during this unit.
Energy
In
this final unit, your student’s knowledge of energy will increase as
she studies heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. The first
reading assignment in the unit will help your student understand the
following terms: conduction, convection, radiation, insulator, and conductor. Your student will go on to learn how sound is produced and how sound can travel through a medium such as air or water.
Finally,
your student will explore light, electricity, and magnetism. She will
learn about the electromagnetic spectrum and will discover that although
light is made up of waves, it travels in a straight line. Your student
will investigate positive and negative particles and how they cause an
object to become electrically charged. She will end the unit by studying
magnetic particles, poles, and fields.
The graded long-term
science project will be returned to your student. Lesson time will be
given for suggested revisions. Completed projects will be shared with
other students during a sharing session.
Course Sets
Kit
Lesson Manual/Course Guide
- Gifted and Talented Science 4 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- iText McGraw-Hill Science: A Closer Look 4
Supplies
- Goggles, safety
- Graduated Cylinder (100 mL)
- Hand lens
- Magnet, bar (set of 2)
- Modeling clay
- Thermometer