Semester of Science (Ages 8-12)

(This class also runs as a summer camp.) In this 12-week online science sampler course, students will be introduced to three popular topics in science: chemistry, biology, and genetics. The 12-week course will be divided up evenly between the three science disciplines: 4 weeks about chemistry, 4 weeks about biology, and 4 weeks about genetics. The purpose of this class is to offer an introduction to these topics for students who know they like science, but don't know which type of science they like.

Class members will meet two times per week. The first meeting of each week will be lecture-style (with plentiful interaction) and will focus on learning that week's science lesson. A handout will be provided after every lecture day summarizing important points. Between meetings, students will complete an assigned research project and come ready to share what they learned on the second meeting. Generally, for their research projects I will ask students to find more information about the concept from lecture that they found most interesting. Occasionally, I will ask them to research a specific topic. The second meeting of each week will be for research presentations (1-2 minutes each) and student-led Q&A discussion. The purpose of this meeting is to share with each other what we found in our research and to discuss the concepts from lecture that students found most difficult or interesting. I will prepare practice examples to work on if students do not have many questions; otherwise, this second meeting provides a great opportunity for students to focus on learning about the aspects of the lesson they are most interested in.

The curriculum for this course is as follows:
Week 1: Introduction to Chemistry: Atoms & Molecules
Week 2: States of Matter & The Periodic Table
Week 3: Chemical Bonds
Week 4: Chemical Reactions
Week 5: Introduction to Biology: The Study of Life
Week 6: Cells & Organelles
Week 7: Mitosis & Meiosis
Week 8: Evolution & Energy
Week 9: Introduction to Genetics: What is DNA?
Week 10: Heredity: Inherited Traits
Week 11: The Central Dogma: DNA, RNA, Protein
Week 12: Genetic Mutations & Diseases

This class is designed for the beginners who have very little to no experience in these topics. I adjust my class instruction to the students' level of understanding. However, 12 weeks is a long commitment. I would encourage students who would like to sample these courses before committing to the semester class to try one of my one-time classes: "Atoms to Molecules", "The Study of Life", or "A Recipe for You".

I am happy to answer any specific questions regarding class structure, teaching style, or curriculum coverage.