TOPICS: SCIENCE, DISCUSSION, CRITICAL THINKING, ANIMALS, NATURE, PHYSICS, GEOLOGY, METEOROLOGY, ECOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING

Science from scripted textbooks can be limiting because science is progressing faster than these curriculum editions can keep up, often making some of the "new science" in them, old news.  In this class, we are able to explore new and emerging science in real-time.  Additionally, students will be exposed to the modern methods of guided learning through the viewing of websites, news reports, and video content from a variety of online sources. 

~OVERVIEW ~
This class is designed to be a place for students to develop a deeper understanding of science topics.  We will meet twice weekly for 45 minutes to explore science topics that students traditionally learn in the course of one school year.  Each meeting stands alone.  PRIOR KNOWLEDGE IS NOT REQUIRED to participate, so students are welcome to JOIN DURING ANY WEEK.  However, for those who have been enrolled prior, reference to prior weeks will occur. 

Students will also receive printable Guided Notes Worksheet to complete as we move through the lesson.  These are recommended and will be reviewed at the end of each session, but will not be graded. 

The organization of weekly topics will follow a scope and sequence similar to most traditional school settings.  
We will spend 8 weeks and 16 class meetings exploring each of four units of science:  

UNIT 1: Life Science (8-weeks, 16 meetings)
UNIT 2: Earth Science (8-weeks, 16 meetings)
UNIT3: Physical Science  (8-weeks, 16 meetings)
UNIT 4: Technology & Engineering  (8-weeks, 16 meetings)


After 32 weeks and 64 meetings in this class, students will have explored all of the topics covered by a typical full year science curriculum for grades 4, 5, or 6 with minor variations.  For example, 4th graders do not go deeply into the function of specific organelles, while 6th grade does.  These topics are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) followed by many schools. 

**The list of topics and schedule can be found below.**

~ CLASS MEETINGS ~
Please Note:  My lessons take about 45 minutes to move through, however class size and discussion participation will affect the overall duration of class.  Small class size and/or low discussion participation may result in classes ending a few minutes early.  Classes will end after all material has been covered, time has been offered for clarification and/or review, and no further discussion is occurring. 

Warm-Up: 
In each meeting, students will be presented with a scientific phenomenon or question related to the topic of the day/week and then participate in a discussion making connections to their own knowledge, learning, or experience. The purpose of this exercise to help students think scientifically about observable phenomena encountered in life. 

Lesson: 
Each meeting, students will also be given a lesson about the science topic for the day/week.  They may find this is information they have learned previously in school, or it may pre-teach topics they will encounter in future lessons at school.  My lessons are in the form of slide show presentations, with embedded video clips, images, and website links to support and engage learners.    A printable guided notes worksheet will be provided for each week.  Students are encouraged to complete the worksheet during the lesson.  The last few minutes of class will be spent answering any questions about the worksheet and sharing answers. 

Activity: 
During select lessons, students may participate in virtual lab activities.  Virtual labs will require that students access an outside link shared by the teacher.  Due to the short duration of class, physical labs and activities will not occur in this class, however, related lab activities that students could do at home will be introduced with links to guides provided when available. 

Expectations: 
Students are expected to bring curiosity and questions, and a willingness to participate in discussions and activities.  Keeping cameras on is preferred, but not required beyond a quick check in. 

**WEEKLY TOPIC SCHEDULE**
Below you will find the sequence of weekly topics.   The topic dates may shift or change due to unplanned schedule changes.  Please reach out if you would like to know the current week's topic.  

If the teacher has to cancel unexpectedly during any week, learners will be refunded, and the topic will be touched on briefly  during the next class.  If a student misses class, the class recording will be available after class for viewing missed content.  

🍎 LIFE SCIENCE UNIT - 8 Weeks 🍎


Week 1: 
~Cells, Cell Theory, Plant and Animal Cells
~Organelles and Cell Function

WED/THURS AM CLASS - May 1 & 2, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - January 18 & 19, 2024


Week 2: 
~Mitosis and Meiosis
~Levels of Cell Organization

WED/THURS AM CLASS -  May 8 & 9, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - January 25 & 26, 2024 


Week 3: 
~Gestation and Reproduction in Plants and Animals
~Animal Life Cycles

WED/THURS AM CLASS -May 15 & 16, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - February 1 & 2, 2024


Week 4: 
~Animal Senses
~Animal Behavior

WED/THURS AM CLASS - May 22 & 23, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - February 8 & 9, 2024


Week 5: 
~Muscular and Skeletal Body Systems
~Digestive and Excretory Systems

WED/THURS AM CLASS - May 29 & 30, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - February 15 & 16, 2024


Week 6:  
~Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
~Nervous and Endocrine Systems

WED/THURS AM CLASS - June 5 & 6, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - February 22 & 23, 2024


Week 7: 
~Habitats and Ecosystems
~Food Chains and Food Webs

WED/THURS AM CLASS - June 12 & 13, 2024  
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - February 29 & March 1, 2024


Week 8:  
~Classification of Living Things
~Genes and Heredity

WED/THURS CLASS - June 19 & 20, 2024
THURS/FRI CLASS - March 7 & 8, 2024


🍎 EARTH SCIENCE UNIT - 8 Weeks 🍎


Week 1:  
~Earth’s Structure and Composition
~Rocks and Minerals

WED/THURS CLASS -June 26 & 27, 2024
THURS/FRI CLASS - March 14 & 15, 2024


Week 2:  
~Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Processes
~Earth’s Fossils and History

WED/THURS AM CLASS -July 10 & 11, 2024 (No class July 3 & 4 - Holiday)
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - March 21 & 22, 2024


Week 3:  
~Seas and Oceans
~Waves and Currents 

WED/THURS AM CLASS -July 17 & 18, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS -  March 28 & 29, 2024


Week 4: 
~Ocean Floor and Topography
~Ocean Life Zones and Geology

WED/THURS AM CLASS - July 24 & 25, 2024 
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - April 4 & 5, 2024


Week 5: 
~Earth’s Atmosphere
~Water Cycle

WED/THURS AM CLASS -July 31 & August 1, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS -  April 11 & 12, 2024


Week 6: 
~Global Winds
~Climates and Weather Maps

WED/THURS AM CLASS - August 7 & 8, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - April 18 & 19, 2024


Week 7: 
~Earth and Moon
~Seasons

WED/THURS AM CLASS -August 14 & 15, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - April 25 & 26, 2024


Week 8: 
~Moon and its Phases
~Solar System

WED/THURS AM CLASS -August 21 & 22, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - May 2 & 3, 2024

🍎 PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNIT - 8 Weeks 🍎


Week 1:  
~Properties and States of Matter
~Atoms and Elements

WED/THURS AM CLASS -January 3 and 4, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - May 9 & 10, 2024


Week 2: 
~Mixtures and Solutions
~Chemical Reactions

WED/THURS CLASS -January 10 and 11, 2024
THURS/FRI CLASS - May 16 & 17, 2024


Week 3: 
~Common Forces: Magnetism, Electricity, Gravity
~Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

WED/THURS AM CLASS -January 17 and 18, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - May 23 & 24, 2024


Week 4: 
~Newton's Laws of Motion
~Work and Simple Machines

WED/THURS AM CLASS -January 24 and 25, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - May 30 & 31, 2024


Week 5: 
~Forms of Energy
~Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer

WED/THURS AM CLASS -January 31 and February 1, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS -  June 6 & 7, 2024 


Week 6: 
~Waves of Light and Sound
~Electricity and Magnetism

WED/THURS AM CLASS -February 7 and 8, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - June 13 & 14, 2024


Week 7: 
~Earth’s Resources: Biomass and Fossil Fuels
~Renewable and Alternative Energies

WED/THURS AM CLASS -February 14 and February 15, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - June 20 & 21, 2024


Week 8: 
~Plastic Pollution and Recycling
~Wildlife Conservation and Land Preservation

WED/THURS AM CLASS -February 21 and 22, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - June 27 & 28, 2024



🍎TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING UNIT - 8 Weeks 🍎


Week 1:  
~Age of Discovery
~Industrial Age and Invention

WED/THURS AM CLASS -March 6 and 7, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - July 11 & 12, 2024. (No Class July 4 & 5 - Holiday)


Week 2: 
~Engineering Design Process
~Technology and Society

WED/THURS AM CLASS -March 13 and 14, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - July 18 & 19, 2024


Week 3: 
~Historical Construction Methods
~Modern Construction

WED/THURS AM CLASS -March 20 and 21, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - July 25 & 26, 2024


Week 4: 
~Transportation of the Past
~Transportation of the Future

WED/THURS AM CLASS -March 27 and 28, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - August 1 & 2, 2024


Week 5:  
~Medicine and Medical Practices of the Past
~Modern Medicine

WED/THURS AM CLASS -April 3 and 4, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - August 8 & 9, 2024


Week 6: 
~Communication Methods of the Past
~Modern Communication Methods

WED/THURS AM CLASS -April 10 and 11, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - August 15 & 16, 2024


Week 7: 
~Computers and the Internet
~Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

WED/THURS AM CLASS -April 17 and 18, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - August 22 & 23, 2024


Week 8: 
~Augmented and Virtual Reality
~"Transhumanism": The Next Human Evolution

WED/THURS AM CLASS -April 24 and 25, 2024
THURS/FRI PM CLASS - August 29 & 30, 2024