Science Curriculum
- Kindergarten and First Grade – Biology: botany and zoology
- Second Grade – Geology
- Third Grade – Meteorology
- Fourth and Fifth Grade – Climatology and Environmental Issues
Kindergarten – First Grade
In kindergarten/first grade we will be learning about Biology, splitting our studies between Botany and Zoology. Students will learn about different classifications of plants and animals. Students will learn about the processes of photosynthesis, seasonal changes, maturations stages, pollination and other life process of plants. Students will learn about the kingdom, phyla, classes (and some orders) and their identifying characteristics including those of: microbes, fungi, algae, vascular and non-vascular plants, gymnosperms and angiosperms, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.
Students will learn through an assortment of activities, guest speakers, and field trips. Class will be held once a week. They will also practice lab skills and scientific problem solving. There will be lab work, assignments, homework, and quizzes as appropriate. Students will also design, prepare and present an exhibit for the science fair.
Second Grade
In the second grade we will be studying geology. This course is designed to give a good over view of this area of science and will include such subjects as: the structure of the earth, the theory of plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, geological landscape features, rock formation, crystals and minerals, erosion, weathering, and other geologic processes.
Students will learn through an assortment of activities, guest speakers, and field trips. Class will be held once a week. They will also practice lab skills and scientific problem solving. There will be lab work, assignments, homework, and quizzes as appropriate. Students will also design, prepare and present an exhibit for the science fair.
Third Grade
In third grade students will be studying meteorology, the study of weather. Students will learn about what drives our weather systems. The course will include topics such as air pressure, differential heating of the earth, global weather patterns, the water cycle, seasons, temperature, hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, weather measurement, and forecasting.
Students will learn though a variety of activities, experiments, projects, guest speakers, and fieldtrips. Students will also have opportunities of extend their knowledge into related topics. This class will be held twice a week. They will also practice lab skills and the scientific problem solving. There will be lab work, homework, assignments, quizzes and tests as appropriate. The students will be doing individual scientific investigations which they will present at the science fair.
Fourth – Fifth Grade
The combined fourth and fifth grade class will study climatology, oceanography, and environmental issues. We will build on the environmental sciences we studied in the previous year to learn more about ecological systems. Students will work in groups to do a more in-depth investigation of a specific land biome and study processes important for healthy biomes as well as learning about some of the possible options for addressing global and local concerns.
The students will learn through a variety of activities that will involve making a variety of projects, activities, guest speakers and, field trips. This class will be held twice a week. They will also practice lab skills and scientific problem solving. There will be lab work, homework, assignments, quizzes and tests as appropriate. The students will be doing individual scientific investigations which they will present at the science fair.
