We will study several aspects of Science including both the natural and life sciences. We begin the year by learning about the importance of making observations. We learn about the difference between objective and subjective observations. We will be making observations throughout the year in every subject...not just Science!

Throughout the year, we focus on these three units of study:

Living Systems: Our first unit of the year is an exploration of biological science. We begin by learning about the four interacting subsystems of the Earth: the geosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere. We focus on the biosphere, exploring ecosystems and how organisms within them interact. We learn about nutrient transport systems within organisms. We learn about plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. We see how plants get the materials they need for growth from water and air.

Mixtures & Solutions: We continue our exploration of Science with a unit on Mixtures and Solutions. We will learn about the difference between a mixture and a solution. We will also learn about concentration, saturation, and evaporation. Everyone enjoys learning about and creating chemical reactions!

Earth, Sun. and Planets: In this unit, we focus on Earth's place in the solar system. We observe and record the changes in the moon's appearance over the course of a month. We create physical models to explain day and night. We classify the planets and their properties. We identify constellations and record observations in the night sky.

We also have the great opportunity to partner with Edgewood College students. They will teach us about the environment around the campus and dig further with us into each of our Science units. We learn about the organisms in the lake and how deposition of earth materials affects them. Last year, we met with the college students and learned about animal hibernation, animals in the wild, and states of matter. We even had an opportunity to canoe with them on Lake Wingra already this year!