Science (6)

Overview

Because all living things (including humans) are connected, maintaining biodiversity is critical to the health of the planet. Students will learn that biodiversity includes diversity among individuals, species, and ecosystems. Through observations of a specific habitat and the classification of organisms, students will have a first-hand opportunity to appreciate the diversity of living things while recognizing the roles and interactions of individual species within the whole.

Overview

Electricity is a form of energy that students encounter every day. Students will already be familiar with many of the uses of this convenient source of energy. Building on their prior learning, students will explore devices that convert electricity to other forms of energy. The building of circuits should further strengthen students’ understanding of how electrical systems work.

We live in an age when everyone is concerned about how we use electrical energy and how we will continue to meet the demand for it. Students need opportunities to think about how electrical energy can be conserved both at home and at school and about alternative ways of producing energy. They must learn to think critically about the information and ideas they encounter.

Overview

Our ability to observe and study objects in space has been greatly enhanced by the use of technological devices. The application of these technologies affects our lives in many ways. Space science involves learning about objects in the sky, particularly their form, movements, and interactions. In learning about space, students will focus on past and present-day contributions of space science to the quality of human life while developing an understanding of the phenomena that result from the movement of different bodies in space.

Overview

The use of flight technologies has substantial effects on both society and the environment. In order to understand the principles of flight, students must first learn about the properties of air that make flight possible. Through investigations, observations, and experiments, students will discover that flight occurs when the characteristics of structures take advantage of certain properties of air (for example, air takes up space, has mass, expands, and can exert a force when compressed). They will then apply their newly acquired knowledge to design and test a flying device.