Sue Hintze - Science

Our science learning is based on research in A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. These standards will enable students to develop a deeper understanding of science beyond just memorizing facts.
Throughout the year, students will form connections between concepts, collect evidence, draw conclusions, and use critical thinking.

Areas of focus for science education: plants/animals functioning in their environment; energy transfer; wave patterns; patterns in the sky.

Organisms functioning in their environment

Through the study of organisms, inferences can be made about environments both past and present. Plants and animals have both internal and external structures that serve various functions for growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. Animals use different sense receptors specialized for particular kinds of information to understand and respond to their environment.

Some kinds of plants and animals that once lived on Earth can no longer be found. However, fossils from these organisms provide evidence about the types of organisms that lived long ago and the nature of their environments. Additionally, the presence and location of certain fossil types indicate changes that have occurred in environments over time

Energy Transfer

Energy is present whenever there are moving objects, sound, light, or heat. The faster a given object is moving, the more energy it possesses. When objects collide, energy can be transferred from one object to another causing the objects' motions to change. Energy can also be transferred from place to place by electrical currents, heat, sound, or light. Devices can be designed to convert energy from one form to another.

Simulations

Wave Patterns

Waves are regular patterns of motion that transfer energy and have properties such as amplitude (height of the wave) and wavelength (spacing between wave peaks). Waves in water can be directly observed. Light waves cause objects to be seen when light reflected from objects enters the eye. Humans use waves and other patterns to transfer information.

Simulations

Patterns in the Sky

The Sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer to Earth. The rotation of Earth on its axis and orbit of Earth around the Sun cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the Sun and stars at different times of the day, month, and year.

Star Child: A learning center for young astronomer
It contains easy-to-understand information about our Solar System, the Universe, and space exploration.
Your Sky
Produce sky maps for any time, date, or location