In this single course, 3rd-5th grade students will rotate through three 5-week units which offer hands-on exploration of different areas of study. The three units will have all new content this semester.
Students will be assigned to a classroom and will stay in that room throughout the semester as the different units rotate through each month.
Forensic Science
Instructor: Alyssa Millen
Unit 1 will be a study in forensic chemistry developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science. In this study, student detectives use paper chromatography to investigate solubility, pigments and separation of mixtures to solve a mystery.
Unit 2 This investigation unit will teach deductive reasoning skills in addition to some great hands-on forensic science. “Everybody loves a mystery. This unit combines mystery and investigation in a highly exciting, engaging and educational way. Your student-detectives will conduct many hands-on forensic science tests on evidence found at a mock crime scene utilizing and developing problem solving and critical thinking skills. Any one of these tests is interesting and educational in itself - together they add up to a powerful and motivating experience. Students will each have an opportunity to solve this "Who done it?" based on the evidence and the class will culminate in a big reveal at the end."
Mock crime scenarios are age appropriate for elementary students. This is a unit designed by Lawrence Hall of Science. This unit will draw upon students' interest in and enthusiasm for solving mysteries to convey important scientific concepts, methods and techniques.
Speedometry
Instructor: Summer Jessee
Speedometry is a 2-unit standards-based curriculum designed to engage 3rd-5th grade students in learning STEM content using Hot Wheels cars and tracks. The content is aligned to the Common Core Standards in Science and Mathematics, the Next Generation Science Standards, and California State Education Standards in STEM. Speedometry is a fun and engaging way to learn about concepts such as energy, force, and motion. Students also learn scientific and engineering practices such as analyzing and interpreting data. Both units in the Speedometry Curriculum are designed using the 5E Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) to support students as they ask questions and conduct experiments to find the answers. The 5Es integrate hands-on activities that help foster conceptual understanding and inspire students to explore further.
Matter
Instructor: Nicole Williams
This unit introduces students to science, properties of matter, and structures. It includes many engaging investigations and experiments. Topics include: STATES OF MATTER
PROPERTIES OF MATTER
DESCRIBING MATTER
CLASSIFYING MATTER
STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS
ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING STRUCTURES
CHANGING STATES OF MATTER
REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE CHANGES