What is Science Discovery?
This science discovery class will teach students how science works while building their interest in science and the world around them. Students will develop skills to understand the world they interact with every day and to evaluate ongoing scientific research and studies to make their own decisions.
"The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, [they're] the one who asks the right questions."
- Claude Levi-Straus (1908-2009)
What will we be doing?
Most of this class will be hands-on labs, activities, and research. Students will research topics and share their results with the class, conduct experiments to investigate science phenomena, and learn how to summarize their experimental findings. There is no course outline for this class, as student input and interests will greatly impact the structure of the course. Some sample topics are:
- Science Careers
- Lab Safety and Famous Lab Accidents
- Forensic Science - Crime Scenes and Fingerprinting
- Germs and Bacteria in the School
- Ecosystems and Food Webs
- Engineering Bridges
- Electricity and Video Game Controllers
What does my student need to be successful?
The structure, expectations, and grading of this class is slightly different than other classes I teach due to the hands-on, student-led direction. Please carefully review the syllabus and this website to be sure you and your student understand how to succeed in Science Discovery.
What day does my student have class?
Middle School - Period 9 - Days 1,3,5
All middle school students have class on Day 1, and either Day 3 or Day 5. This allows students to conduct experiments and labs in smaller groups on the half days, and still share their results with the entire class on the full days. If you are confused about the schedule, please contact me.
High School - Period 6 - Days 2,4,6
The high school class will have class every Day 2, 4 and 6. This will allow the group time to dive deeper into topics, as appropriate for the age group.