Teacher:

Mrs. Kathleen Drumm

Science Class Summary

Life Science:
The curriculum for Life Science is based on the A Beka Book Science Series. Experiments are included in the lessons and are usually based upon observation incorporating science into every day life. Hands-on activities and open-ended questions are used to help encourage curiosity and develop problem-solving skills. Areas of study include: flowering and non-flowering plants, animals, and cells. Other areas of study are integrated into this course through various activities to help increase the students’ awareness that science does not exist in isolation. The text is used as a main source of curriculum development. There are opportunities for artwork, projects, field trips, and appropriate audio-visual presentations. Assessment includes written tests, projects, class participation, hands-on experimentation, and dissection labs. Science is to be taught through study, observation, and experimentation. The student develops a way of thinking that encourages native curiosity, develops honesty, and incorporates problem-solving skills. The students need to acquire skills in classification, interpreting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. Students read, write, and use math skills to discover the science of the real world. Students also explore concepts by doing, and extend that newly acquired knowledge to everyday problems and current issues.

Text:
Biology: God’s Living Creation, A Beka Book, 1997

Supplementary Materials:
Series materials, transparencies, videos, various handouts.

Methods:
Science is taught in three areas during the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Grades. While we explore the relationships between earth, life, and physical science in each science class, we believe a more in depth study into each area is beneficial at this age. The student is expected to engage in both experimentation and knowledge building activities. The Science Program concentrates on the steps of the Scientific Method, which incorporates formulating questions, making predictions, planning and performing experiments, classifying, interpreting and analyzing data; drawing conclusions, and communicating results. The students are expected to learn age appropriate scientific vocabulary terms, rules, and properties. The student studies the implications, applications and ethical issues of scientific discoveries. While optimal, science equipment does not need to be of a highly technological nature to instruct the student in the concepts of science. The science programs utilize everyday materials and situations to teach how science is a part of our everyday lives. The student learns the proper and safe uses of specialized science equipment such as, balance beam scales, metric measurement tools, magnets, magnifiers, and microscopes. Many of our students have access to computers at home or in school, and they are encouraged to use them as learning and investigative tools. The student is asked to read and take notes on readings and class discussions. Notebooks are kept and checked on a regular basis. Tests are founded on readings and class discussions. Tests are usually paper and pencil, but other forms such as oral, projects, experimentation, and dissections are used on occasion when more appropriate for subject material. Grades are based on class participation, notebooks, tests, and homework assignments.

 

General Science:
The curriculum for General Science is based on the Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. Series. Experiments are included in the lesson and are usually based upon observation incorporating science into every day life. Hands-on activities and open-ended questions are used to help encourage curiosity and develop problem-solving skills. Areas of study include: a brief history of science, the Scientific Method, how to analyse and interpret experiments, simple machines, foundations of geology, the fossil record, uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism, and systems of the human body. Other areas of study are integrated into this course through various activities to help increase the students’ awareness that science does not exist in isolation. The text is used as a main source of curriculum development. There are opportunities for artwork, projects, field trips, and appropriate audio-visual presentations. Assessment includes written tests, projects, class participation, and hands-on experimentation. Science is to be taught through study, observation, and experimentation. The student develops a way of thinking that encourages native curiosity, develops honesty, and incorporates problem-solving skills. The students need to acquire skills in classification, interpreting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. Students read, write, and use math skills to discover the science of the real world. Students also explore concepts by doing, and extend that newly acquired knowledge to everyday problems and current issues.

Text:
Exploring Creation with General Science, 2000, Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.

Supplementary Materials:
Multimedia Companion CD, transparencies, videos, various handouts.

Methods:
Science is taught in three areas during the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. While we explore the relationships between earth, life, and physical science in each science class, we believe a more in depth study into each area is beneficial at this age. The student is expected to engage in both experimentation and knowledge building activities. The Science Program concentrates on the steps of the Scientific Method, which incorporates formulating questions, making predictions, planning and performing experiments, classifying, interpreting and analyzing data; drawing conclusions, and communicating results. The students are expected to learn age appropriate scientific vocabulary terms, rules, and properties. The student studies the implications, applications and ethical issues of scientific discoveries. While optimal, science equipment does not need to be of a highly technological nature to instruct the student in the concepts of science. The science programs utilize everyday materials and situations to teach how science is a part of our everyday lives. The student learns the proper and safe uses of specialized science equipment such as, balance beam scales, metric measurement tools, magnets, magnifiers, and microscopes. Many of our students have access to computers at home or in school, and they are encouraged to use them as learning and investigative tools. The student is asked to read and take notes on readings and class discussions. Notebooks are kept and checked on a regular basis. Tests are founded on readings and class discussions. Tests are usually paper and pencil, but other forms such as oral, projects, and experimentation are used on occasion when more appropriate for subject material. Grades are based on class participation, notebooks, tests, and homework assignments.

 

Physical Science:
The curriculum for Physical Science is based on the Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. Series. Experiments are included in the lessons and are usually based upon observation incorporating science into everyday life. Hands-on activities and open-ended questions are used to help encourage curiosity and develop problem-solving skills. Areas of study include: atoms and molecules, the metric system, composition of air, the atmosphere, composition of water, motion, Newton’s Laws, forces, gravity, electricity, the Periodic Table, waves and sound, and light. Other areas of study are integrated into this course through various activities to help increase the students’ awareness that science does not exist in isolation. The text is used as a main source of curriculum development. There are opportunities for artwork, projects, field trips, and appropriate audio-visual presentations. Assessment includes written tests, projects, class participation, and hands-on experimentation. Science is to be taught through study, observation, and experimentation. The student develops a way of thinking that encourages native curiosity, develops honesty, and incorporates problem-solving skills. The students need to acquire skills in classification, interpreting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. Students read, write, and use math skills to discover the science of the real world. Students also explore concepts by doing, and extend that newly acquired knowledge to everyday problems and current issues.

Text:
Exploring Creation with Physical Science, 2000, Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.

Supplementary Materials:
Multimedia Companion CD, transparencies, videos, various handouts.

Methods:
Science is taught in three areas during the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. While we explore the relationships between earth, life, and physical science in each science class, we believe a more in depth study into each area is beneficial at this age. The student is expected to engage in both experimentation and knowledge building activities. The students are expected to learn age appropriate scientific vocabulary terms, rules, and properties. The student studies the implications, applications and ethical issues of scientific discoveries. While optimal, science equipment does not need to be of a highly technological nature to instruct the student in the concepts of science. The science programs utilize everyday materials and situations to teach how science is a part of our everyday lives. The student learns the proper and safe uses of specialized science equipment such as, balance beam scales, metric measurement tools, magnets, magnifiers, and microscopes. Many of our students have access to computers at home or in school, and they are encouraged to use them as learning and investigative tools. The student is asked to read and take notes on readings and class discussions. Notebooks are kept and checked on a regular basis. Tests are founded on readings and class discussions. Tests are usually paper and pencil, but other forms such as oral, projects, and experimentation are used on occasion when more appropriate for subject material. Grades are based on class participation, notebooks, tests, and homework assignments.

 

Biology:
The curriculum for Biology is based on the Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. Series. Areas of study include: the definition of Life, Kingdom Monera, Kingdom Protista, Kingdom Fungi, the chemistry of life, the cell, cellular reproduction, genetics, macroevolution, ecosystems, invertebrates, arthropods, Phylum Chordata, Kingdom Plantae, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The text is used as a main source of curriculum development. There are opportunities for projects, field trips, and appropriate audio-visual presentations. Assessment includes written tests, projects, class participation, and hands-on experimentation. Science is to be taught through study, observation, experimentation, and dissection labs. The student develops a way of thinking that encourages native curiosity, develops honesty, and incorporates problem-solving skills. The students need to acquire skills in classification, interpreting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. Students read, write, and use math skills to discover the science of the real world. Students also explore concepts by doing, and extend that newly acquired knowledge to everyday problems and current issues.

Text:
Exploring Creation with Biology, 1998, Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.

Supplementary Materials:
Multimedia Companion CD, transparencies, videos, various handouts.

Methods:
Science is taught in three areas during the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Grades. While we explore the relationships between earth, life, and physical science in each science class, we believe a more in depth study into each area is beneficial at this age. The student is expected to engage in both experimentation and knowledge building activities. The Science Program in Biology concentrates on the classifying of all living organisms. The students are expected to learn age appropriate scientific vocabulary terms, rules, and properties. The student studies the implications, applications and ethical issues of scientific discoveries. While optimal, science equipment does not need to be of a highly technological nature to instruct the student in the concepts of science. The science programs utilize everyday materials and situations to teach how science is a part of our everyday lives. The student learns the proper and safe uses of specialized science equipment such as, balance beam scales, metric measurement tools, magnifiers, and microscopes. Many of our students have access to computers at home or in school, and they are encouraged to use them as learning and investigative tools. The student is asked to read and take notes on readings and class discussions. Notebooks are kept and checked on a regular basis. Tests are founded on readings and class discussions. Tests are usually paper and pencil, but other forms such as oral, projects, and experimentation are used on occasion when more appropriate for subject material. Grades are based on class participation, tests, and homework assignments.