Investigating Water & Sink or Float - (Grades K-2) First Semester +
Using Your Senses - (Grades K-2) Second Semester +
Teacher: Mrs. Kim Vander Hill
Time: Friday 9:00-9:55
Class & Material Cost: $225
Book: None
1st Semester: We will investigate properties of water as we explore water drops, bubbles, ice, and more. We will also observe evaporation, dissolving, condensation, and construct simple water filters. As we construct boats of various materials we will find out how shape and weight affect buoyancy and what factors cause objects to float or sink.
2nd Semester: Students will be introduced to each of the five senses through exploration of topics that include depth and color perception, the connection between smell and taste, how our ears "catch" sound waves, and how skin responds to temperature changes. During the last 4 - 5 weeks of this semester, we will do some experimenting with soil - its composition, formation, classification, erosion, how plants depend on the soil, and how earthworms are an important part of soil science.
Rocks, Minerals, and Looking at Liquids - (Grades 3-5) First Semester +
Animal Behavior and Food Chains and Webs - (Grades 3-5) Second Semester +
Teacher: Mrs. Kim Vander Hill
Time: Friday 10:00-10:55
Class & Material Cost: $225
Book: None
First Semester: Students will perform a series of tests commonly used by real geologists to determine the properties and identities of rock and mineral samples. We will also construct our own rocks, and learn about the three ways in which rocks are formed. Students will be introduced to the concepts of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension as we experiment with different liquid drops. We will study absorption rates, changes in state, water pressure, density, and pH.
Second Semester: Mealworms make ideal lab specimens for classroom experiments on animal behavior. Students will investigate this organism's response to a variety of stimuli - including light, moisture, food, and mazes. Students will also use living plants and animals to examine the roles of different members of food chains and webs. They will observe firsthand the feeding behavior of chameleons, crickets, and earthworms, as well as the growth of producers.
Pond Life and Plants in Our World - (Grades 6-8) First Semester +
DNA-From Genes to Proteins - (Grades 6-8) Second Semester +
Teacher: Mrs. Kim Vander Hill
Time: Friday 11:00-11:55
Class & Material Cost: $225
Book: None
First Semester: The pond ecosystem is made up of many different habitats which, in turn, are home to a multitude of organisms. Students will explore both the macro- and microscopic world in which these creatures live, and even construct their own pond aquariums. We will also perform a series of experiments in order to determine the products and reactants of photosynthesis while studying cell structure and relating it to human uses of plants.
Second Semester: We will explore the proteins which are described as "information macromolecules." Millions of different complex proteins can be formed from the 20 or so different amino acid building blocks. We still study DNA and RNA, the double-stranded DNA "ladder" which is wound into a double-helix shape, transcription, condons, replication, etc. This is not a difficult class, we take things slow and easy, but the students will gain a good understanding of some of the marvels of our God's creation.
The + sign means that this particular course is a supplemental course to enhance your child's education. The = sign signifies a complete course.