Using microscopes and other tools they can understand the structure and function of individual cells. The Diversity of Life Children appreciate the diversity and complexity of life, and how different life forms are dependent upon one another. They learn about how the different plants and animals vary, and how characteristics are passed from one generation to the next. In high school, they discuss significant current issues like cloning and genetic engineering. The Structure and Behavior of Matter Young children investigate common forms of matter, such as ice and steam as forms of water.
Older students plan experiments to show how substances react with each other to form new substances.
In high school, students learn how these new substances are created by studying the atom and how atoms combine to form molecules. In the early grades, children learn about different forms of energy, such as heat, light, and sound. For example, they might do activities with mirrors to explain how light travels. They ask questions and make up experiments to show how friction can slow down motion, or how heat flows through different kinds of materials. As students learn more mathematics, they can explain events in a mathematical way.