Many hands-on experiences are used in this class to help connect the text information with everyday learning situations. Much of the student work in class is done cooperatively where each is involved in decision making, sharing participation responsibilities, treating others with respect, providing constructive feedback, and explaining and helping without simply giving answers. This process seems to help involve all students and meet the needs of different learning styles. Questioning and activity strategies encourage decision-making development and shows students how science affects them now and in the future. We start out with studying cells, the smallest unit of life.
Students compare animal and plant cells by looking at cells under a microscope.
They also study how the parts of a cell function as a unit. Next we explore how we inherit traits from out parents in the heredity unit. Evolution and classification are also studied. Then since we have learned to classify organisms by the traits that they have, we begin studying specific groups of organisms. Finally we begin looking at the human body and how its systems make it function.