This curriculum was modified in the 1999-2000 school year. All grades will follow a connected curriculum where units in each of the major science fields are explored. Students investigate the properties and characteristics of waves and apply these principles to light and sound waves. Students begin by examining the general properties of waves using mechanical waves in water and string. They later apply these principles to light, sound, and ocean waves.
Students also learn how sounds are heard in the ear and how light is seen by the eye.
Students investigate communicable diseases. Students read about an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, investigate how diseases are spread, examine how the body fights disease, and use information gathered in the unit to solve a real-life outbreak. Students investigate astronomy, with a minor emphasis on paleontology. They learn about an asteroid impact with Earth, explore concepts related to solar-system astronomy, and use information gathered in the unit to warn people of Earth about a new asteroid. Students, through a series of problem solving activities, locate a missing space probe.