Science

Preschool

The children are encouraged to investigate the natural and physical world using their five senses and hands-on explorations.

Prekindergarten

The children continue to investigate the natural and physical world using their five senses and hands-on explorations. They are introduced to the changes in nature. They develop the desire to ask questions, experiment, make predictions, and find answers by making their own observations. Topics include seed to plant, metamorphosis, animals in winter, insects, simple tools, magnets, recycling, water, air, solids and liquids, and light and shadows.

Kindergarten

The children develop an awareness of themselves and their environment through the use of their five senses. Units covered include but are not limited to the seasons and weather, states of water, animal life cycles, growth and nutrition, and plants.

Grade One

Children perform a variety of hands-on activities in order to learn to use the scientific method of observation and classification. The topics studied each year include life, physical and earth sciences. In depth studies of the regions of the world (desert, polar, equator/rainforest, Northern Woods). Children also study animal families of the studied regions.

Grade Two

Observation, experimentation, animal classification: vertebrates and invertebrates, systems of the human body, dinosaurs, whales, sharks, snakes, spiders, insects, birds.

Books:
Dinosaur Days
Dinosaur Babies
A Book About Your Skeleton
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body
The Reason For a Flower

Grade Three

Children follow the scientific method of experimentation, observation, gathering information, recording data and interpreting results to investigate physical, life and earth sciences. Topics include soil, erosion, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, igneous rocks, static and current electricity, magnetism, life cycle of a frog, and pond life.
Texts:
Minerals and Rocks Science

Grade Four

The Digestive System of the Human Body
Properties of Matter
Work and Energy
Solar System

Texts:
Experiments with Solids, Liquids and Gases
Guts
Food and Nutrition
Exploring the Solar System

Grade Five

Students meet five times a week. One session is dedicated to lab experiments requiring full lab reports. Topics include:

Identifying unknown substances
Properties of Matter
Electricity and Fossil Fuels
Physical Characteristics of Water/Hydrologic Cycle
Structure of Living Systems (Cells)
Bacteria and Viruses
Climatology/Meteorology
Geology and Earth Science

Field Trips:
Camden Water Dept. and Mutter Museum

Text:
Science Interactions Course 1 (Glencoe)

Grade Six

Students meet five times a week. One session is dedicated to lab experiments requiring full lab reports. Topics include:

Circulatory System
Respiratory System
Skeletal System
Muscular System
Nutrition
Astronomy
Biomes
Oceanography
Marine Geology

Field Trips:
Franklin Institute
Baltimore Aquarium

Text:
Science Interactions Course 2 (Glencoe)

Grade Seven

Students meet five times a week. One session is dedicated to lab experiments requiring full lab reports. Topics include:

In depth study of the Scientific Method
Taxonomy of organisms
Ornithology
Physiology and taxonomy of plants
Meiosis/Mitosis
Reproduction System
Sexually transmitted diseases
Chemistry
Acid and Bases
Ecology

*Participation in annual Science Fair is required

Field Trips:
Hawk Mountain
PEEC/Echo Hill
Chemical Heritage Foundation

Texts:
Science Interactions Course 3 ( Glencoe)
A Field Guide To Eastern Birds Petersons

Grade Eight

Students meet five times a week. One session is dedicated to lab experiments requiring full lab reports. Topics include:

Nervous System
Endocrine System
Light and Optics
Sound/Acoustics
Integumentary System (Skin)
Genetics and Evolution
Newtonian Physics
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Plate Tectonics
Drug Education

*Participation in annual Science Fair is required

Guest speakers to discuss Science in medicine and industry

Field Trips:
Drexel University Sleep Clinic
PEEC/Echo Hill

Text:
Science Interactions Course 4 (Glencoe)