Our second unit of the year will be Chemistry. We will learn how to use the periodic table, how molecules join together, how to name the resulting compounds and do some neat experiments. We also learn how to work with equations, and about acids and bases. This is one of my favorite units, and many former students think so too!

In the area of Genetics, students learn what traits are dominant and recessive, and how they are passed on to children. We create a "baby" to demonstrate what would happen if our traits appeared at random, and many are shocked at the outcomes! Current issues such as cloning and genetic engineering are also discussed and then debated to complete the unit.

Our next unit is huge! Literally! We learn as much as we can about the universe and everything in it. We review the planets, seasons, orbits, and nearest neighbors-the sun and moon, before moving on to topics like black holes and quasars. Some projects we may work on include: power points on the planets (in 2006-2007 we shared these projects with the Intermediate School), space exploration scavenger hunts, and various other activities.

Radioactivity is our next stop. Students learn what nuclear power is and how it works. We learn about nuclear power plants, safety, and how to detect radioactivity around us.

Our final unit is about the Environment. We learn about land and soil use, water cycle, and how to take care of our environment.

Land & Soil Resources