Grammar of Science: Sky and Space
Sky and Space encourages wonder for the world God created, helps each child see God’s glory as revealed in His creation and equips students with the tools of scientific study. This class stimulates curiosity by considering questions like: What is the optimal design for a model rocket? Will we colonize Mars in our lifetime? What is a Supermoon? Students discover answers to questions like these as they track weather as junior meteorologists, create a quadrant to establish their bearings, chart a course using a compass and map, gaze at God’s intricate design of the sky, and learn how the new space race is shaping up.
This engaging, hands-on class captivates budding young scientists as they learn to record data, read maps, construct data-collecting instruments, build models, present reports, conduct investigations, and use labs to better understand the scientific method as it applies to weather, navigation, astronomy and rocketry. Reading aloud, using a printer and scanner, and conducting some activities outside are expected in this class.
Topics include: using the scientific method to answer questions about God’s design of the world; using the senses to make and record careful observations about the world; building and using instruments to record and classify data, predict weather patterns, determine location and navigate to a new location; the historical advancement of rocketry, navigation and astronomy; characteristics of planets, moons, stars and other celestial bodies; building and launching model rockets using Newton’s laws of motion and principles of rocket science.
Prerequisites: While there are no pre-requisites for the course, prior knowledge of basic arithmetic, such as awareness of positive and negative numbers and fractions is helpful. Comfort with multiplication, division of whole numbers and using a ruler would also be helpful, as well as a basic knowledge of location of continents, oceans and US coasts. Reading aloud, using a printer and scanner, and conducting some activities outside are expected in this class.
Homework Habits: Students typically spend 3-5 hours a week on reading assignments, vocabulary and weekly projects.
Suggested Grade Level: 5