Grammar of Science – Sky and Space
In keeping with the philosophy of encouraging wonder and equipping students with the tools of scientific study, Grammar of Science: Sky and Space is designed to stimulate curiosity. What is the optimal design for a model rocket? Will we colonize Mars in our lifetime? Why do Northerners have a “White Christmas” while Southerners decorate palm trees on the beach? What is a Supermoon? How does a compass work? How do ships avoid getting lost? These questions and more will be answered as we track weather as junior meteorologists, make a quadrant to get our bearings like Columbus, use a compass and map to chart a course, star gaze, and learn how the new space race is shaping up!
Students in this class will learn to record data, to read maps, to construct data-collecting instruments, to build models, to present reports, and to conduct investigations. They will use labs and current resources to better understand the scientific method as it applies to weather, navigation, astronomy and rocketry. This engaging, hands-on class is bound to captivate budding young scientists!
Prior knowledge of basic arithmetic, as well as an 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.