Be a Scientist!
Syllabus
Objectives
DAY 1
Intro/ Using
Our Senses
Lesson Plan
Introduction
Part A:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pre- Assessment
Using Our Senses
Observation (Qualitative vs.
Quantitative)
DAY 2
What is
Science?/
Tools of
Science
Steps of Scientific Method
DAY 3
Be a Chemist!
Explore fundamentals of
chemistry
Class introductions/ Find Someone Who
Honor Code
Science Drawing
Lab Safety , technology use
Pre-Assessment
Part B:
6. Using our Senses: Mystery bag, Animal behavior
video, Outside for listening activity
7. Lecture: Observations (Quantitative vs. Qualitative)
HW:
- Science Dictionary: Due Thursday
- Reflection #1: How are our senses important to
science?
Part A: Scientific Method
1. Lecture: Scientific Method PPT
2. Practice creating a hypothesis and identifying
variables
3. M&M Lab
Part B: Experimentation
1. Paper Towel Lab
2. Discuss Science Fair
HW:
- Continue Science Dictionary
- Reflection #2: How did the scientific method relate
to our paper towel experiment?
- Add 2 science fair ideas
Part A:
1. Brainstorm: What does chemist do?
2. Lecture: States of Matter (coloring w/s), Elements,
Compounds and Mixtures
3. Sample pH of various substances
4. Fiz Wizard stations activity
Create atomic models
Investigate properties of
chemistry
5.
Part B:
1.
2.
3.
HW:
1
Atomic Models
Lecture: Atoms w/ w/s
Atomic models
Atoms Family Challenge
Science Dictionary due
Add 2 science fair ideas
Be a Scientist!
Syllabus
DAY 4
Be a
Geologist!
Understand the Geologic Time
Scale
Part A:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Part B:
1.
8.
HW:
None
Replicate the rock cycle
Identify rocks and minerals
Replicate Plate Tectonics
DAY 5
Be a
Paleontologist
!
Explore the creation and use of
fossils
Part A:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Research types of dinosaurs
Role play as a paleontologist
DAY 6
Be a Botanist!
Part B:
1.
2.
HW:
-
Examine characteristics of plants
Examine the steps of
photosynthesis
Explore the parts of a tree
Identify major leaf characteristics
Observe flower structure
DAY 7
Be a
Taxonomist!
Be a Zoologist
Classification
Characteristics of animal groups
Observe living organisms
2
Brainstorm: What does a geologist do?
Share Science Dictionaries
Fill in geologic Timeline together
Lecture: Plate Tectonics
Graham cracker plate tectonics
Lecture: Types of Rocks
Observe rock specimens
Continue observing rocks
Rock Cycle: Crayon Activity
Brainstorm: What does a paleontologist do?
Lecture: Paleontology
The Great Fossil Find Activity
Computer Lab (Research dinosaurs, Virtual fossil
dig, dinosaur games)
Fossil Dig
Set up crystals
Reflection #3: Explain the job of a paleontologist.
Add 2 more science fair ideas
Part A
1. Brainstorm: What does a botanist do?
2. Lecture: Structure of a plant
3. Lecture: Structure of a tree/ Tree cookie activity
4. Identifying leaves and Campus tour of vegetation
5. Photosynthesis
Part B
1. Lecture: Parts of a flower
2. Flower dissection
3. Interactive (regarding plant adaptations and flowers
HW:
Reflection #4: Research one unique plant to share with the
class.
Part A:
1. Brainstorm: What does a taxonomist do?
2. Alien Classification
3. Fish Sorting
4. Lecture: Naming system and Classification
Be a Scientist!
Syllabus
Read and create a dichotomous
key
Differentiate between different
animal phyla
DAY 8
Be an
Ecologist!
Differentiate between different
terrestrial biomes
Construct a food web
Explore the food web through
dissection
Understand adaptations
DAY 9
Be a Biologist!
List the components of the cells
theory
Identify organelles of plant and
animals cells
Explore the 10 themes of biology
DAY 10
Be a
Geneticist!
Develop a dichotomous key
Explore the function and structure
of DNA
Create a DNA model
Understand genetic inheritance
patterns
Perform monohybrid crosses
DAY 11
Identify the 3 major
environmental problems
3
5. Lecture: 5 Kingdoms w/ video clips
6. Kingdom Greeting cards
Part B:
1. Microscope Activity: Viewing protists/ Field guide
HW:
Reflection #5: Create a dichotomous key of 5 food items
from home.
Part A:
1. Brainstorm: What does an ecologist do?
2. Lecture: Biomes
3. Lecture: Ecology (Ecosystems and Food
chains/webs)
4. Food Web Activity
5. Biome travel brochure
Part B:
6. Owl Pellet Dissection
7. Adaptations
HW:
Continue researching famous scientist
Reflection #6: Create a food chain of 5 organisms from one
biome.
Part A:
1. Discuss plant and animal cells
2. Plant and animal cell coloring
3. Create edible cells
Part B:
1. 10 Themes of Biology
2. Dichotomous Key w/ 6 aliens
HW:
Bring in shoe box
Part A:
1. Brainstorm: What does a geneticist do?
2. Lecture: Structure of DNA
3. DNA coloring
4. Build DNA models with pipe cleaners
5. Traits Inventory
6. Lecture: Monohybrid crosses
7. Begin spongebob w/s
Part B:
1. Data and Chance Carnival
2. Continue spongebob w/s
3. Monster Genetics Lab
Reflection: Develop your own genetics problem.
Part A
Be a Scientist!
Syllabus
Be an
Environmental
Scientist!
1. Brainstorm: What does an environmental scientist
do?
2. Lecture: What are the three main areas of
environmental science?
3. Discuss types of pollution
4. Water quality lab
5. Lecture: Climate Change
6. Climate Change Activities
7. Climate change word search
Part B
1. Discuss Deepwater Horizon spill
2. Oil Spill lab
3. Lorax video (youtube)
HW:
Reflection #7: Explain how the Lorax relates to
Environmental science
Continue science fair poster
Test and evaluate water quality
Explain climate change
Simulate an oil spill clean up
DAY 12
Marine
Biologist!
Examine aquatic biomes and
develop diorama of a chosen
biome
Part A:
1. Discuss ocean habitats
2. BBC Ocean Interactive
3. Research habitats (computer lab)
4. Marine biology visit
Part B:
1. Build models of ocean habitats with playdough
Reflection: Explain the major threats facing ocean habitats.
Part A:
1. Lecture: Simple machines
2. Edhead activity in computer lab
3. Lecture: Bridges
Identify ocean zones
DAY 13
Let’s Be a
Physicist!
Develop an understanding of
native SoCal marine life
Identify simple and compound
machines
Explore type of bridges
Build a bridge
Examine the principle of buoyancy
Develop a paper boat
Day 14
Be a
Physiologist!
List major body systems
Part B:
1. Build bridges
2. Discuss buoyancy
3. Penny Boat Challenge
HW: Complete science fair poster. Due tomorrow
Part A:
1. Ocean Zones cut and paste
2. Introduce body systems/ Brainstorm terms on post
it paper
3. Discuss how certain systems work
4. Heart Rate activity
Part B:
Identify organs associated with
body systems
Discuss the physiology of specific
systems
4
Be a Scientist!
Syllabus
1. SPEs
2. Post Assessment
3. Ruler Drop lab
Test change in heart rate
DAY 14
Evaluate reaction time
Wrap up!
Part A:
1. Share experiments/ Finish ruler drop
2. Epidemiology Activity
Part B:
Parents come
5