COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
7th Grade: LIFE SCIENCES
Students will begin their exploration by studying the nature of science itself. They will learn how to observe and question events in their world. Students will understand the importance of the scientific method and how it is applied. Step by step, they will walk through the process of discovery, becoming familiar with laboratory tools, the metric system of measurements, and concepts such as mass, volume and density. Armed with these basic but critical skills, students will then move through many facets of the life sciences. Knowledge of cell structure, function, and development leads to cell theory and on to processes such as diffusion, osmosis, cell growth and division. As the school year continues, the class will apply this foundation when examining the progressively more complex living things from viruses to fungi, to plants and on to the animal kingdom with all of its variety and amazing mystery. In addition to their classroom and lab activities, 7th graders will also plant and cultivate their own vegetable garden in the spring!
8th Grade: PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Studying the very building blocks of our universe starts our scientific adventure. Students will stretch their minds to consider matter in its four phases and how it can change physically and chemically. They will peer into the structure of the atom itself, and the forces controlling it. The periodic table will become familiar and its structure understandable. Foundations will be set in some rudimentary principles of chemistry that students will build upon later in high school. From a basic understanding of compounds-- acids, bases and salts, and some carbon compounds, students will then expand their focus on the physical sciences to include some rudimentary concepts of physics. They will learn about energy and its role in motion, forces, and machines. Students will become familiar with Newton's three laws of motion, and his law of universal gravitation. Plans are being made for an 8th grade JMSA mock space shuttle mission!
Click on the course details sub pages to the left for more information.
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Science with Mr. Ferris
James Madison Preparatory School
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