This course will be broken into two portions, based on our teachers' availability. The course will begin and end with the American Chemical Society's Middle School Chemistry curriculum. From approximately Thanksgiving through March, the course's focus will shift to environmental science.

During the chemistry phase, we will focus on such questions as: what happens when solids, liquids, and gases are heated and cooled? Why is one substance more or less dense than another? What causes certain substances to dissolve in water? What happens when a chemical reaction takes place? These questions and many more are explored through guided, inquiry-based lessons that covers basic chemistry concepts along with the process of scientific investigation.

The goal of the environmental science phase is to examine the natural world and their interrelationships. lt will focus on both natural and human-made environmental problems along with the goals of developing potential solutions as well as prevention. The course will draw on the interdisciplinary nature of the environment and draw content from biology, chemistry, geology, geography as well as environmental science specific topics.

Throughout the course, students will learn to:
Ask scientific questions and investigate them
Design and conduct experiments
Understand their observations on the molecular level
Record and communicate results

Prerequisites

Grade-appropriate elementary science studies.

Chemistry Lessons include

Chapter 1: Matter - Solids, Liquids, and Gases - Students are introduced to the idea that matter is composed of atoms and molecules that are attracted to each other and in constant motion. Students explore the attractions and motion of atoms and molecules as they experiment with and observe the heating and cooling of a solid, liquid, and gas.

Chapter 2: Changes of State - Students help design experiments to test whether the temperature of water affects the rate of evaporation and whether the temperature of water vapor affects the rate of condensation. Students also look in more detail at the water molecule to help explain the state changes of water.

Chapter 3: Density - Students experiment with objects that have the same volume but different mass and other objects that have the same mass but different volume to develop a meaning of density. Students also experiment with density in the context of sinking and floating and look at substances on the molecular level to discover why one substance is more or less dense than another.

Chapter 4: The Periodic Table & Bonding - Students look more deeply into the structure of the atom and play a game to better understand the relationship between protons, neutrons, electrons, and energy levels in atoms and their location in the periodic table. Students will also explore covalent and ionic bonding.

Chapter 5: The Water Molecule and Dissolving - Students investigate the polarity of the water molecule and design tests to compare water to less polar liquids for evaporation rate, surface tension, and ability to dissolve certain substances. Students also discover that dissolving applies to solids, liquids, and gases.

Chapter 6: Chemical Change - Students explore the concept that chemical reactions involve the breaking of bonds between atoms in the reactants, and the rearrangement and rebonding of these atoms to make the products. Students investigate reactions which produce a gas, form a precipitate, and cause a color change. Students also explore endothermic and exothermic reactions and do an engineering activity to design a device using an exothermic reaction.

Environmental Science Lessons include

Sustainability: Reduce your Environmental Impact - Students will use an online tool to look at how they impact our planet. They will then come up with their own action plans aimed at reducing their ecological footprint.

Make a Water Cycle Model - Earth is 70% water and covered in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Water can also be found in the atmosphere and underground. Students will build a physical model of the water cycle and observe the stages of the water cycle processes.

Fossil Fuels: Chocolate Chip Mining - The problem with fossil fuels starts with extraction. Student will mine chocolate chips out of cookies to demonstrate the effects of mining on habitats.

How Stable is Your Food Web? - Students will design a simple model to test cause and effect relationships or interactions concerning the functioning of a marine food web and examining their stability when faced with man-made disturbances.

Design a Machine to Counteract Deforestation - Many forests are threatened by deforestation which causes significant biodiversity loss. In this lesson, students will look at how to design a machine that will assist with large scale planting efforts.

Compost: A Scientific Investigation - In this two part inquiry based activity, students will practice the scientific method while learning about decomposition. Students will design their own experiment to test different variables affecting the rate of decomposition.

Food Waste Audit - How you ever thrown away food after a meal? During this food waste audit, students will explore their own impact on our food system. Students will brainstorm solutions and be challenged to try out their solutions.

Oceanic Circulation - The ocean is major part of regulating our weather and climate. Students will model ocean currents with cups, water and food coloring as well as exploring how temperature and density differences impact deep ocean currents.

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise - Students will design an experiment to find out if it matters if ice is on land or on sea. They will learn about density, displacement and climate change.

Fossil Fuels: Air Pollution and the Greenhouse Effect - Students will explore consequences of burning fossil fuels: pollution and the greenhouse effect.

From Farms to Phytoplankton - Students will prepare a kinesthetic simulation to illustrate how nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff can lead to a dead zone at the mouth of drainage basin.

Slippery Shores: Oil Spill Clean Up - Students will observe the effects of a simulated oil spill and test different materials and tools used to clean up oil spills and evaluate them for their effectiveness.

Feeding the World - Students will be introduced to several issues related to the social, economic and environmental impacts of diet choices.

Some of the above lessons will take more than one class period. Additional lessons will be structured around topics that students would like to explore in more depth or in questions raised during the planned lessons.

Schedule

Lecture class is anticipated to meet 4:30 - 6:0pm on Thursdays.

The ability to attend class regularly will be important for continuity of information. Students unable to attend a class should expect additional work in order to be prepared. Please arrive promptly, prepared to hit the ground running.

Masks will be not be required, except in the most extreme of circumstances. They will be optional, however.

Cost

Tuition is paid monthly, due on the first class of the month.

Attendance

We will take attendance, but only for our own internal accountability. Spaces are limited, so only sign up if you intend to attend regularly, as you will be taking a slot that could have been occupied by somebody else.

Assignments and Grading

There will be homework - short answer worksheets based on the lesson. There will also be optional tests, which can be submitted and will be evaluated. We can issue a formal grade for the class, which will be based on homework and test performance. Alternately, parents are welcome to assign their own grade for their child based on our feedback, but this will not be on a Winston Hall Academy transcript.

We will not expect any memorization. Our goal is to understand and be able to apply scientific principles. We want the students to be able to think critically, like a scientist. Anybody can look up an equation on their phone.

Students should be prepared to take notes during the lecture and to, for example, complete worksheets for the labs. Slides will be available before class, though, so your student(s) can print them out and use them for their notes. Students will also need to have access to a computer, internet and a Google account. If your student does not have an email account, we can provide one @winstonhall.org. Students should also have access to a webcam with the ability to meet online. It would not be the intended method, but can be a good alternative for when weather is poor or otherwise dictated by various circumstances. We can also use online meetings for homework help/office hours.

Involvement by parents is key, but I will not expect you to do any of the teaching. What we will expect from parents is this:

• Respond to emails, usually in the form of “Got it”
• Ensure your student(s) complete the homework and reading assignments
• Get your student(s) to class on time
• Don't get mad if we run overtime. Feel free to come in and pull your student(s) out if you need to go, though
• Be responsive if I ask something and abide by the written policies of the school, which will be provided to you prior to registering

Involvement by your student is even more important. What I will expect from students is this:

• Be attentive in class
• Do your homework
• Ask questions

New students will require an in-person interview before being accepted into the class. Students may be denied entry into the class at my sole discretion, for reasons which may include lack of maturity, lack of interest in science or lack of tolerance of viewpoints with which they may not agree.

Class Materials

There are no materials required beyond a computer, printing ability, pen, calculator and typical classroom materials.