Team Sirius Science
Welcome to SIRIUS science! This year students will read, write, inquire, take notes, take tests, design experiments, think critically, debate, argue, agree, compromise, play games, keep a neat complete journal, show up with a pencil and notebook for class on time every day, use a planner, and LEARN. Here are the units of study, real-world problems, and science learning objectives for the year:
Good and Bad Science real-world problem: investigate and prosecute a crime!
- Formulate questions and hypothesize
- Plan and critique investigations
- Conduct investigations
- Develop and evaluate explanations
Ecosystems Analysis real-world problem: design a school garden!
- Identify factors that impact a local ecosystem
- Research the impact of human activities
- Explain how overpopulation can degrade an environment
Greenhouse Gardens real-world problem: winterize the school garden!
- Analyze Earth’s biomes
- Demonstrate understanding of the water cycle
- Explain the effects of heat energy on the motion of molecules
- Explain differences between conduction, convection, and radiation
Rocket Science real-world problem: design and launch a rocket!
- Demonstrate understanding of properties of a gas
- Make models of states of matter
Newtonian Mechanics real-world problem: design and test a parachute!
- Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between force, mass and motion
- Describe the effects of gravitational force
The Black Death real-world problem: avoid getting the plague!
- Explain how microbes cause harm
- Explain the specialized function of white blood cells
Rube Goldberg Physics real-world problem: design and build a better mousetrap!
- Demonstrate understanding of density
- Explain how energy can be transferred from one form to another
Together Green real-world problem: make Montpelier even greener!
- Investigate natural resources in the community
c Determine the impact of a human activity on a local natural resource