4-5th Grade Gifted Physical Science (9 Weeks: Grades 4-5)
Physical Science is a course that explores the relationship between matter and energy. Students will investigate forces and motion, the chemical and physical properties of matter, the ways in which matter and energy interact within the natural world and the forms and properties of energy. Physical Science will provide the knowledge, prerequisite skills, and habits of mind needed for problem solving and ethical decision making about matters of scientific and technological concern,as well as, provide a basic foundation for advanced studies in chemistry and physics and personal career choices.
This Gifted Physical Science course will be a combination of 4-5th grade science taught by a certified gifted science teacher.
Topics Of Study:
Week 1: Introductions, Project Techniques, Pick A Project Topic, Scientific Method
Week 2: What Is Physical Science, Physical Science Careers
Week 3: Atoms & Molecules
Week 4: Structure, Properties Of Matter
Week 5-6: Force
Week 7-8: Motion
Week 9: Types Of Energy-Potential & Kinetic
All gifted students will present an end of nine weeks on a project topic of choice following general science fair regulations and College Board gifted standards.
Format: Lessons will be found In a Google Classroom, with 5-7 assignments each week. Tasks involve vocabulary, discussion questions, inquiry based discussion topics, and labs to recreate at home.
Assignments: Short chapters to read and respond to questions, true/false questions, fill in the blank questions, diagrams
Labs: Short labs will be given using common household or items found in nature.
Projects: Students will be given various projects to work on related to the current lesson for project based learning opportunities. Students will also make video responses over projects to show comprehension techniques.
Assessments: Tests will be provided using an interactive program. Students will receive immediate grading, and students can retake exams as many times as needed.
Student Submissions-Students will upload images of their finished work, diagrams, and pictures of lab steps to show their methods of comprehension along the way each week. In addition, they can upload video responses and written responses.
This course is 9 weeks long.
PRE-REQUISITE/CLASS EXPECTATIONS-
1. Students may need help logging into the online classroom, parents are asked to help the student log in each week and check in regularly on class progress/pacing goals. The class is setup for independent learning but parents will still need to check in to make sure the family pacing goals are being met.
2. The class is geared for 4-5th graders, with an age group of 9-12 years of age (but this is flexible).
3. This is a combination 4-5th grade class, so if you have two siblings that will be attending please register both children.
4. Students will be given online short chapters to read, these chapters will be at the 6th grade Lexile reading level-to encourage gifted learning standards.
5. If your child has any learning difficulties, please make sure Mrs. Collins is aware. This class will involve independent learning at a gifted student pace.
6. This course was created for gifted students, so the amount of work, pacing, and lab inquiry based questions will be presented in an advanced format.
7. Parents will need to make sure students understand how to upload work. The first week will involve various practice assignments for parents and students to practice uploading.
8. Students need to be willing to log in a minimum of twice a week for the instruction to keep a steady pace.
Curriculum: CK-12, Ga Virtual, Lumen Learning, Holt and Glencoe resources will be used in this class. All online chapters will be provided.
This course will meet the standards needs for 4th and 5th grade science.
The full set of standards can be accessed by the parent at https://www.nextgenscience.org
For a few examples of experiments and standards-With standards as a teacher you look for keywords. So when you see "demonstrate" that means the student must be able to create something and then show the project. If you see the word "develop" that means the student must be able to have the beginning of the topic understanding and build on that knowledge in the coming weeks. If you see "generate or compare" then that means the student must have the ability to compare and contrast using two topics. Each grade level and subject has a set of standards. These are listed on your state dept of education website for teachers and homeschool parents. Let's look over some of the state standards below for 4th grade Physical Science-
4-PS4 Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
4-PS4-1. Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause
objects to move. [Clarification Statement: Examples of models could include diagrams, analogies, and physical models using wire to illustrate wavelength and amplitude of waves.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include interference effects, electromagnetic waves, non-periodic waves, or quantitative models of amplitude and wavelength.]
4-PS4-2. Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen.
[Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include knowledge of specific colors reflected and seen, the cellular mechanisms of vision, or how the retina works.]
4-PS4-3. Generate and compare multiple solutions that use patterns to transfer information.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of
solutions could include drums sending coded information through sound waves, using a grid of 1’s and 0’s representing black and white to send information about a picture, and using Morse code to send text.]
For example, for 4PS4 students would learn about tsunamis by watching videos on Youtube of actual tsunamis, and then create a diorama of a tsunami. Then for the lab portion they would make a tsunami water table. For PS4-2 we would focus on light and how it is reflected but can be seen differently by putting a pencil in a glass of water. See image attached. For PS4-3 students learn about sound with a focus on drums. Students would listen to drum sounds, and then find something to play in their home like a bucket, etc to make a short video. When learning about how sound travels, we would draw a sound wave and watch how a slingy moves. For comparison we would compare and contrast light and sound energy. Then the student will make a model of the eye and ear with play doh.
In the school system K-5th grade only has science half of the year so that is why these elementary science classes are only a semester long. In middle school students begin taking science for a full year. With 6th grade normally as Earth Science, 7th as Life Science, and 8th as Physical Science.
Tuition:
Self Paced-$90 ($10/Week)
1:1 Zoom With Mrs. Collins-$225 (Includes 9 Zooms & Curriculum)
Payment Plans Available, By Request.