SCIENCE

This year the Grade 4/5A's will be taught the Grade 5 science curriculum. Math will be integrated into the science curriculum, with Grade 4 and Grade 5 levels being set up for each student's ability. Assignments will have an Arts component in them where appropriate. This will include art, music, and drama.

We have started the year off learning about the Scientific Method to prepare students for the Science Fair. They will be picking topics and will start their Science Fair Projects soon.

Our first major unit is Electricity and Magnetism. In this unit we will look at electricity safety, circuits (both creating and completing them), and magnetism. Once we get through all the base information the students will be using their knowledge to create different projects including an alarm and motion project.

Chemistry will be our second unit and it will be started with looking at what molecules are and how matter changes with chemistry. We will look at how chemical reactions change the main components to create something new. We will also be looking at bases and acids, and what the difference is between them. This unit will be very hands on, with many experiments to look at.

Our third unit will be "Weather Watch", and the students will learn about the difference between climate and weather. This will lead us into looking at temperatures and building our own thermometers in the following weeks. From there we will move into pressure systems, wind, precipitation, weather safety, and climate change.

Wetlands will be the last unit. We will look at what wetlands are and the different ecosystems that they make up. We will look at he abiotic and biotic comments that come together to create an ecosystem. With the rich environments we have around the school, students will get a hands on look at different wetland ecosystems. We will end the unit looking at how human interactions affect and change ecosystems.

If you ever have any questions please feel free to contact me at sroberts@capeisgreat.org.