Science and Integrated Art Curriculum for 6th Grade Marine Science
Here, roughly in order, are the basic ideas to be explored by the classes at IS 5; sometimes the order is based on the building upon ideas and observations already experienced, but some activities are relatively independent of others. As we progress through the program, this will change from a plan for the future into a log of the actual class events.
- Riddles, magic tricks, and mysteries are fun!
- Seeing a magic trick and figuring out the mystery of how it works combines all this fun
- Nature does magic tricks, and scientists are people who figure out the mystery of how those tricks work
- Not just for fun - sometimes these mysteries must be solved for our very survival! (e.g. death of Jamaica Bay, global warming)
- Complicated mysteries need teamwork, with specialists of all sorts working together
- Repeat "magic trick" of chalk from nowhere, have the students do it themselves, observe record, discuss
- Seashells and adaptation - examine a range of CaCO3 shells &c. in Nature (mollusks, echinoderms, coral, chalk)
- Investigate other carbonates via reaction with vinegar: NaHCO3, chalk of experiment, & from board, limestone, shells
- Talk about how chalk and limestone formed
- Have them examine NaCl salt crystals & brine shrimp eggs w naked eye, then microscope (via camera & TV?) - describe and draw!
- Review last week's experiments with "salty chalk soda" - solicit explanations of "mysteries" (e.g. salts disappear, then reappear)
- Discussion of measurements as type of observation, with numbers and UNITS
- English and metric system ideas; metric basis on powers of 10
- Preliminary study and practice measurement:
- measure water with a graduated cylinder
- measure salt (or baking soda) with triple-beam balance (including "tare" for paper under the salt)
- Experimental methods - dissolve salt (measurements of weight, volume of water), observe, record (write, draw, etc.), compare results with other groups
- Try to explain what happens (Hypothesis)
- Scientific method - develop a system to test guesses/hypotheses
- Solicit hypotheses re disappearing, crystal shape
- Leave some of salt water from experiments in evaporation trays, for daily observation and description in diaries (write & draw!)
- Examine evaporation trays, describe & record
- Get them to describe atoms and molecules
- Make molecular models of NaCl, H2O (HANDS-ON ACTIVITY)
- Heat as atomic/molecular jiggling motion
- Solutions - the "solution" to the mystery of the disappearing salt
- Predictions of our hypotheses
- Try cold vs. hot water for dissolving salt (be sure to record observations!)
- Other predictions of our theory of heat and atoms (e.g. melting, expansion)
- Energy: different kinds (motion, heat, Sunlight, chemical, electrical), interconversion, needed for life processes
- Fuels and burning
- How life uses atoms to capture energy (& HANDS-ON molecular modelling of it)
- photosynthesis
- respiration
- Ecosystems and mutual dependence - preview of aquaria
- Review of photospiration using molecule models
- Bring in a (minimal - few animals, a bit of chloropsis) brine shrimp aquarium for examination by class (promise they'll make their own anon) - keep diary on them! written descriptions and drawings
- Project aquarium on TV, then put aside for later
- Discuss brine shrimp aquaria as closed systems, but for inflow of Sun energy
- Distribute and explain "fill-in-the-blanks" observation guide for shrimpwatch through week
- Review students' observation sheets for aquaria over past week
- Look again at aquaria, and put individual specimens into testtubes for closer examination
- TV "slide show" of brine shrimp life cycle - also discussion of making a slide show like this
- Soda-water vs. water: what's the difference?
- pH testing for CO2 detection (Bromthymol blue) - test on soda
- Testing breath
- CO2 solubility, & effects of water temperature
- Hypothesis as to why cold dissolves better than hot
- Implications for aquaria
- Experiments with salinity: float the potato, colored water for estuary layering
- Demo of hydrometer for measuring proper salinity for visitors
- Prepare water for brine shrimp aquaria
- WiFi laptops for "quiz game" to assess and reinforce material learned in corse of the workshops
- Explore (if time) students' creative additions to Web pages
- Students' contributions to Web pages, a la last week's quiz
- CO2 & global warming; greenhouse effect (hands-on w frequency study a la PS 122 last year)