This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Middle school is a great time to introduce children to nature science and field guides. This gets them in touch with God’s creation and builds a sense of Wonderment. We live in a world filled with amazing plant and animal life. Sign up for this course to build not only book knowledge of the natural world but also an appreciation of it.
Total classes: 12
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade
Suggested credit: One full semester Field Science
Description
Wonder is the root of the natural sciences. This course is an introduction to the natural sciences, putting the students into direct contact with the local natural environment. They will be having immediate experiences with geological formations, fauna, flora, and the heavens. Their perception of the natural world will be sharpened as they learn to notice and understand the distinctions in the natural world around them.
Students will be spending much time outdoors, drawing and recording data in their sketchbooks, and memorizing distinctions from class.
Outline
Our Solar System: Earth, Moon, Sun
Understanding the Moon and Phases
The Planets and how to watch them.
Tracks and Scat
Invertebrates
Fungi
Bird Physiology
Bird songs
Budding Plant Identification
Flower Identification
Large animal identification
Flex Day
Materials and Homework
Course materials:
Field Guide to the Night Sky [Audubon Society], https://amzn.to/3ZytWFX
Bird Field Guide (choose one of the two depending on where you live):
-The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, https://amzn.to/3ZzYlE1
-The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, https://amzn.to/41UqaZn
A Flora Field Guide for your area: (Good list of American Stat ones: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/features/books/)
Homework: Students will spend much time outdoors, drawing & recording data in their sketchbooks, and memorizing distinctions from class. Each week they will spend at least 3 hours working in their notebooks and scanning their pages into Moodle for grading.
Important Dates
Class dates: Wednesdays, January 10 to April 17, 2024. No class Feb. 14, March 27, or April 3
Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)
Duration per class: 45 minutes
Registration link
