CEDAR General Science Syllabus 2009 2010 Instructor: Mr. Tom DeRosa Assistant: Gary Steenhoek Creation Studies Institute 954 771 1652 tomd@creationstudies.org garys@creationstudies.org Description: This course gives middle school students an opportunity to explore a variety of science topics where the inquiry method will be primarily implemented through hands-on activities. It will focus on how science works from a biblical perspective emphasizing the use of basic science process skills to make thoughtful conclusions. Topics covered will include: Simple machines, Archeology, Paleontology, Geology, Fossil and Geological Record, DNA and Life, Classification of Life, Energy of Life and the Systems of Human Body. Students who complete the course in due diligence and complete the assignments will be prepared to go to next level which is High School Science. Textbook: Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science, 2 nd Edition book and the accompanying Solutions and Tests Book. Materials for class Text: Above Calculator: Simple functions (when instructed to bring in) Notebook: Loose leaf binder with dividers. This will be used for lab reports, handouts, and completed assignments from each module which includes answers from On Your Own (OYO) questions and s. Students should always have enough paper to take notes and to write class assignments. Writing Materials: Pens, pencils and a small ruler. 1
Expectations: Students will make sure all assignments are completed in a timely fashion which includes experiments designated for home. Parents will supervise a period of time usually about an hour a day to complete the assigned work. Please note as topics in the syllabus are presented from the text that all OYO questions should be completed and study guides that follow each chapter (module). For each experiment assigned students are required to read and begin writing their lab report by writing the title, purpose and procedure on separate sheet of paper before class. Observations will be done during the class and conclusion will be done at home. The procedure for lab reports will be gone over on the first day of class in detail. Special Assignments and Projects: Each semester (16 modules) there will be two extra assignments or projects assigned that will be require some extra work. They will be designed to be interactive and follow scientific protocol that will be given out in class. Weekly Assignments Week 1 Module #1: Brief History of Science First Inklings of Science from Ancient Times to 600 B.C. True Science Begins to Emerge 600 B.C. to 500 A.D. Experiment 1.1 Densities in Nature Experiment 1.2 Atomic Motion Three Other Notable Greek Scientists Week 2 Module #1: Brief History of Science The Progress of Science Stalls for a While 500 A.D. to 1000 A.D. Experiment 1.3 a Chemical Reaction Science Begins To pick UP Steam 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. The Renaissance: The Golden Age of Science 1500 A.D. to 1660 A.D. Experiment 1.4 Mapping the Paths of the Planets The Era of Newton 1660 A.D. to 1735 A.D. The Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution 1735 A.D. to 1820 A.D. The Rest of the Nineteenth Century 1820 A.D. to 1900 A.D. Week 3 Module #2: Scientific Inquiry What Science is not? Experiment 2.1: How Does Weight Affect the Speed at Which Objects Fall? Experiment 2.2 Learning More About Weight and the Speed at Which Objects Fall. Scientific Method 2
Week 4 Module #2: Scientific Inquiry The Scientific Method Experiment 2.3 the Broken Flashlight Failures of the Scientific Method Limitations of Science Science and Christianity Week 5 Module #3: How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments Experiments and Variables Experiment 3.1: A Floating Egg? Using a Series of Experiments Experiment 3.2: Which Boat will Move? Week 6 Module #3: How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments Experiment 3.3: What Does Soap Do To Water? Part 1 Experiment 3.4: What Does Soap Do To Water? Part2 Recognizing Experimental Variables When They Are Not Obvious Interpreting the Results of Experiments Week 7 Module #4: Science, Applied Science, and Technology Distinction between Science, Applied Science, and Technology Simple Machines The Lever Experiment 4.1: The Lever The Wheel and Axle Week 8 Module #4: Science, Applied Science, and Technology The Pulley Experiment 4.2: A Simulation of Using Multiple Pulleys The Inclined Plane Wedge The Screw Week 9 Module #5: The History of Life Archaeology, Geology, and Paleontology How do we learn about the History of Life? Archaeology and History The Internal Test The External Test 3
Week 10 Module #5: The History of Life Archaeology, Geology, and Paleontology The Bibliographic Test Archaeology in the Absence of Historical Documents Relative Dating and the Principle of Superposition What Do We Know About Human History? Week 11 Module #6: Foundations of Geology Soil, Rocks, and Minerals Experiment 6.1 Growing Crystals Strata in Sedimentary Rock Experiment 6.2: Separation of Sedimentation Week 12 Module #6: Foundations of Geology Weathering Rocks Experiment 6.3 Physical Weathering: The Power of Plants Experiment 6.4 Chemical Weathering Erosion Experiment 6.5 Erosion Bringing It All Together: The Basic Structure of the Grand Canyon Week 13 Module #7: The Fossil Record The Making of Fossils Part 1: Casts and Molds Experiment 7.1 Making a Fossil Cast The Making of Fossils Part 2: Petrifaction Experiment 7.2: Minerals in Water and Evaporation The Making of Fossils Part 3: Carbonized Remains Experiment 7.3: A Model of the Carbonization Process Week 14 Module #7: The Fossil Record The Making of Fossils Part 4: Avoiding Decomposition Three General Features of the Fossil Record A Fourth General Feature of the Fossil Record Geology and Paleontology from the Uniformitarian Perspective Geology and Paleontology from the Catastrophist Perspective Uniformitarianism or Catastrophism: Which Is Better? Evolution: Can It Provide Evidence for Uniformitarianism? 4
Week 15 Module #8: Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism Uniformitarianism and the Geological Record Experiment 8.1: Simulation of Using Index Fossils to Order Rock Layers Uniformitarian and Evolution Catastrophism and the Geological Record Catastrophism and the Fossil Record Uniformitarianism or Catastrophism: Which is better? Evolution: Can It Provide Evidence for Uniformitarianism? Week 16 Module #9: What Is Life? DNA and Life The Structure of DNA Experiment 9.1: Building a Model of DNA Energy and Life Experiment 9.2: Finding Food in Plants Experiment 9.3: A Simple Self Sustaining System Week 17 Module #9: What is Life? Sensing and Responding to Change Experiment 9.4: Sensing and Responding to Change Reproduction and Life Experiment 9.5: Fruit Fly Reproduction The Cell: Life s Smallest Unit Week 18 Module #10: Classifying Life Experiment 10.1 Part 1: Factors that Affect Bacterial Growth The Five Kingdom System Kingdom Monera Experiment 10.1 Part 2: Factors that Affect Bacterial Growth Kingdom Protista Week 19 Module #10: Classifying Life Kingdom Fungi Experiment 10:2 Yeast is a Decomposer Kingdom Plantae Experiment 10.3 Vegetative Reproduction Experiment 10.4 Turgor Pressure Kingdom Animalia 5
Week 20 Module #11: The Human Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Experiment 11.2: Phototropism and Gravitropism. The Superstructure of the Human Body Bones Experiment 11.1: Minerals in Bone Skeletons In Other Organisms Skeletal Muscles Week 21 Module #11: the Human Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Discuss Experiment 11.2 Phototropism and Gravitropism Smooth Muscle and The Cardiac Muscle Muscles and Movement In Other Organisms Skin Experiment 11.3: Skin Color Skin in Other Organisms Week 22 Module #12: Energy and Life Life s Energy Cycle How Do Organisms Get Energy From Food? Experiment 12.1: What Combustion Needs Experiment 12.2: the Products of Combustion Week 23 Module #12: Energy and Life Energy Use in the Body Experiment 12.3: Body Temperature Calories and Food Metabolic Rates Throughout Creation How Combustion Works in Living Organisms. Week 24 Module #13: the Human Digestive System The Process of Digestion Experiment 13.1: Seeing a Part of the Digestive Process The Human Digestive System The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus Week 25 Module #13: the Human Digestive System The Stomach and The Small Intestine Experiment 13.2: Stomach Acid and Anatacids No, It s Not Useless The Liver, Pancreas, and Gall Bladder Experiment 13.3: the Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate on Stomach Acid The Micronutrients 6
Week 26 Module #14: The Human Respiratory and Circulatory System The Human Circulatory System The Heart and Blood Flow Experiment 14.1: Measuring Your Own Cardiac Cycle The Components of Blood Lungs and Blood Oxygenation Experiment 14.2: The Vital Capacity of Your Lungs Week 27 Module #14: The Human Respiratory and Circulatory System The Respiratory System Experiment 14.3: A Model of Your Lungs Experiment 14.4: A Model of Your Vocal Cords Circulation and Respiration Throughout Creation Experiment 14.5: Xylem Week 28 Module #15: The Human Lymphatic, Endocrine, and Urinary System The Lymphatic System Lymph Nodes Tears Experiment 15.1: Working Your Lacrimal Glands Too Hard The Urinary System Experiment 15.2: A Model of Kidney Function The Endocrine System Week 29 Module # 16: The Human Nervous System Neurons: The Basic Unit of the Nervous System The Basic Layout of the Human Nervous System Our Split Brains Experiment 16.1: Determining a Person s Dominate Side Week 30 Module #16: The Human Nervous System The Brain and Blood The Peripheral Nervous System (Pns) Experiment 16.2: The Pupil of the Eye The Human Sense of Taste The Human Sense of Smell Experiment 16.3: the Sense of Smell and the Sense of Taste Week 31 Module #16: The Human Nervous System The Human Sense of Vision Experiment 16.4 : The Human Blind Spot The Human Sense of Touch Experiment 16.5: Variation in Touch Sensitivity 7
Week 32 Module #16: the Human Nervous System The Human Sense of Hearing Do We Really Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain? Summing It All Up 8