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2560 Soquel Avenue Suites 201, 204, 205, Santa Cruz, CA 96062 | 831-331-5611 | santacruzlearningcenter@gmail.com
Middle School: Life Science
Price: $625 per semester
Instructor: Malika Bell, MS
This course offers a dynamic blend of direct instruction and hands-on lab exploration. Following the sequencing listed below, students will engage in both group and independent work to explore the fascinating world of life science.
This course is suitable for all middle school students (grades 6-8) and promises an engaging and immersive learning experience.
Join us for an exciting journey into the world of biological science!
Semester 1:
Nature of Science
The Scientific Method, Graphing, Presenting Science
Activities and Labs:
Principles of Ecology
Energy Flow in Ecosystems, Organisms and their Environment, Biomes
Activities and Labs:
Population Dynamics
Characteristics of Populations, Human Populations, Biodiversity
Activities and Labs:
Cell Structure and Function
The Discovery of Cells, Eukaryotic Cell Structure, Prokaryotic Cell Structure, Cellular Transport, Organelles
Activities and Labs:
Cell Processes and Energy
Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Cell Cycle, Mitosis, DNA Structure and Replication
Activities and Labs:
Genetics – The Science of Heredity
Mendel, Mendel’s Laws of Heredity, Punnett Squares, Meiosis
Activities and Labs:
Modern Genetics
Inheritance, The Genetic Code, Human Genetic Disorders, Advances in Genetics
Activities and Labs:
Change Over Time & Classification
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Evolution of Populations, The Fossil Record, Classification, Domains & Kingdoms
Activities and Labs:
The Microbial World
Bacteria, Viruses, Protists, Fungi
Activities and Labs:
Plants
The Plant Kingdom, Plants Without Seeds, Seed Plants, Flowering Plants, Roots, Stems, and Leaves, Plant Responses and Growth
Activities and Labs: Flower Dissection, Plant Propagation
Animal Diversity – Invertebrates and Vertebrates
Behavior, Sponges, Cnidarians, Worms, Mollusks, Arthropods, & Echinoderms, Insects, Fish & Amphibians, Reptiles & Birds, Mammals
Activities and Labs:
Human Life Science – Parts 1 & 2
The Skin, The Muscular System, The Skeletal System, The Nervous System, The Digestive System, The Respiratory System, The Excretory System, The Cardiovascular System, Blood, and The Endocrine System
Activities and Labs: Blood types, sheep heart dissection, heart rate lab, cow eye dissection.
Textbook
We will use parts of the free Life Science textbook available here from Nitty Gritty Science along with handouts provided by the instructor. A majority of the assignments will come from handouts and reader materials.
Materials Required for class:
For students attending class in-person
- teacher-provided reader
- 3-ring binder
- Bound notebook (may be a composition notebook or spiral notebook)
For students attending live via Zoom
- teacher-provided reader
- 3-ring binder
- Bound notebook (may be a composition notebook or spiral notebook)
- Lab Materials (will be provided by the teacher at the beginning of each semester. You can pick them up or arrange for it to be mailed)
- Colored pencils or pens, scissors, tape, glue stick
- Access to a printer