Science Seminar: Explorations in Science,

Technology and Engineering

This is an 18 week lab and project-based inquiry course, meeting
three times a week. The idea is to present science as continually
evolving and to explore the most exciting scientific discoveries
and technological and engineering advances. Students will
engage in the activities not as a task to be completed but as
exploration and discovery. The aim of the course is to get
students excited about science, technology and engineering and
improve thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.
We will explore discoveries which have offered answers to
questions from all branches of science: What is the relationship
between space and time? How did life begin on Earth? How do the
interactions between subatomic particles govern the behavior of
all matter in the Universe? Does life exist on any of the multitude
of extrasolar planets in orbit around stars far beyond our solar
system? We will look at some of the most important, exciting and
pioneering scientific advances that have shaped our world and
given us the perspective on the universe at large.
We will be using exciting print and web resources such as
NOVA/PBS, Science Channel, nobelprize.org, nasa.gov,
changetheequation.org/ion-future, PhET interactive simulations,
Exploratorium.edu and others to learn in an interactive manner.
We will use Thames & Kosmos science kits as well as traditional
laboratory equipment to preform experiments in all branches of
science. We will also take field trips to further connect learning
experiences to the real world.