In this section:
Courses for students currently in grades K through 1
Courses for students currently in grades 2 & 3
Courses for students currently in grades 4, 5 & 6
**Courses no longer listed below are full, unless otherwise specified |
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| Courses for students currently in
grades K & 1 |
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| PERIOD 1 |
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| NEW! Storytelling (DP10): |
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| Calling young authors! Create a new world of characters
and fanciful settings in this class all about storytelling. Learn about different genres
and points of view as you take the craft of writing to the next level! Publish your work
in a class book, written and illustrated by YOU! |
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| NEW! Patterns in the World (DP15): |
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From shapes to colors to numbers, you see patterns
every day. Discover the patterns in your world, and how these patterns are used
in math, architecture, science, and literature. Create meaning out of the patterns you
observe in the sky and all around you! |
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| PERIOD 2 |
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| The Curious Chemist (DP14): |
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The way materials are put together and the way they
act under certain conditions is called the study of chemistry. Chemistry helps us explain
the things that happen in nature. Chemists are scientists who use each of their five senses to explore and make sense of life. Experiment with water, acids, bases,
and everyday household items to discover the chemical world in which we live. Design
a series of experiments to test your predictions about the reactions of substances. |
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| PERIOD 3 |
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| NEW! Kaleidoscope: The Science of Color (DP12): |
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Did you know that light travels
in a straight line, and that it is made up of many colors? Light can travel through
things and bounce off things! You will learn about aspects of color such as transparency,
translucency, opaqueness and how to bend and reflect light using prisms and
kaleidoscopes. You will study the science of color and shadows as well as the more
emotional side of color: why is anger red and jealousy green? Explore color and light
as you investigate the scientific side of color.
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| Game Strategy: Building Mental Muscles (DP13): |
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Opening play, mid-game, endgame
- develop these strategies and more as you move across a chessboard or
around a cribbage and backgammon board. Improve your memory, concentration,
and ability to conceptualize as you engage in these ancient games of kings. Develop
your ability to estimate and predict your opponents’ moves. Create a personal repertoire
of tactics and plays. Create a game that stumps your classmates. |
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| Courses for students currently in grades
2 & 3 |
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| PERIOD 1 |
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| NEW! Green-vention Convention (DP22): |
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| Do you have a great idea for an energyefficient
car, a way to reduce the amount of paper used in school or a great new product
that uses recycled materials in new ways? Bring your ideas to SIG’s Green-vention
Convention! Discover new ways to invent and market environmentally friendly products.
Use creative problem solving, SCAMPER, FFOE, and other creativity strategies
to stretch your mind and create a solution to a problem at home or school! |
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| Staying Afloat: The Dynamics of Buoyancy (DP26): |
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| What does it take to stay afloat?
How does a boat stay above water while a submarine can stay below water? How
does a water bug walk on water? Why do some materials make better boats than
others? Explore the concepts of floating, sinking, pressure, buoyancy, adhesion, and
cohesion. You’ll gain a greater appreciation for the role boats and ships have played
in developing cultures and civilizations. Build your own model boat and participate
in a class regatta. |
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| NEW! The Story of Numbers (DP27): |
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Have you ever wondered why numbers function
the ways they do? Investigate the story behind some of the most important numbers
in mathematics, including zero, pi and the golden ratio. Make connections between number systems and the changing culture of civilization as these systems
have evolved. |
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| PERIOD 2 |
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| Rocks, Minerals, and Crystals: Earth's Treasures (DP25): |
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| Whether you like to collect
rocks or just appreciate the beauty of a colorful gemstone, this class has something
for you. You’ll learn to analyze and appreciate rocks and minerals by their characteristics,
grow crystals, and research related topics that really interest you. Finally you’ll
determine what makes things like gems valuable to humans. |
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| PERIOD 3 |
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| NEW! Origometry (DP21): |
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| Explore geometry through paper folding! Construct geometric
polyhedra and traditional origami designs while investigating mathematical
constructs of symmetry, angles and tessellations. Create your own origami design to
showcase an area of mathematical interest! |
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| Building Blocks of Engineering: The Way Things Work (DP24): |
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| Are you a budding engineer or just want to know how to fix things? Do you stay awake at night wondering
how things work? Then this is the course for you! Gain a greater understanding of the
world around you. Learn about the mechanics involved in the workings of everyday
gadgets. Apply creativity and scientific principles to improve a current machine or
invent a new one that solves a problem. Learn basic engineering principles and delve
into the inner workings of vital machines. |
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| Courses for students currently in grades
4, 5 & 6 |
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| PERIOD 1 |
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| DNA: Your Unique Code (DP45): |
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| How do cells make copies of themselves? How do
your hair follicles generate protein to keep growing? The answers to these questions
are DNA replication and protein synthesis. Investigate the structure of DNA and the
processes by which it creates proteins. Learn what turns genes on and off. Gain an
understanding of the structure that holds all the information and controls every cell
within a living organism. Debate the ethical uses of DNA knowledge and the pros and
cons of biotechnology. |
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| PERIOD 2 |
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| Move Over Sherlock (DP48): |
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| How do real detectives solve mysteries? Come examine
how modern crime investigators use cutting-edge scientific discoveries to
search for evidence, gather clues, and analyze data. Participate in a simulated
mystery where you become the detective as you learn skills in logic, inductive and
deductive reasoning, data collection, and analysis. This is a great way to practice
using your scientific problem solving skills! |
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| PERIOD 3 |
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| Chemistry: The Essential Element (DP44): |
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| Welcome to the laboratory that is the
world in which you live. Experiment with domestic chemicals, environmental materials,
foods, and living organisms to discover the chemical nature of substances,
their properties, reactions and uses in daily life. Design a series of experiments to
test your hypotheses about the reaction of substances. |
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