Student in Year A study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Science Simulation
A Simulation of Solving a Scientific Mystery While Learning About Insects
After hearing reports of 21-centimeter beetles inhabiting a South Pacific Island, students investigate insects to answer the question: Could these beetles possibly live on a tropical island? Students learn about exoskeletons and endoskeletons, insect defenses, insect social habits, and metamorphosis. In teams they build a large "beetle" to test its strength, test simulated insect legs, and simulate blood traveling through an insect body. Team activities offer additional insect information and insect identifications provide an opportunity to learn insect classification. After recording and reviewing what they have learned, students make their judgment on whether the beetles are fact or fiction. (Curriculum Source: Interact) |
Engineering Investigation
Hop to It: Safe Removal of Invasive Species
This unit of study is part of the Engineering Adventures curriculum developed by the Museum of Science, Boston. Students will be introduced to engineering and the engineering design process. Students will learn about mechanical engineering and work to engineer traps for cane toads. This study is set in a real-world context: students will learn about the invasive cane toad species in Australia and why it is important to stop the spread of cane toads to other areas, such as New Zealand. |
Math Simulation
Game FactoryA Simulation Exploring the Connection Between Games and Probability
In this simulation, students are assigned to save the reputation of Goodwin's Game Factory. After the death of founder Gary Goodwin, the game factory is inherited by his partner, Cheatum Swindle. But Cheatum secretly hates games, and is only out to make as much money as he can in the shortest amount of time possible. Goodwin's son Gregory has figured out that Cheatum doesn't take the time to test the fairness of the games, and Gregory is afraid that the company could go under when the public finds out the chances of winning some of the games are weighted. Student pairs are asked to help Gregory check the games for fairness and modify them when necessary to ensure an equal chance for all players. |
Technology
Website Design
Students in Year A will design and publish a web site. Students will choose an animal or ecosystem to explore and investigate and then work on the web design site Weebly to publish their results online. Websites will be judged by a team of teachers in April and students will work throughout the academic year to build and improve their sites. Sites are password protected.
Students in Year A will design and publish a web site. Students will choose an animal or ecosystem to explore and investigate and then work on the web design site Weebly to publish their results online. Websites will be judged by a team of teachers in April and students will work throughout the academic year to build and improve their sites. Sites are password protected.