Students in Fossils JSA

Junior Science Academy Class Descriptions

4th Grade Classes

Artifacts and Culture of Ancient Problem Solvers

  • This class encourages use of Science and Engineering Practices while exploring Social Studies Standard I, Objectives 1&2, and Standard II, Objective 1

Biology: Structure and Function in Living Organisms

  • Using the museum dioramas, explore what they learned and develop their own conclusions about the function of animal sounds
  • This class uses Museum quality specimens to further understanding of SEEd standards 4.1.1 and 4.1.2

*New* Energy Transfer and Water

  • This class will be taught September-October and March-May
  • Use engineering principles to create a pump out of pvc pipe and test it with various iterations
  • Investigate the types of energy at work in a pump
  • Explain the cause and effect between the speed of pumping and amount of water transferred via computational thinking and flow rate
  • Analyze data sets regarding water usage in the state of Utah
  • This class uses tools and data to increase understanding of SEEd standards 4.2.1 and Standard 4.2.4

Fossils: Stability and Change in the Fossil Record

  • Observe and record the structures of fossils to better understand what a fossil is
  • Compare the patterns in Green River leaf fossils to modern leaves to determine the environment in Utah 52 million years ago
  • Compare and contrast trilobite fossils to better understand stability and change in an organism over time
  • Observe the ceratopsian wall to develop conclusions about why an organism might change
  • This class allows students close interaction with museum quality fossils to improve their comprehension of SEEd standards 4.1.3 and 4.1.4

*New* Making Waves

  • Explore the difference between amplitude and wavelength with hands on models
  • Observe seismographs and develop conclusions about the patterns of energy they display
  • Develop a conclusion about which materials effectively block the energy from radio waves
  • This class uses Museums exhibits, data, and hand on activities to deepen students comprehension of SEED standards 4.3.1 and 4.3.3.

5th Grade Classes

Earth's Systems: Using Models to Find Solutions

  • Analyze and interpret patterns in maps and weather data to understand local trends in temperature inversion
  • Learn what is in our atmosphere and how those various molecules react to temperature changes
  • Investigate a model to understand how convection and inversion work in the atmosphere
  • Understand how our landscape and naturally occurring weather patterns in the atmosphere can impact particulate matter in the air
  • Analyze the system model of a Salt Lake inversion day and design solutions to the problem
  • This class uses Museum exhibits, data, and tools to help students comprehension of SEEd Standards 5.1.4 and 5.1.5 

JSA Request Calendar