Junior Science Academy Class Descriptions

4th Grade Classes

Observe, draw, and analyze the function of archaeological artifacts
Analyze classroom artifacts in relation to museum collections and learn what conclusions archaeologists reached regarding students’ artifacts.
Compare and contrast Ancestral Puebloan footwear or pottery with Freemont footwear and pottery and create arguments explaining these differences.
Participate in a trade game which models ancient, pre-European trade networks found though out the Southwestern United States.
This class encourages use of Science and Engineering Practices while exploring Social Studies Standard I, Objectives 1&2, and Standard II, Objective 1

Compare and contrast yarrow plant structures across elevations.
Observe bird models and draw conclusions about habitat and diet based on visible structures.
Analyze invertebrate specimens with microscopes to create scientific drawings and draw conclusions regarding the function of visible structures.
This class uses Museum quality specimens to further understanding of SEEd standards 4.1.1 and 4.1.2

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

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

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

Observe “red wiggler” worms to understand how their adaptations make them suited for their role as decomposers and guardians of the soil.
Analyze the soil using soil meters to asses moisture, nutrients, pH, and light levels.
Assist in feeding the worms in our onsite vermicomposting bin.
Compare plants fertilized and not fertilized by worm castings to build conclusions about the nutrients they replace in the soil.
Track NHMU field trip food waste diverted from landfills and replaced as soil and evaluate the effectiveness of this solution to waste.
This class uses Museum exhibits, data, and tools to help students comprehension of SEEd Standards 5.3.3 and 5.3.4

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