Is it fair for animals to be raised in captivity or is it better to allow them to roam free in the wild? What’s your opinion? We’ll examine the practices of wild life preserves, zoos, humane societies and more. We’ll be creating a virtual zoo based on what we learn about humane treatment of animals. We’ll be using wikis, discussion forums, Google Docs, Google SketchUp, VoiceThreads, and Animoto in this fun summer activity. Students should plan to spend about 2-3 hours per week on these fun activities. This program is asynchronous — activities can be completed at any time during the day/evening. Open to students in grades 3-5.
The field of Astrobiology asks three main questions:How does life begin and evolve? Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?What is the future of life on Earth and beyond?Through this unit, students will gain an appreciation for the many complexities of life, the basic necessities of life, the habitability of planets in our solar system, and how astrobiologists continue to develop this field.Students will explore how life emerges from cosmic and planetary precursors and understand the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life. Students will discuss the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond.
Grades 7-8
Representative Topics: History of Life on Earth, Chemistry of Life, Cells and Cellular Functions, Life in Extreme Environments, Habitability of other Planets/Moons.
Welcome to the Gifted Kids Network 2008-2009 Classes
