Summer Camp: Fundamentals of Middle School Science: Physics, Chemistry, & Biology

Course Summary

Looking for a comprehensive, engaging science course for middle school students? This 15-class introduction to middle school science covers essential topics in physics, chemistry, and biology, providing students with a solid foundation in core concepts.

Course Description

*** EARLY BIRD SPECIAL *** $25 off before June 30th use code - 25DANMSSCI A grade for the class is available if requested. Requirements for a grade are to complete all three tests and 6 of the at-home projects of the learner’s choosing. Course Overview: 15 Engaging Lessons covering core concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. A 120-page course ebook filled with easy-to-understand explanations, diagrams, and examples. Optional homework assignments with answers, at-home projects, and assessments to reinforce learning and track student progress. Key Topics Covered: Introduction to Physics: Basic principles of motion, force, energy, electromagnetic waves, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, Ohm’s Law and circuits Understanding Chemistry: Models of the atom, reactions, the periodic table, chemical bonding, an introduction to organic chemistry Exploring Biology: Cells, protein structure and function, DNA structure and function, cell division, protein synthesis, genetic engineeering Why Choose This Course? Comprehensive & Structured: 15 detailed lessons that break down complex topics into manageable, digestible segments. Interactive Learning: Includes optional assignments and assessments to ensure mastery of concepts, in class demonstrations, experiments, and worksheets Accessible Ebook: A 120-page, easy-to-follow resource available for download or printing. Benefits for Students: Gain a deep understanding of key scientific principles. Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Prepare for more advanced science topics in high school. Understand that learning is fun and science is exciting! Course Features: Level: Ideal for middle school students (grades 6-8). Format: Video lessons, downloadable ebook, tests, at-home projects, and homework assignments (with answers) Parent Reviews: Lora is really a great teacher. This science sample course will really give your student an in-depth intro. My child started the class knowing very little about chemistry, physics, and biology, but by the end of the course I was surprised how much they learned in a few months. So I thank Lora for sparking a new love for science with my child. Amazing teacher and excellent class. Ms. Danley is a phenomenal teacher, she is extremely knowledgeable, very organized, provides resource material, in class work sheets, homework, and optional labs. My 6th grader learned a tremendous amount in this class and enjoyed it very much. Ms. Danley interacts really well with all learners and presents material in such a way they can understand. I highly recommend this class and this instructor. My son really enjoyed this class. The teacher assembled an excellent curriculum. Very impressed with the hands on experiment for each session (my son loved doing these activities). 

Syllabus

Course Syllabus: Students should have basic equation-solving skills for the physics portion of the course but a student who catches on quickly would probably be fine without it. Class 1 Studies of motion: speed, velocity, acceleration. After introducing the topics and Galileo’s experimental determination of the earth’s gravitational constant, we will look at calculations involving these quantities. AT HOME PROJECTS START ON WEEK 2 Class 2 Newton’s Universal Laws of Motion, gravity, mass, and weight. We will explore how Newton’s Universal Laws of Motion apply to space travel as well as the world around us, distinguish between mass and weight and discuss how gravity affects weight. At home project: BUILD A BALLOON CAR Class 3 Energy and the First Law of Thermodynamics. We will look at energy, work, and power and the differences between kinetic and potential energy. We will explore the first law of thermodynamics and methods of heat transfer. At home project: BUILD A PAPER ROLLER COASTER Class 4 The Second Law of Thermodynamics and electrical circuits. We will explore the tenets of the Second Law of Thermodynamics and discuss entropy. We will then take a look at electricity and simple circuits along with Coulomb’s Law and Ohm’s Law. At home project: CREATE A LIGHT UP LED CARD Class 5 Electromagnetic Waves. We will explore the relationship between electricity and magnetism. We will discuss electromagnetic waves and their interaction with matter. At home project: MAKE A SOLAR POWERED OVEN Class 6 Models of the Atom. We will discuss the history of the atom and the various models that led to our current understanding of the atom, the quantum mechanical model. At home project: MAKE A BOHR MODEL OF THE ATOM Class 7 The Periodic Table. We will talk about how elements are arranged on the periodic table according to their chemical properties along with discussions of isotopes, valence electrons, atomic mass, and atomic number. At home project: SPEAK IN ELEMENTS (LEARN THE PERIODIC TABLE BY CREATING A GAME AND WEARABLE ART) Class 8 Chemical Bonding. We will look at how atoms combine with ionic bonding and covalent bonding. Students will understand how to draw basic Lewis dot structures and how to write basic formulas for ionic compounds. At home project: MAKE YOUR OWN LAVA LAMP Class 9 Chemical Reactions and States of Matter. We will learn how to balance chemical equations, examine the states of matter, and look at endothermic and exothermic reactions. At home project: MAKE ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE Class 10 Organic Chemistry. We will examine the functional groups of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and esters. We will examine isomers, see how esters can be formed from alcohols and carboxylic acids, and look at distillation as a method of separating compounds by their boiling points. At home project: DISTILL YOUR OWN WATER Class 11 The Cell. We will take a look at the construction of both plant and animal cells with respect to organelles and transport across the cell membrane and discuss photosynthesis and respiration. At home project: MAKE A 3-D MODEL OF A CELL Class 12 Proteins. We will explore how proteins are constructed and how they keep our bodies running by functioning as enzymes. We will also take a look at how drugs work to correct problems with enzyme function. At home project: EXPERIMENT WITH ENZYMES Class 13 DNA. We will discuss the function of DNA and take a look at its structure. We will also see how DNA is transferred to new cells in both mitosis and meiosis. At home project: CREATE A MITOSIS FLIPBOOK Class 14 The Genetic Code. We will see how RNA functions to create proteins from the instructions given by DNA and will look at how mutations in the DNA can affect protein function. At home project: HOW HIGH CAN YOUR SLIME BOUNCE Class 15 DNA manipulations. We will explore how scientists are engineering DNA to produce insulin and other proteins artificially, how PCR can allow scientists to make large quantities of a particular stretch of DNA, and how DNA is used in forensics science to help catch criminals. At home project: EXTRACT YOUR OWN DNA

Supplies

After the first class, I will provide a file that includes common household materials or easily purchased items to have handy for each week for in-class participation as well as for the at-home projects. All in-class activities as well as at-home projects are optional. Students will also receive the e-textbook as a file after the first class, as well as homework questions and answers, worksheets and at-home projects for the entire course. For the first class students will need two compact objects of slightly different masses such as a pen and a paper clip.