General Science Course Description

General science is an introductory science class for 6th-8th grade students.

We will explore Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology, the Scientific Method, and simple machines. Students will begin to practice experimental exploration through hands-on labs to gain a deeper understanding of the material.

This class will give students an excellent foundation for future science classes.

Live Online Classes

The General Science class meets weekly for 90 minutes. The whole course is 30 weeks long over one year.

All classes are recorded. If a student does miss class, it is important to watch the class recording as soon as possible. It is important that students attend and participate in live class.

Students should save slides, take notes, ask questions, and participate in class discussions. The more actively that a student engages in class, the better he or she will understand the material.

Class Video Excerpt

Prerequisites:

None

Textbook / Curriculum

Exploring Creation with General Science 3rd edition (2nd edition is not acceptable)

Course Outline

Fall Semester:

• Week 1 – History of Science, Lab Reports
• Week 2 – Famous Scientists, Lab Process
• Week 3 – The Scientific Method
• Week 4 – Experimental Variables, Collecting and Interpreting Data
• Week 5 – Experimental Design and Types of Graphs
• Week 6 – Science and Technology, Historical Records
• Week 7 – Evaluating Historical Records and Dating
• Week 8 – Archaeology, Geology, and Paleontology
• Week 9 – Astronomy: Sun and Planets
• Week 10 – The Moon and Space
• Week 11 – Earth and its Layers; Weathering and Erosion
• Week 12 – Geology and The Fossil Record
• Week 13 – Weather
• Week 14 – Semester Wrap-Up
• Week 15 – Matter and Elements

Spring Semester:

• Week 16 – Mixtures, Elements, and Bonding
• Week 17 – Physical and Chemical Changes, Acids and Bases
• Week 18 – Newton’s Laws
• Week 19 – Forces and Simple Machines
• Week 20 – Waves, Sound, and Light
• Week 21 – DNA
• Week 22 – Classifying Organisms
• Week 23 – Taxonomy
• Week 24 – Cells and Organelles
• Week 25 – Bacteria and Viruses
• Week 26 – Plant and Human Biology
• Week 27 – Marine Science
• Week 28 – Food Webs
• Week 29 – Symbiosis
• Week 30 – Semester Wrap-Up

Meet the Teacher

Melissa Lopez

Algebra 1, Biology, Physical Science, Study Skills, General Science, ACT/SAT Private Tutoring

Mrs. Lopez has been married to her husband for 11 years, and they currently live just outside of Dallas, Texas. They have three boys that they are currently homeschooling, so life at the Lopez house is never boring or quiet. Mrs. Lopez went to college at Baylor University where she [...]