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I’ve noticed a real change in my daughter over the past year; she’s more self-aware, more responsible, and more involved.
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Grade Five
Environmental Science.
The Diversity of Life unit introduces students to formal classification schemes and the vast diversity of life on Earth. Students review the history of evolutionary theories and learn about natural selection as the basis for evolution. Visits to the American Museum of Natural History’s Hall of Biodiversity and Spitzer Hall of Human Origins reinforce concepts learned in class.
During the Ecological Systems unit, students examine interactions among ecosystems, investigate human impacts, and conduct environmental research. Reflecting on their findings, students become aware of the intended and unintended consequences of human activity and recognize the need for responsible decision-making.
During the Plants in Our Lives unit, students conduct a series of inquiry-based investigations and collaborate with the New York Restoration Project (NYRP). They learn how plants obtain energy, respond to their environment, reproduce, and contribute to human health. Students work closely with garden educators from the NYRP to discover the value of gardening, composting, sustainability, and making healthy food choices as they work to maintain both the middle school greenhouse and a local community garden.
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