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Life Sciences: A Study of Living Things

The Life Sciences program at HEROES Academy is a hands-on laboratory science program for gifted and talented students.  We offer two levels of life science:  Elementary Life Sciences (for Grades 1 – 3) and Advanced Life Sciences (for grades 4 – 6).  Both classes cycle through similar units; however, labs, reading assignments, and math applications differ.   This is a quick overview of some of the labs these classes will cover.

Fungi

Elementary Life Science

Sample labs include:

  • Yeasts: Using Yeast to “Inflate” Balloons
  • Yeasts: Instant Yeast -vs- Active Sourdough
  • Growing Mushrooms
  • Where does mold come from?

Advanced Life Science

Sample labs include:

  • Yeast and Fermentation: Kombucha
  • Inoculating Fungus to Grow Mushrooms
  • Classifying molds
  • Yeast Reproduction in Sugar -vs- Sugar Substitutes
  • The Effects of UV exposure on bacteria

Bacteria

Elementary Life Science

Sample labs include:

  • Bacteria: How effective is handwashing?
  • Bacteria:  How well do we brush our teeth? 
  • Collecting and Culturing Bacteria on Surfaces Before and After Cleaning
  • Collecting and Culturing Airborne Bacteria

Advanced Life Science

Sample labs include:

  • Bacteria, Sauerkraut, and pH
  • Bacteria and Soft Rot
  • Analyzing Bacteria Using Gram Stains
  • Preparing Agar Petri Dishes

Plants

Elementary Life Science

Sample labs include: 

  • The Parts of a Plant: How Plants “Drink” (Rainbow Roses)
  • Changing the Flavor of Salad Greens (No Dressing Allowed!)
  • The Effects of Water and Sunlight on Plant Growth
  • pH and plants: Hydrangeas
  • Comparing the Effects of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers
  • Plants that Eat Meat

Advanced Life Science

Sample labs include: 

  • Studying the effects of different soil mediums
  • pH, calcium, and blossom-end rot
  • Acid Rain and Plant Growth
  • The Effects of Water Quality on Plant Growth
  • Inside a Plant Cell
  • The Effects of Chemicals on Germination Rates

Animals

Elementary Life Science

Sample labs include:

  • Hatching Baby Chicks: Studying the Life Cycle of a Chicken from Egg to Hen
  • Hatching Ducklings: Studying the Life Cycle of Ducks from Egg to Duck Hen
  • Collecting and Identifying Insects
  • Dissecting Owl Pellets

Advanced Life Science

Sample labs include:

  • Nematodes Under the Microscope
  • Nematodes as Pest Control
  • Mitosis as observed through chicken eggs
  • Identifying Insects by Traces Left Behind
  • Dissecting Worms
  • Inside an Animal Cell

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