MICHAELS  HOMESCHOOL  ACADEMY

                      

  Michaels Homeschool Association
               of Chattanooga                    

Put God First

Science Classes

                                       SCIENCE CLASSES

We are extremely excited to be able to continue offering elementary, middle and high school sciences to our program this coming fall. As God continues to expand our ministry, we are eternally thankful for His vision and His provisions. Once again, we have done our best to keep our fees reasonable and affordable for our home school community. Our schedule and fees are as follows: (Please scroll down for a description of each course) 


Course: Elementary Science (with hands-on labs)
Grade Level: K5 - 2nd grade
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Cost: $50 per month + $30 registration fee
Book(s): Apologia Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the 5th Day ISBN 9781932012613 and Junior Notebooking Journal ISBN 9781935495604. You can purchase the textbook used through Amazon.com, Abebooks.com, half.com, etc. You may be able to find the notebooking journal in new condition through those websites. Otherwise, the notebooking journal should be purchased new from Apologia.com - please keep in mind that their website may not have ISBN numbers to be searched - search by name. Also, do NOT purchase the regular Notebooking Journal and make sure the ISBN numbers match when possible. 
Instructor: Mrs. Jennie Bean 


Course: Elementary Science (with hands-on labs)
Grade Level: 3rd - 5th grade
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. 
Cost: $50 per month + $30 registration fee 
Book(s): Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics ISBN 9781935495987 and Notebooking Journal ISBN 9781940110059. You can purchase these textbooks used online through Amazon.com, Abebooks.com, half.com, etc. You may be able to find the notebooking journal in new condition through those websites. Otherwise, the notebooking journals should be purchased new from Apologia.com - please keep in mind that their website may not have ISBN numbers to be searched - search by name. Also, do NOT purchase the Junior Journal and make sure the ISBN numbers match when possible.
Instructor: Mrs. Jennie Bean

Course: Middle School Science (with hands-on labs) 
Grade Level: 6th - 8th grade
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Cost: $60 per month per child + $40 registration fee 
Book(s): McDougal Littell Ecology ISBN 0618334297; Space Science ISBN 0618334211; Earth's Atmosphere ISBN 0618334157; Waves, Sound, and Light ISBN 0618842551. You can purchase these books new or used online through Abebooks.com, half.com, Amazon.com, etc. Please be sure the ISBN numbers match. 
Instructor: Mrs. Fabiola R. Stewart 

                                                                  
Course: Physical Science (with hands-on labs)
Grade Level: 9th grade
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 9:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
Cost: $70 per month per child + $50 registration fee + $25 one-time lab fee
Book(s): Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science 3rd Edition (2020) ISBN 9781946506511; Student Notebook ISBN 9781946506542. You can purchase these books new or used online through Amazon.com, half.com, Abebooks.com, etc. If you cannot find them through those websites, they can be purchased straight from Apologia.com. Please be sure the ISBN numbers match. Also, be careful not to purchase the teacher's edition.
Instructor: Mrs. Linda Buck


Course: Biology (with hands-on labs)
Grade Level: 10th grade
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 9:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. 
Cost: $70 per month per child + $50 registration fee + $25 one-time lab fee
Book(s): Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology 3rd Edition (2020) ISBN 1946506451; Student Notebook ISBN 9781946506481. You can purchase these books new or used online through Amazon.com, half.com, Abebooks.com, etc. If you cannot find them through those websites, they can be purchased straight from Apologia.com. Please be sure the ISBN numbers match. Also, be careful not to purchase the teacher's edition. 
Instructor: Mrs. Beth Russell


Course: Chemistry (with hands-on labs)
Grade Level: 11th grade
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Cost: $70 per month per child + $50 registration fee + $25 one-time lab fee
Book(s): Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry (3rd Edition) ISBN 9781940110257; Student Notebook ISBN 9781940110417. You can purchase these books new or used online through Amazon.com, Abebooks.com, half.com, etc. If you cannot find them through those websites, they can be purchased straight from Apologia.com. Please be sure the ISBN numbers match. Also, be careful not to purchase the teacher's edition. 
Instructor: Mrs. Linda Buck 


Course: Anatomy and Physiology (with hands-on labs)
Grade Level: 11th - 12th grade
Day/Time: Mondays @ 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Cost: $70 per month per child + $50 registration fee 
Book(s): Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology (6th Edition) ISBN 9780803622562; Student Workbook for Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology ISBN 9780803623248. You can purchase these books used online through Amazon.com, Abebooks.com, half.com, etc. Please be sure to order the 6th edition and that the ISBN numbers match. 
Instructor: Mr. Frank Johnson

*Mrs. Bean, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Buck, and Mr. Johnson will be available for "Question/Answer" sessions regarding weekly homework via email, phone, or by personal appointment at our facility, if necessary.*

Course Description

Elementary School Science (K5 - 2nd grade)

In this course, your student will learn about the amazing design and characteristics of flying creatures as part of God’s creation. Our class will go on an adventure as we learn about the dynamics of flight and the uniqueness of birds, the value and misconceptions of bats, and the anatomy of insects (they’ll even get to collect and study some for a project!). At the early elementary level, we take a hands-on approach to learning. This class will involve simple labs, crafts, and projects to develop curiosity and understanding of nature from a Biblical worldview. From a Christian perspective, this class is aimed to build a love of science and nature for each individual student. Students will engage with map-it activities to track our animals all over the world. We believe that your child’s education is at its best when their learning begins with curiosity. We use the practical concepts and things in their world to help them to experience and learn that science isn’t just a class–it’s a means for them to discover their world! We hope to include one class field trip to the Chattanooga Zoo to see the African bird exhibit and the aviary. Requirements: students need to be able to read and write independently. Parents should expect to spend 1 ½- 2 hours each week outside of class with their student on science “homework.”  Class will use Google classroom for all parent/teacher communication and weekly assignment postings. Materials needed: Zoology 1 Textbook & Junior Notebooking Journal. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Zoology 1 MP3 Audiobook CD


Elementary School Science (3rd - 5th grade)

This exciting course will give your students a love for learning and confidence in science that will carry them through the school years and beyond. It is an engaging way to teach your young students just how God made everything in the universe. Your student will study the basic building blocks of creation presented in a scientifically sound and God-honoring study that covers atoms, molecules, simple chemicals, laws of motion, electricity, magnetism, and simple machines. This class will include a hands-on approach to learning to emphasize scientific concepts in an engaging manner. There will be in class labs, as well as at home projects. Students will have a science fair style project at the end of the spring semester. Class will be strongly encouraged to attend the field trip to Wonderworks, Pigeon Forge in the spring for class enrichment. Class Requirements: Parents can expect students to spend 3-4 hours per week outside the classroom on class prep and homework. (Disclaimer: the concepts in this class may be challenging for some third and fourth graders. Textbook reviews suggest the material is geared to 5-7 grades. The instructor will make every effort to create an environment for success for all students. Younger or struggling students may need extra parent support at home). Google Classroom will be used to communicate classwork and assignments with parents. All work will be written and turned in on paper. Materials: Chemistry and Physics Textbook, Chemistry and Physics Notebooking Journal, and Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics MP3 Audiobook CD (strongly recommended for reluctant or struggling readers).


Middle School Science (6th - 8th grade)
In this course, we will cover concepts from biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings, study space exploration and natural phenomena and physical bodies occurring in outer space, discover the layers of gases commonly known as the air that surrounds the planet Earth and is retained by Earth's gravity, and explore how waves, sound, and light can travel through different solid materials as well as electric and magnetic fields. This will give students a good foundation for going forward into high school sciences. Each week we will be performing hands-on labs. The text will give us basic information that will be expanded upon in class. Our goal is to equip each child with knowledge, enhance their God-given talents, and help them expand their horizons by providing them with scientific data and backing it up with a Biblical worldview perspective of God's creations. In order to reach our goal, this age group will have a 3-year rotation of books to better prepare all our students for our high school sciences. Students are encouraged to take notes in class and ask questions both during class time and during the week via phone, email, or designated personal sessions. There will be homework each week to both introduce new material that will be discussed in class the following week and also to review what was learned in class that week. Homework will be graded for both completion and accuracy. Students will also be graded on tests, labs, and potential projects. Related field trips are being considered. 

Physical Science (9th - 10th grade)

In this course, your student will investigate, discover, recognize, appreciate, discuss, and understand the wonders of Creation. 

Topics include Basic Science, Chemistry (Properties and States of Matter, Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Chemical Bonds, Reactions and Energy), Physics (Motion – Forces, Energy, Waves and Sound, Light, Electricity and Magnetism), Earth Science (Our Earth, Our Atmosphere and Beyond), Chemistry and Physics in the Life Sciences, and Physical Science Research. We believe that your student’s education should prepare them for life–not just academics. Therefore, this curriculum is designed to give your student a basic understanding of the world that surrounds them and the real-world relevance of scientific inquiry through the beauty of Creation. When we offer our students experiments that move beyond the science text, their learning expands and they own their own discoveries. Lab exercises are conducted throughout each module so that your student has hands-on lab experience that goes along with their study. Each lab has been designed to work easily in a homeschool environment. They are able to see that our world is not as random as it seems as they can observe a phenomenon, ask questions, and methodically seek for the answers. Science no longer is just a class–it’s a means to discover their world. Students will build confidence and a foundational understanding of high school level science. Students are encouraged to take notes in class and ask questions both during class time and during the week via email, phone, or by designated appointment times. There will be homework each week to both introduce new material to be discussed in class the following week and also to review what was learned in class during that particular week. Homework will be graded for both completion and accuracy. Students will also be graded on tests, labs, and potential projects. This course is designed to be takes before high school Biology. Related field trips are being considered.


Biology (10th - 11th grade)

In this course, your student will gain an appreciation of God’s creativity and the world around them as they discover how the designs of the simplest living things point to the fingerprints of the Creator.  This biology course covers the science and chemistry of life, ecology, cell structure and function, cellular energy, DNA and, genetics, evolution, prokaryotes and viruses, protists and fungi, plant diversity and reproduction, plant structure and function, and the biology of various types of animals. 


Your student will learn:

> Scientific principles while seeing evidence of God’s creation 

> How to think critically beyond the textbook and contextualize to real-life

> How to conduct experiments methodically and interpret results

> How to design their own experiments from beginning (concept) to end (results interpretation)

> How to hold a logical discussion on God and science based on facts and beliefs

> How to utilize the proper scientific method in a detailed and engaging way.

> How to record data and report it.

> How to read, create, and utilize several types of graphs (a skill that is found on SAT and ACT exams!). 


Students are encouraged to take notes in class and ask questions both during class time and during the week via phone, email, or by designated personal sessions. Each week in class, we will be performing labs as well as class lectures. There will be homework each week to both introduce new material that will be discussed in class the following week and also to review what was learned in class that week. Homework will be graded for both completion and accuracy. Students will also be graded on tests, labs, and potential projects. Dissections will also be included in this course. Related field trips are being considered. 

Chemistry (11th - 12th grade)

This course is designed to provide your student with a working understanding of chemistry while also preparing them for college-level studies and the ACT. In this course they will learn Measurement, Units, and the Scientific Method, Atoms and Molecules, Atomic Structure, Molecular Structure, Polyatomic Ions and Molecular Geometry, Changes in Matter and Chemical Reactions, Describing Chemical Reactions, Acid-Base Chemistry, The Chemistry of Solutions, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Chemical Equilibrium, and more. 

This curriculum is written to your student in a conversational tone. They will be intellectually challenged but also supported as they work through science concepts and thought-provoking experiments. This chemistry course provides an in-depth introduction to the methods and concepts of general chemistry, as well as a ton of chemistry lab experiments that will help take your student’s learning even further! Students are encouraged to take notes in class and ask questions both during class time and during the week via phone, email, or by designated personal sessions. Each week in class, we will be performing labs as well as class lectures. There will be homework each week to both introduce new material that will be discussed in class the following week and also to review what was learned in class that week. Homework will be graded for both completion and accuracy. Students will also be graded on tests, labs, and potential projects. Because math is a big part of chemistry, we recommend that students who take this course be proficient in algebra. Related field trips are being considered. Pre-requisite: Algebra 1 and Biology

Anatomy & Physiology (12th grade)
This course is fun to teach and easy to study. It is wonderful for students pursuing a medical profession, but also for students who are interested in learning about the human body and its functions. With unsurpassed clarity, content, and completeness, this course  delivers a concise presentation of must-know content with a superb art program that assures mastery. This course is exactly what students need to begin their educations with a firm foundation in anatomy and physiology. Students will learn about every system of the body, cells, tissues and membranes, senses, blood, body temperature and metabolism, fluid-electrolyte and acid-base balance, human development and genetics, and microbiology and human disease, among others. Students will find that this course meets the challenges of health care today as well as delivers classroom-ready learning for nursing and allied health students in a variety of disciplines. Students are encouraged to take notes in class, and ask questions both during class time, and during the week via phone, email, or by designated personal sessions. Each week, there will be class lectures to encourage class discussions and performing weekly labs. There will be homework each week to both introduce new material that will be discussed in class the following week and also to review what was learned in class during that particular week. Homework will be graded for both completion and accuracy. Students will also be graded on tests, labs, and potential projects. Related field trips are being considered. Pre-requisite: Biology 


*Here at MHA, we want all our students to have a pleasant and enjoyable learning experience so please feel free to come to us with any questions and/or concerns.*