ES Primer: Life Science - TNSP

Course Description: Empirical Science Primer: Life Science covers the fundamentals of observational scientific methodology as it guides students to explore their immediate surroundings, and imbues in them the proper attitudes of the scientist. The course includes nature study, field notes, sketching, identification, taxonomy, data collection, collation, and basic inductive/causal argumentation. The hope is to connect the students native wonder and curiosity with the scientist's respect for reality and zeal for truth. Numerous opportunities will be found to impart terminology and practices that will prepare students for higher level courses in the sequence, without overburdening the students with a bulk of soon forgotten facts. The students are introduced to the microscope and its uses.

This PRIMER course is recommended to be taken first among our intermediate level science courses, since the greatest amount of time and emphasis is placed on basic skills. Here is the first introduction to the lab report paradigm that is used throughout the remaining courses.

Required & Recommended Books: See The Self-Paced Course Book List
Age Range: 7th Grade