Natural Science - Year I

Natural Science is an introductory survey of the basic areas we call science. During the course of the year, we will cover topics in

• Scientific Methodology: techniques of observation, experimentation, collecting and interpreting data
• Matter: mass, solids, liquids, and gases, atoms, molecules
• Chemistry: solutions, acids, bases, metals, organic materials
• Energy: motion, heat, light, chemical, and nuclear energy
• Forces: gravity, electricity, magnetism, atomic bonding
• Life: common principles of cellular structure, and the use and production of energy
• Life: diversity of forms in the five kingdoms
• Life: animal and plant systems
• Astronomy: the planets, comets and asteroids, the sun, other stars, galaxies
• Earth Science: rocks, geological forces, erosion
• Weather: currents in air and water, clouds and precipitation, fronts, climate

We will approach this mass of material through our texts, through discussion, through directed web reading, and through lab experiences. As we learn about the concepts and methods of modern science, we will try to put them into perspective by addressing these questions:

• What is science? How has our definition of science changed over time?
• What is scientific methodology? How has this methodology developed?
• How have past generations observed nature? How do we observe a natural object or event now?
• How do scientists design and use instruments to discover more detailed information about nature?
• How do we evaluate and organize our knowledge?
• What are hypotheses, models, theories, and natural laws?
• How do we test, accept, or disprove a theory?
• How does the very act of organizing knowledge limit or enhance the way we think about nature and ourselves?
• What are the ethical implications of scientific investigations?
• What are the areas of conflict between current scientific theories and models, and the social, cultural, and religious concerns of the human community?
• What are our responsibilities as stewards of the natural resources of Earth?

Natural Science is designed to be an introductory course and assumes no specific science background. Students taking the class will be prepared to go on to any one of the astronomy, biology, chemistry, or physics courses offered by Scholars Online.

This course is offered through Scholars Online, a non-profit organization supporting classical Christian education through Internet-based courses. Permission to copy course content (lessons and labs) for personal study is granted to students currently enrolled in this course for the Academic Year 2008/2009 or Summer 2008. Reproduction for any other purpose, without the express written consent of the author, is prohibited.