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Science (Grades:
6, 7, 8)
Joshua Trapp |
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Email: jtrapp@actiondayprimaryplus.com
Education:
I have a BA in Liberal Studies, Concentration in Child, Family, Development,
at Concordia University, Irvine, CA. From there I also received my Multiple
Subject Teaching Credential with Professional Clear Status through the BTSA
Program.
Background:
Being the youngest of 5 has left me with quite the many childhood
memories of playing baseball in the backyard, riding bikes all through the
neighborhood, and trips in the family station wagon to the beaches of San
Diego. I attended Lutheran schooling for all of my grade school, high
school, and college years. The focus on education and eagerness to achieve
success that was shown to me by my teachers moved my heart to pursue the
same career.
Objectives and
Expectations:
As we work through the textbook, we follow along with the CA State Standards
for the classroom – ensuring that students receive the information asked of
them when they move onto higher learning institutions. Yet, never settling
for just doing what is required of us, we will continue to explore outside
of the textbook – by carrying out experiments in the classroom, seeking
outside sources to answer tough questions, and enjoying the explorations
(and sometimes destruction) of others such as Discovery Channel’s
Mythbusters as they tackle the expensive and grand scale experiments that
our minds are always curious to know the results.
It is my goal that every student exiting my science classroom:
1.
Question the daily occurrences surrounding them.
2.
Seek answers when they do not understand
3.
Explore first hand, not settling for just seeing it in a book
4. Be able to
explain, in their own words, what they’ve discovered.
6th Grade –Earth Science: Here we explore the ground we walk upon, and the clouds that rise above us. As we look at how the Earth’s crust is ever shifting, our terrain is ever changing, and our weather is always responding, students will come to grasp that we are caretakers of this Earth.
7th Grade – Life Science: Once we get to know what this planet is really made of, we learn all about the animals and plants that call it home. From exploring our own cells & organelles, to Darwin’s explorations that brought about the discoveries and discussions about species and their ability to thrive in specific habitats, students will grasp the intricacies and complexities of the human body as well as the life giving plants around us.
8th Grade – Physical Science: Now that we are more familiar with our planet and its inhabitants, it’s our chance to see just what makes things explode, realize friction is a bummer and a blessing, grasp the ingredients for every facet of our planet, fathom how our solar system is just one star in such a bright sky, and understand why you won’t ever see lemon lime milk at the grocery store. Students will walk away appreciating how the laws of physics govern our planet and our own actions.
Hobbies/Interests: When I’m not working on PowerPoint or trying to find a new Discovery Channel video clip I love to escape to the group outdoors by riding my bike through the city streets, snowboarding down a powdery mountain face, or camping alongside a river.
