Science Detectives

You can take this course as each separate mini-course, for the whole semester, or as a full-year course.

We’ll use our reading/writing skills and nosing to sleuth through various fields of science as we study exciting topics in Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth Science. We will conclude the school year with Astronomy.

When answering the questions in the workbook, it is your mission – should you choose to accept it – to find the best evidence for your answers. And of course, there will be fun experiments and demonstrations along the way!

Parent/Supervisor

Utilizing the “Science Detective” workbook and other resources, this exciting course introduces elementary students to what makes up our world and beyond! Students will embark on a thrilling journey through hands-on experiments and engaging activities that will ignite their interest in physical, life, earth sciences, and astronomy. With clear and simple explanations, they will uncover the wonders of these subjects, making learning both fun and impactful. The goal is to foster curiosity, develop analytical skills, promote higher-order thinking, and inspire a love of learning about science in our everyday environment.

The themes and focus for the 2025-2026 series of eight-week mini-courses are as follows:

Semester 1 (Fall 1 and Fall 2 sessions):

Fall 1: Physical Science

Young detectives will investigate the physical world through engaging mysteries that require an understanding of matter, motion, and magnetism. Each unit presents age-appropriate cases that build scientific knowledge while developing detective skills like careful observation, evidence collection, hypothesis testing, and logical reasoning.

Some course topics:

• The Case of the Mysterious Matter 
• The Force & Motion Detective Bureau 
• Energy Mysteries

Fall 2: Life Science

Welcome to “Mysteries of Life,” where young scientists become detectives to uncover the fascinating secrets of living things! This course transforms traditional life science education into an engaging investigation where students solve biological mysteries through hands-on experiments, evidence collection, and scientific reasoning.

Students will discover the incredible diversity of life on Earth, learn about plant and animal adaptations, investigate ecosystems, and understand the basic needs of living things. This course fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship in young scientists.

Some course topics:

• The Case of the Secret Cells 
• The Mystery of Life Cycles of Organisms
• Animal Adaptations Agency

Semester 2 (Winter and Spring sessions):

Winter: Earth Science

Earth Science Detectives transform students into scientific investigators who solve mysteries about our planet through hands-on exploration and critical thinking. Young detectives will examine clues, collect evidence, and use scientific methods to uncover the secrets of Earth’s systems, from the ground beneath their feet to the sky above.

Some course topics:

• The Underground Secret Files
• The Mystery of the Missing Minerals
• The Case of the Changing Landscape

Spring: Astronomy

Young astronomers will develop critical thinking skills while solving cosmic mysteries about stars, planets, and space phenomena. Using age-appropriate scientific tools and methods, students will gather evidence, form hypotheses, and draw conclusions about the universe around them.

Some course topics:

• The Constellation Connection
• The Planetary Lineup
• The Missing Sunlight

Course Structure

During our live class, we will review content from the previous week using review questions and games, and we will go over anything for which students need additional support. Although it is always best if students attend the live classes, I will post the recording of the class so that students who can’t attend can watch it later.

The rest of the week is focused on new content. Students are assigned additional tasks to complete throughout the week, such as reading, listening to audio clips, watching videos, doing experiments and activities, or watching videos of the experiments and activities. Students should try to do as many assigned experiments/activities as possible, since science is best learned by doing. Additional work outside of class time shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes per day to complete.

Who should enroll?

This course is for all students in grades 3–5 who are curious, like active, hands-on learning, and want to know more about how the world works.

Technology Requirements

• High-speed, broadband Internet
• Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
• Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
• A printer for printing handouts.

Evaluation and Feedback

I typically grade every day or two, and I aim to respond to student questions within 24 hours.

Communication

I welcome any and all communication from students and parents. I want to partner with you in your student’s education, so if at any time you have questions or concerns, my virtual door is open.