Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the 5th Day (Apologia Science Young Explorers)

by Jeannie Fulbright Author

Join Mrs. Tucker as we discover God’s amazing flying creatures! From birds to bats and insects to dinosaurs, we will explore how these creatures fly, hunt, care for their young, and much more. Each week we will have fun with experiments and activities like exploring the concept of lift by experimenting with gliders, making our own bird feeders, and experimenting to discover what type of environment crickets prefer for burrowing. We will follow the Apologia Flying Creatures of the 5th Day textbook. Each student will need to purchase a copy of this book. There will be about 5-10 pages to read each week as homework. This book is very interesting and easy to read! We will do the experiments listed in the book during class time, along with building on and reviewing what the students read at home. This class will cover all of your student’s science needs so you won’t need to teach any science at home! Grading: pass/fail. Homework: less than 1 hour per week. (From Amazon): In this book, your children will begin exploring the dynamics of flight and animal classification, understanding why the design we see in these incredible creatures points us to our Creator God. Then, get ready for the exciting adventure of learning about birds. Your children will learn how to attract various bird species to your yard and identify them by looking at their special physical characteristics, diverse nests, & interesting domestic practices. They will also learn the anatomy and the glorious design that enables birds to do remarkable things. The text contains actual experiments on the preferences and habits of the birds your children see. These experiments further enrich the learning experience. After becoming amateur ornithologists, your children will explore the world of chiropterology, which is the study of bats. They will be able to intelligently share with others the value of bats in our world while exposing the misconceptions that most people have regarding these docile creatures of the night. Your children will then investigate entomology, the study of insects. They will learn to scientifically classify insects they find in their yard by a simple glance at their wings and other important characteristics. In addition to designing experiments with flies, crickets, darkling moths, and caterpillars, they will also learn how to attract and catch insects for scientific study. When your children complete this study of zoology, they will never view nature in the same way again. Their eyes will be open to the different species that live in their midst, enjoying and understanding nature to the fullest. Vacations will become educational experiences as they notice birds and insects inhabiting the areas they visit. By learning to keep a field journal, they will notice unusual circumstances or sudden increases in bird or insect populations. They will become true scientists as they come to know nature and the fascinating world that God created. Grades K-6. Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Syllabus Sara Tucker (405) 323-9246 Sarabear7@yahoo.com Week 1 – August 19, 2021 Introductions Class Rules Course Intro Make Covers for Science Notebooks Nature Scavenger Hunt Week 2 – August 26, 2021 Read Before Class: Pages 1-8 in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Recap what we read at home this week Discover How Scientists Conduct a Science Experiment Explore the Concept of Lift by Conducting an Experiment with Gliders and Wing Design Week 3 – September 2, 2021 Read Before Class: Pages 12 (starting at Habitats)-17 in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Recap What We Read at Home this Week Complete Glider Experiment Week 4 – September 9, 2021 Insects Read Before Class: Pages 131-137 (stop before “Insect Heads”) in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week How to Identify an Insect Notebooking Activity Activity – Go on an Insect Hunt and Discover How Temperature Affects Insects   Week 5– September 16, 2021 Insects Read Before Class: Pages 137(starting with “Insect Heads”)- 144 in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Review and Illustrate Insect Body Parts for Notebook Activity- Go on an Insect Hunt and Conduct Lazarus Experiment Week 6– September 23, 2021 Insect Life Cycles Read Before Class: Pages 147-154 (stop before “Insect Life Styles”) in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Insect Life Cycles Journaling Activity Activity – Go on an Insect Egg Hunt Week 7– September 30, 2021 Insect Life Cycles Read Before Class: Pages 154 (Beginning at “Insect Life Styles”)-160 Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Activity – Can Trap Experiment Week 8– October 7, 2021 Social Insects - Ants Read Before Class: Pages 163-168 Check Our Can Traps and Record Findings Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Amazing Ant Videos Activity – Ant Experiment   Week 9– October 14, 2021 Social Insects - Bees Read Before Class: Pages 169-176 Complete Ant Experiment if Needed Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Discover More About What Makes Bees So Amazing Diagram a Bee Hive for Science Notebook Week 10– October 21, 2021 Social Insects – Wasps and Termites Read Before Class: Pages 177-180 Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Trivia Game – Which Social Insect Am I? Week 11– October 28, 2021 Beetles, Flies, and True Bugs Read Before Class: Pages 183-190 (stop before Flies) Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Investigation – What Kind of Soil Do Insects Prefer? Week 12– November 4, 2021 Beetles, Flies, and True Bugs Read Before Class: Pages 190 (starting with Flies)-196 Review What We Learned at Home this Week Groups Will Compete to Create Their Own Commercials About Preventing Mosquito Bites   Week 13– November 11, 2021 Interesting Insects Read Before Class: Pages 199-205 Recap What We Discovered About Insects This Week Set Up Cricket Experiment Week 14– November 18, 2021 Interesting Insects Read Before Class: Pages 206-210 Discuss What We Read at Home and What We Observed with Our Crickets Create Visual Aids from Our Cricket Experiment to Display at End of Semester Program Week 15– December 2, 2021 No Reading Assignment Finish Displays for Program / Class Party Second Semester Week 16 – January 6, 2022 Flying Reptiles Read Before Class: Pages 119-129 Discuss What We Learned About Flying Reptiles Activity – Make Our Own Fossil Eggs Week 17 – January 13, 2022 Bats Read Before Class: Pages 103-109 Recap What We Discovered About Bats Calculate the Number of Insects a Bat Can Eat Investigate How the Shape of a Bat’s Ear Helps it Detect Prey Week 18 – January 20, 2022 Bats Read Before Class: Pages 110-117 Review What We’ve Learned About Bats So Far Activity – “Find Your Pup” Activity – Groups Create and Perform a Skit: Mega Bat Meets Micro Bat Week 19 – January 27, 2022 What Makes a Bird a Bird? Read Before Class: Pages 21-25 in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Discover What You Can Learn from a Bird’s Beak Explore How Bird Beaks Work with a Hands on Activity Week 20 – February 3, 2022 What Makes a Bird a Bird? Read Before Class: Pages 26-30 in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Create Illustration of Bird Anatomy for our Science Notebooks Play a Game with Bird Field Guides Week 21 – February 10, 2022 What Makes a Bird a Bird? Read Before Class: Pages 31-36 in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day Discuss What We Learned from Our Reading this Week Construct Bird Feeders and Design Experiment to Discover What Kind of Feed Birds Prefer   Week 22 – February 17, 2022 Feathers Read Before Class: Pages 41-46 Talk About What We Observed with Our Bird Feeder Experiment and Compile Data Discuss What We Read at Home this Week Examine Feathers with Magnifying Glasses Diagram the Parts of a Feather for our Science Notebooks Week 23 – February 24, 2022 Feathers Read Before Class: Pages 47-53 Talk About Anything We Observed at Our Bird Feeders this Week Review What We’ve Learned About Feathers from Our Reading Activity - Experience How Birds Use Their Wings to Slow Down for a Landing Activity – Water Proof Feathers Journal About the Different Types of Feathers in our Science Notebooks Week 24 – March 3, 2022 Flying Facts Read Before Class: Pages 57-61 Discuss What We Learned About How Birds Fly Investigation – Comparing a Chicken Bone and a Cow Bone Journal What We Discovered in Our Investigation Week 25 – March 10, 2022 Migration Read Before Class: Pages 62-70 Review What We Discovered About Migration Activity – Explore the Importance of Staying on Course Map a Bird’s Migration Path Begin Planning an Experiment to Determine if Bird’s Have a Favorite Color Week 26 – March 24, 2022 Nesting Read Before Class: Pages 73-79 (stop before Earth Hole Nesters) Recap What We Learned About Nests Watch Videos of Some of God’s Most Amazing Nest Builders Journal Different Types of Nests We’ve Studied Week 27 – March 31, 2022 Nesting Read Before Class: Pages 79 (start with Earth Hole Nesters)-84 Review What We Read About Nests this Week Activity – Try Building Our Own Bird Nests Illustrate the Types of Nests We Learned About this Week in our Notebooks Week 28 – April 7, 2022 Nesting No Reading Design an Experiment to Determine What Type of Nesting Material Birds Prefer Create a Real Estate Advertisement to Entice a Bird to Purchase a Nest Week 29 – April 14, 2022 Matching and Hatching Read Before Class: Pages 89-95 (first paragraph only) Discuss What We Learned About How Birds Choose a Mate and the Parts of an Egg Activity – Locate the Air Pocket in a Chicken Egg Diagram and Label the Parts of an Egg for Our Science Notebook Create an Experiment to Discover if Eggs Absorb Water   Week 30 – April 21, 2022 Matching and Hatching Read Before Class: Pages 95-99 Review What We Discovered About Incubation, Development and Baby Birds Activity - Discover Just How Strong an Egg Really Is Activity – Candling Eggs Create a Comic Strip of a Bird’s Life Cycle for Science Notebooks Week 31 – April 28, 2022 No Reading Assignment Class Party!