Grade 5 (ages 9-11)

Properties of and Changes in Matter

Garbage disposal at the Beare Landfill site in the Rouge Valley began in 1967 and ended in 1983. The methane gas (biogas) created by fermentation of organic material in the landfill, which contains about 20 million tons of unsegregated waste, is being collected under vacuum by a system of pipes and used to generate electricity in a small power plant on the site, which produces about 5 MW, enough to supply about 10,000 homes. Through a guided hike students will visit this site, as well as assess the social and environmental impact of using processes that rely on chemical changes to produce consumer products.

Target Audience: Grade 5 (Age 9-11).
Offered: March 1st – November 30th
Program Length: Full Day – generally 3.5 hrs (10AM-1:30 PM) unless otherwise noted. Students will have lunch by the river.

Overall Goals

1. evaluate the social and environmental impacts of processes used to make everyday products;
2. conduct investigations that explore the properties of matter and changes in matter;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the properties of matter, changes of state, and physical and chemical change.

Conservation of Energy and Resources

Learn about renewable energy and why it is so important for our future. Learn ways to conserve energy at home and school. Students will take a guided hike and learn how nature utilizes energy, analyze the immediate and long-term effects of energy resource depletion, and evaluate options for energy conservation and sustainable resource management. Students will consider renewable versus non-renewable resources.

Target Audience: Grade 5 (Age 9-11).
Offered: Year round.
Program Length: Full Day – generally 3.5 hrs (10AM-1:30 PM) unless otherwise noted. Students will have lunch by the river.

Overall Goals

1. analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources;
2. investigate energy transformation and conservation;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the various forms and sources of energy and the ways in which energy can be transformed and conserved.

Program Schedule