Exploring Water & Wetlands: A 6-Week Homeschool Science Class (Ages 9–12)

In this 6-week hands-on science class, students will investigate water quality, experiment with plant growth in soil and hydroponics, build models of watersheds and wetlands, and study aquatic life through projects like shark dissection and Japanese fish printing. Each week blends experiments, creative activities, and take-home projects to make water science come alive.

No Class Oct 13.

Tentative Schedule

Water Quality Testing
o Water cycle review
o Pollution sources – create some polluted water
o Water testing: pH, iron, sulfites, copper, zinc, chromium
o Dragonfly Pond – city planning

Plants/Hydroponics
o Seed movement
o Growth needs
o Set up experiment: will a seed grow faster in soil or hydroponically?

Watersheds/Wetlands
o Check experiment
o Watersheds – mapping and identifying
o Build a watershed
o How wetland services work (water cleaning through natural methods)

Wetlands
o Check experiment
o Build a wetlands terrarium

Aquatic Life – Fish
o Check experiment
o Fish anatomy
o Shark dissection
o Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing)

Engineering Challenge: Graham Cracker House
o Final experiment check – take home hydroponics
o Build a “gingerbread house” from graham crackers

By the end of the program, students will have explored water quality, experimented with plant growth, built models of watersheds and wetlands, studied aquatic life up close, and completed creative engineering challenges—bringing home both knowledge and hands-on projects.