In science this year, students will encounter a number of challenges and will apply the scientific method in order to better meet them and understand them.   We begin by describing a mysterious substance found (hypothetically) in outer space, and then proceed to learn about cells and animal systems.  We'll talk about how the body functions and some of the warnings our system can provide for us (heartburn, hiccups, heart attacks).  We also will study the environment (global warming), climatic mysteries, rocketry and forces, the earth’s surface and any risks to it, space, and simple machines that solve practical problems. While we will dissect a frog on the computer, we also will witness a live dissection to better understand how the mammalian heart operates.  And more: What does an owl pellet tell us about the owl? Metric system, inference and evidence, introduction to independent and dependent variables, and a repeated highlight of last year, and forensic evidence and the courtroom.