Science Throughout History
700 B.C.E. - 1800 C.E.
Course Overview
This Science Throughout History course encourages students to explore the most influential historians and scientists, while learning about their greatest discoveries in astronomy, math, and physics. The class tightly weaves together science, history, and language arts through readings, individual and class activities, and writing tasks. From the Classical Era, through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, touching on great thinkers like Aristotle, da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, students will analyze writings, maps, diagrams, and charts to help them understand the deep connections between science and humanities. Students, both individually and collaboratively, will apply knowledge from class to create various products through projects and experiments. Time will also be taken to explore different writing techniques, in conjunction with class content, and to continue individualized grammar practice, in order for students to communicate meaningfully and effectively.
Overall Themes
Sample of Essential Questions:
Curriculum and Textbooks
The Story of Science: Newton at the Center (2005)
This Science Throughout History course encourages students to explore the most influential historians and scientists, while learning about their greatest discoveries in astronomy, math, and physics. The class tightly weaves together science, history, and language arts through readings, individual and class activities, and writing tasks. From the Classical Era, through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, touching on great thinkers like Aristotle, da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, students will analyze writings, maps, diagrams, and charts to help them understand the deep connections between science and humanities. Students, both individually and collaboratively, will apply knowledge from class to create various products through projects and experiments. Time will also be taken to explore different writing techniques, in conjunction with class content, and to continue individualized grammar practice, in order for students to communicate meaningfully and effectively.
Overall Themes
- Ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Greece, and Rome
- Time periods, including the Classical Era, Middle Ages, and Renaissance
- Great thinkers, including Plato, Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton
Sample of Essential Questions:
- How did the people of early civilizations use innovation and technology to meet personal and community needs?
- How does the rise and fall of one civilization affect another?
- What attitudes or characteristics of the Renaissance promoted or supported the success of certain thinkers, such as Leonardo da Vinci?
Curriculum and Textbooks
- The following two books from Joy Hakim will be the foundation for this course:
The Story of Science: Newton at the Center (2005)
- Discovering Da Vinci’s Complexities (2013) by the Institute for the Development of Gifted Education at the University of Denver.
