Magnet Curriculum
Each year, students will experience one primary topic in life science.
Level I: Botany
Botany (Plant Science)
In both pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, students will complete a year-long unit on botany, the study of plants.
Botany Field Experiences
During the Botany unit, kindergarten students will participate in the following field lessons and classroom discovery activities to deepen their real-world understanding of plants in the world around us:
• Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens
• Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
• Houston Garden Center
• Meet a botanist
• Meet a gardener
• Meet a landscaper
• Meet a farmer
• Plant a garden
• Venus Flytrap: The Meat-Eating Plant
Level II: Zoology
Zoology (Animal Science)
In 1st grade, students will be introduced to zoology, the study of animals. As part of this unit, they will begin exploring each classification of the animal kingdom, being introduced to Entomology (the study of insects), Herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians), Ichthyology (the study of fish), Mammology (the study of mammals), and Ornithology (the study of birds).
Zoology Field Experiences
During the Zoology unit, 1st grade students will participate in the following field lessons and classroom discovery activities to deepen their real-world understanding of the animal kingdom:
• Houston Zoo
• Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Moody Gardens
• Meet a park ranger
• Meet a veterinarian
• Meet a dairy farmer
• Meet an animal rescue worker
• Raise class pets
• Build a terrarium
Level III: Human Biology
Human Biology (The Human Body)
In 2nd and 3rd grade, students will be introduced to branches of biology that apply directly to human beings. As part of this unit, they will begin exploring Anatomy (the study of the animal form, with an emphasis on human bodies) as well as health and wellness.
Human Biology Field Experiences
During the Human Biology unit, 2nd and 3rd grade students will participate in the following field lessons and classroom discovery activities to deepen their real-world understanding of the human body:
• Methodist Hospital
• Texas Children’s Hospital
• Meet a research assistant
• Meet a pediatrician
• Meet a dentist
• Meet an ophthalmologist
• Meet a surgeon
• Meet a prosthetist
Level IV: Interaction in the Living World
In 4th and 5th grades, students will complete units of study that involve how organisms in the living world interact with one another and the human impact on the world around them. As part of this two-year unit, they will begin exploring Ecology (the study of the ecosystem as a complete unit, with an emphasis on how species and groups of species interact with other living beings and non-living elements), and Conservation Biology (the study of the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife.
Human Interaction Field Experiences
During the Human Biology unit, 4th and 5th grade students will participate in the following field lessons and classroom discovery activities to deepen their real-world understanding of the animal kingdom:
• College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View A&M University
• Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Complete a Houston Wilderness Passport tour of Gulf Coast ecosystems
• Meet a marine biologist
• Meet a conservationist
• Meet an environmental scientist
• Letter writing campaign to political leaders regarding a local environmental issue
• Design and execute a campus conservation or recycling project