Center for Creative Learning
Debbie Walker
BS Physics
Debbie Walker is an experienced science teacher that brings Physics to life for students by incorporating real world examples into her lessons and creates a fun classroom atmosphere by promoting questions and discussion. Debbie earned her Bachelor's degree in Physics with a minor in Psychology from Scripps College in Claremont, CA. She spent 5 years teaching high school AP Physics, Physics and Chemistry.
She took several years off teaching to pursue a full time position of Mom to her three wonderful children and two dogs. She resumed her career by teaching hands-on science to elementary school children throughout Los Angeles with Quest in Science and has been with them since 2010. She loves basketball and has enjoyed coaching her son's basketball team! She is excited to be working with the students and families of HuckleBerry and looks forward to a great year!
Science Investigators
Teacher: Debbie Walker
Age: 9-11
Fall:
The Heat Is On!
This exciting hands-on course by Quest in Science will educate students on the ENERGY of our world. We will explore various forms of energy: mechanical, chemical, electrical, radiant, sound, thermal and more. Students will work with materials provided in a special kit to conduct experiments and test hypotheses. This course is designed to stimulate a student’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm about science, as well as broaden their understanding of how the world works.
Winter:
Junior Geologists!
The students will become junior geologists as they explore the world of the Earth’s crust, rocks, minerals, and landforms. Our junior geologists investigate the layers of the earth, their properties, and how and why they formed. Students then learn the difference between rocks and minerals. They learn
how the three main types of rocks are formed and how they change over time in a process called the rock cycle. Students sort samples of common rocks according to their type. They learn special characteristics of each, and become familiar with specimens of Earth’s most common rocks. Students
spend several weeks studying minerals, learning what makes a mineral a mineral, procedures for testing mineral properties, identifying a variety of minerals through experimentation and testing, and studying minerals with microscopes. Students will learn the five characteristics of a mineral. They will then use these characteristics to determine whether different specimens are minerals or not. Students examine mineral samples and learn test procedures by which minerals are identified. Using an identification flow chart, students apply their knowledge of test procedures in order to identify a number of unknown common minerals. Finally, students study landform creation through weathering and erosion. In a simulated mining experience, junior geologists learn about the pros and cons of removing rocks and minerals from the Earth. They examine the many uses of earth products. The students’ work is collected
into a portfolio that they will use to share with their friends and family, and to demonstrate their working knowledge of Geology.
Spring:
Life from Cells to Systems
This spring quarter, Quest in Science offers the exciting hands-on learning science course, Life from Cells to Systems. This stimulating course will explore topics in Biology by learning to use a microscope, examining plant and animal cells, conducting respiration experiments, simulating food digestion, observing how body systems work together in organisms and examining the life cycles of organisms.
Throughout the quarter, students will work together in small lab groups to perform experiments, test hypotheses, and gather and record data. They will keep a science folder for all their work related to our science studies that will go home with them each week and can be used for their evidence of science for
your records!
Contact
Debbie Walker