Cynthia Kimura

Cynthia Kimura is a dedicated and experienced educator with over 16 years of teaching across diverse school settings, including LAUSD, Lynwood Unified School District, and SCVi Charter School. She is passionate about sparking curiosity and creativity in her students through hands-on, engaging learning experiences.

Her science academic background includes participation in educational programs through UCLA and USC, such as COSEES and SWIMMS, which have enriched her teaching through marine science. At SCVi Charter School, Cynthia applied Project-Based Learning (PBL) strategies to guide students through collaborative projects, including a student-created museum exhibit attended by representatives from Assembly Member Pilar Schiavo's office, members of the press, the Castaic Area Town Council, and students' families.

Cynthia’s classes have also taken their learning into action, raising funds for national and local causes such as Team Trees, Team Seas, Ballona Wetlands, and Save LA Cougars—giving students the opportunity to connect classroom lessons with meaningful real-world impact.

Throughout her career, Cynthia has inspired students to think critically, care deeply about their communities, and explore the world with curiosity and confidence. Her thoughtful, student-centered approach makes her a valued and inspiring presence in any classroom.

Living Science II

Ages: 9-12

Homework: Provided

Living Science 2 is a hands-on, inquiry-based science course that takes students deeper into real-world investigations in physical science, life science, and Earth science. With a strong focus on STEM practices, students will build models, collect and analyze data, use engineering design, and conduct collaborative investigations that connect scientific concepts to everyday life.

We begin our journey into the invisible world of matter. Students investigate the physical properties of unknown substances—like powders and metals—and use observation and reasoning to identify them. We'll explore density and displacement and learn why enormous ships float. Then, explore mixtures and solutions, applying the law of conservation of matter while simulating salty shores and sandy coastlines.

For physical science exploration, students get hands-on with balloon rockets, designing and testing how different forces affect motion. We'll go through the full process of framing a scientific question, creating a hypothesis, conducting an experiment, and drawing a conclusion. Build simple circuits and explore how energy changes form as it moves through wires and devices.

Next we'll investigate how one species can impact an entire food web and ecosystem. Through a guided research project in Invasive Species, students learn how non-native plants and animals affect balance in an environment. Discover how desert-dwelling organisms survive using specialized structures and functions. Dive into instinctual and learned behaviors of animals, learn how animals adapt their actions for survival.

We will complete investigations on shadows, where students gather evidence to explain why shadows change length and direction throughout the day. Then we'll move on to explore how light behaves through reflection, refraction, and absorption using mirrors, water, and lenses—learning why some objects look distorted or change appearance.

We'll learn about how scientists use models, starting with the Water Cycle Model, which helps simulate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in a sealed environment. In Changing Earth Models, we will create simulations of natural forces forming sand dunes, canyons, and U-shaped valleys. Visualize how fossil fuels form over time and consider the strengths and limitations of using models in science.

Observation-based learning continues in our observation stations. We'll learn how to use tools to accurately measure mass, volume, and length. Students will see how matter behaves at a microscopic level across solids, liquids, and gases. Learn how to measure force, while Force and Motion Scenarios engage in interpreting and evaluating different motion-based investigations. Students will be challenged to experiment with open and closed circuits and analyze how components affect electrical flow.

Students will conclude with a series of engaging Simple Stem challenges, where students become engineers and problem-solvers. These design challenges allow students to use scientific and engineering principles to address real-world problems creatively and collaboratively.

By the end of Living Science 2, students will not only have deepened their scientific knowledge, but will also have practiced essential skills in observation, modeling, engineering, data analysis, and scientific thinking—equipping them for future scientific exploration and everyday curiosity.