Grades 4-8 Sample Courses


The following is a glimpse into the CTD curriculum, featuring just a


few of our current or upcoming courses offered in-person and/or online. CTD offers hundreds of courses each year! You can search all courses by visiting CTD’s online EXPLORE COURSES TOOL at ctd.northwestern.edu/courses.


Comparative Anatomy: The Animal Kingdom (Grades 5-6)


How does understanding and comparing anatomy help scientists determine the relationships between organisms? What is the shape of a squid’s brain, and how does it differ from other cephalopods? How does that shape impact a squid’s daily existence? In this hands-on lab course, young biologists dissect and compare a variety of animals of different species and taxonomic groups, from earthworms to mice. Discover the differences between endoskeletons and exoskeletons, organ systems both common and novel, and how anatomical adaptations are suited to an organism’s environment. After participating in this course, students will be able to:


Identify the principles and practices associated with comparative anatomy, or the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species


Develop an understanding of comparative anatomy, including evolutionary relationships, vestigial structures, different types of nervous systems, bilateral vs. radial symmetry, and more


Understand how comparative anatomy is important to scientists in determining relationships between organisms


Making Waves: The Physics of Light & Sound (Grades 3-4)


Why does sound travel through some objects and not others? How is it that the sky appears blue? Through inquiry, trial, and collaboration, discover the physics behind light and sound. Observe colors and explore light with prisms to create optical illusions. Gain a deeper understanding of how amplitude, frequency, and wavelength impact the way we see color and hear sound by manipulating their properties. During this course, students will:


Explain how sound is produced and how it travels through a variety of mediums


Describe ways in which light can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted by objects


Identify the characteristics of sound, including frequency, pitch, volume, and echoes


CTD PATHWAY: This course is for students with a passion for exploring optical illusions, the principles and characteristics of sound, and the effect that light has on objects. It is great preparation for future study in physics and design.


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recommendations have been outstanding. They know our community, they know our teachers, they know our kids.


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CTD PATHWAY: This laboratory-based course is for students with an interest in biology, scientific investigations, and dissection. It is great preparation for future study in biology, pre-medicine, and other lab sciences.


Outbreak: Immunology & Infectious Diseases (Grades 6-8)


How does the human body fight an infection? This hands-on course explores the human body and the different mechanisms that allow us to fight diseases and everyday pathogens. Investigate different infectious diseases, the history of deadly outbreaks across the globe, and the diseases scientists are fighting today. The class will focus on both historical and current events while we investigate what causes different diseases, the mechanisms behind how they spread, and how the human immune system works to keep us healthy. During this course, students will:


Develop a working vocabulary of relevant terminology necessary for the discussion and comprehension of disease and epidemiology


Become familiar with microbes—both good and bad—including various infectious diseases


Understand the typical approaches to an outbreak investigation


CTD PATHWAY: This course is for students with an interest in medicine, epidemiology, and biology. It is great preparation for future study in the biological and/or medical sciences.


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