Grades 8-9 Details (G1)

Exploration of life: From our Cells to our Climate

From the smallest unit of life to the complexity of our climate, join us for another fun-filled year with the second-year Middle School Saturday GENE-iuses Program at UH Manoa! We take a closer look into cells as we voyage these amazing structures that give our bodies life! Trillions of units are responsible for the thousands of jobs completed by each small, teeny-tiny, bubble we call a cell. Students will discover how many of these processes are possible and what could happen when things don’t go as planned. We will round off our year by exploring the significance of our Earth’s climate and the relationship between our climate, the food we eat, and, of course, us!

Lab 1

The Grass is always greener where you Water it!

Ever tried growing your own plants? How’d you do? Many different types of factors affect plant growth and must be taken into consideration when growing plants. Now think of your favorite plant found in Hawaii. What would happen if you tried to grow it in the Sahara Desert?! For this lab, you will see how environmental impacts affect plant growth.

January 20, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 2

Is it Hot in here?!

How is our Earth’s climate changing? If you look outside you might see the weather change. In some places, you may see the season change. The climate is changing too, but in ways that you can’t easily see. In this class, you will examine evidence of climate change from different parts of the Earth and consider what it means to live on a planet with a dynamically changing climate.

February 3, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 3

Our Dynamic Climate

Why have we seen an increase in annual average temperatures? Students will learn about the connection between carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to our global temperatures. Students will also compare and contrast natural and human impacts to carbon dioxide levels and consider what it means to live on a planet with a dynamically changing climate.

February 10, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 4

Give Me Energy!

Look around you right now. How many things can you count that are using electrical energy? Electricity is an important part of our lives and is used constantly all around us. Electricity must be generated, often by coal, oil, or gasoline, which are non-renewable energy sources. However, sources such as solar, wind, or geothermal power can also create electricity. You will generate some of your own energy from one or more of these renewable resources in this class.

February 24, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 5

Exploring the Smallest Unit of Life

Like a well-tuned machine, your body consists of many parts, and each part does a specific job, yet all parts work together to perform an overall function, such as riding a skateboard, taking a test, or eating pizza. In this class, you will explore why your body may be the most fascinating machine on Earth!

March 2, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 6

Calling the Shots!

Every operation needs a big boss to make decisions and run the show, including your cells! Just like a student needs instructions from a teacher, every cell inside your body needs instructions too. How do we do that? Well, imagine if your teachers made copies of themselves. Kind of scary, huh? We promise there won’t be anything that scary in this class!

March 9, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 7

Making Millions of Minions!

For every big boss, there must be workers to do the work! Just like Dr. Nefario’s minions, our cells produce millions of little workers to get the job done. Our cells, however, send secret messages that must be decoded by specialists who make the workers for the specific jobs that need to be carried out in our bodies. Find out how to decode these secret messages in this class!

April 6, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 8

Now Hiring, Jobs for Everyone!

Now, what exactly do these minions really do all day?? Well without them nothing would get done! In this class, you will experiment with two special types of workers found in our bodies and observe the work they do right before your very eyes!

April 13, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM

Lab 9

Zombies Attack!

Take cover!! Mutations are happening everywhere! Believe it or not, mutations occur in us all the time. But you would never know! In this class, you will learn why and will get to observe mutations you CAN see in fruit flies!

April 27, 2024
10 AM - 12 PM