The Lower School Science Program promotes scientific content and concepts through active hands-on activities.
We focus on scientific skills through the content we teach. Students are introduced to a variety of skills that they will use and build upon throughout their K–5 experience. We aim to create and provide memorable science experiences, which will engage students and challenge their imaginations.
Science Program Goals – Grades K–5
- Promote and build genuine interest and joy for science.
- Nurture informed and responsible stewards of the Earth’s natural resources.
- Encourage students to be active learners and thinkers, to ask questions, and to find answers through exploration.
- Create memorable and challenging activities.
- Build an intuitive understanding of scientific principles.
- Develop a variety of processing skills for exploring and investigating the world.
- Explore varied scientific areas and subjects.
- Promote working productively with a partner or group.
Main Curricula
Kindergarten
Mirrors, volcanoes/oceans, rainforest, Minnesota, water/ice/snow, polymers, observation, trees/fruits/seeds, animals/tadpoles.
First and Second Grade
Birds, observations/senses, seeds and stems, mealworms/insects, liquids, sink or float, sound, gravity, archaeology/fossils, soil/rocks/properties, astronomy, crime lab.
Third and Fourth Grade
Nutrition/digestion, circulation/respiration, biomes of prey birds, pond life/ microscopes, plant/animal/human reproduction, colored solutions, mystery powders, polymers, water/ice/snow, kitchen chemistry, Mississippi River ecology.
Fifth Grade
Pendulums/projectiles, electricity/batteries and bulbs, machines with Legos, mass/volume/density, optics, experiments in relativity.