Lower School

Science

The Lower School science curriculum is designed to help students observe, learn to use various science tools and equipment, predict, collect data, see patterns, draw conclusions, communicate their findings, and formulate new questions based on what they have learned. Students are encouraged to be flexible in their thinking, to be open to changing their ideas in the face of new evidence, and to question information thoughtfully. Throughout the grades, science work is integrated with other areas of study, particularly social studies, math, and language, whenever possible.

In pre-k and kindergarten, teachers choose some themes to study thoroughly, while others emerge from the group's experiences, observations, and areas of particular curiosity. Teachers provide materials, structure, and time for investigations to evolve.

In grades one through five, the curriculum is organized around the four major content strands outlined in the national and state science frameworks: life science, earth/space science, physical science, and technology/engineering. Over this five-year period, students have experience with many topics and with all the major concepts within each content area.

Life Science

Kindergarten, Life Cycles; Grade One, Seeds; Grade Two, Habitats; Grade Four, CFS Ecology and Trees; Grade Five, Plants

Partial list of resources: The Life Cycle of Butterflies Teacher Guide; non-fiction books and field guides on habitats, animals, birds; videos (David Attenborough, Museum of Science, Bill Nye); field trips (Codman Farm, Butterfly Palace, The Arnold Arboretum)

Earth Science

Kindergarten, exploring the world around us; Grade One, Soils; Grade Two, Weather; Grade Three, Land and Water; Grade Four, Rocks and Minerals; Grade Five, Earth, Sun, and Moon – The Solar System

Partial list of resources: STC (Science, Technology, Children) Teacher Guides; web sites of meteorological data; USGS teacher and student web sites; stream table equipment; GEMS Guide – Stories in Stone; Hyperstudio