Science

The science curriculum seeks to instill in students a sense of wonder and appreciation of the natural world, a willingness to explore and test new ideas, and an ability to utilize scientific knowledge for the improvement of the human condition now and in the future.

The pace and sequence of the program is structured to maintain high interest and to develop inquiry skills and technological awareness. Resources are chosen to promote the transition from a topically oriented, exploratory program emphasizing the process skills of the Lower School science curriculum to the inquiry-focused Middle School program. In a specialized, well-equipped Lower School classroom, young scientists pursue hands-on projects and lab work in the major fields of science. In the fifth grade, each student is involved in thematic class projects and is required to conduct an independent project culminating in a formal science paper and exhibit. From sixth through eighth grade, students take year-long courses in life science, physical science, and earth science.

In the Upper School, students discover a more discipline-centered program emphasizing analytical and experimental research. Central to the curriculum is the objective that students refine the process skills of observing, recording, hypothesizing, experimenting, interpreting, and concluding. This is done within the context of being introduced to increasing quantities of scientific content: observations, concepts, principles, theories, and methodologies.