SCIENCE Overview

At the very center, we see the study of science as addressing the innate curiosity children have about the natural world.  At Falk School, we work to maintain and nurture this inherent desire by building and exposing students to the wonder and magic in science.  Although environmental education is stressed throughout, the scientific method of having a question, building a hypothesis, and testing it are found kindergarten through eighth grade. 

 

Primary / SCIENCE

At the primary level, we believe that science should be tied into the student’s lives.  We want them to see that science allows them to more fully understand the physical world which surrounds them. By teaching units related to the child’s own experience, we give him or her better understanding of how they are connected to the physical world.  We believe in teaching science through literature, exploration, experiments, and discussions.  Students will be actively engaged with the material they are learning.

Intermediate / SCIENCE

At the intermediate level, we believe science is about developing and sustaining curiosity.
Through advancing one’s ability to frame questions about the physical world, building and testing hypothesis, conducting investigations, and consulting reference work students are lead to understanding the basics of scientific inquiry.  In short, we hypothesize experiment, refine, observe and draw conclusions.  To develop the idea that scientific inquiry is reflexive, reflective, and on going, students keep and maintain science journals where they not only collect and record data but reflect upon the process itself.  We pay particular attention to environmental science.

Middle / SCIENCE

Middle School Science

At the middle level, we work with students to attain high levels of scientific literacy through the study of physical science, chemistry, physics, and biology.  Observation, imagination, questioning, and reasoning about phenomena allow students to relate their everyday experiences and help organize information in ways that provide new insights.  We believe that students learn through interaction with materials and with peers.  They learn to work cooperatively through multiple projects, labs, and papers.  They use a variety of tools and materials to attain their investigative goal.  An environmental education strand runs through each grade at the middle level and culminates yearly with a four day trip to an environmental awareness center.