Category Archives: science
Vertebrates and Invertebrates
The Primary began a year of animal studies by talking about vertebrates and invertebrates. We began our discussion by reviewing the science topic from last week: Alive and Not Alive. We then learned that vertebrates have backbones that support their … Continue reading
Science and Social Studies in a mixed grade classroom
Since McGuffey has mixed-age classes, we often get asked how we teach subjects to a wide range of ages and abilities. In subjects such as language and math, children have an individualized curriculum. However, in science and social studies, we … Continue reading
Cell Biology and Genetics
Upper Elementary has been studying cell biology, using models, books, online resources and three part cards to study the organelles of animal cells. Each student made a play dough model of a cell. In the student-made cell above, you can … Continue reading
The Solar System
This week we began talking about the solar system. We hung models of eight planets and the sun in our classroom so that the children could get an idea of how the solar system might look in space. When children … Continue reading
Magnets and Electricity
Our science topic this week is electricity and magnets. Students built two different electric circuits, one which could turn a light on and off with a switch, and one which could launch a small fan into the air. We also … Continue reading
Inventing with Little Bits in the Upper Unit
Middle School and Upper Elementary students began Science this year by exploring Little Bits’ STEAM curriculum. Little Bits are electronic building blocks that allow students to easily build circuits and create inventions with them. During the first weeks of school, … Continue reading
Monarchs
This week, Primary started the year’s study of Science with the monarch. Monarchs in the US and Canada migrate to Mexico or California every winter (which fits nicely into our study of North America), and a wealth of resources is … Continue reading
Oceans in Primary
This week we are studying oceans. We talked about the different kinds of life in the ocean, and about what ocean animals eat. Then we explored the idea that the ocean has different zones. Each zone is inhabited by its … Continue reading
Fossils and Dinosaurs
This week we are talking about dinosaurs and fossils. We talked about how dinosaurs came to be, when they lived, what modern animals they are related to, and how they became extinct. To everyone’s delight, we set out our collection … Continue reading
The Structure of the Earth and Rocks
This week, students in Primary are studying rocks and the Earth. We talked about the three types of rock and how each type of rock is part of the rock cycle. Molten rock fromed beneath the earth’s crust is … Continue reading
