Category Archives: science

Monarch Butterflies

Several classrooms have been raising monarch butterflies from eggs found in our community. Following the life cycle is a fantastic way to kick off the new school year! Once a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, we tag it as part … Continue reading

Posted in Lower Elementary, McGuffey, science, social studies

Third Graders Visit Glen Helen

Lower Elementary students who will be bridging to the Upper Unit visited Glen Helen for the day recently and had a great time. The weather was beautifully warm and sunny; we saw the Glen at its spring best. We were … Continue reading

Posted in field trip, Lower Elementary, McGuffey, outside, 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

Posted in McGuffey, Primary, science

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

Posted in Lower Elementary, McGuffey, science, social studies

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

Posted in Middle School, science, Upper Elementary, upper unit

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

Posted in Primary, science, Uncategorized

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

Posted in Primary, science, Uncategorized

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

Posted in Middle School, science, Upper Elementary, upper unit

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

Posted in McGuffey, outside, Primary, science

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

Posted in Primary, science