Science Program Philosophy
From our Science Curriculum Coordinator:
Some have thought that the science program at our coop was chosen by each teacher and piecemealed together. In reality, our science program is organized as I shall explain below. The goal of our program is that attending coop, reading related books, attending field trips, doing the At Home activities and participating in the Expo will be a complete science curriculum for your student.
We have a 5 year track, where we hit all major science content points.
Physics/ Aviation& Astronomy
Geology/Anatomy
Hydrology/ Zoology
Physics 2/ Technology
Chemistry/ Botany & Genetics
Each year attempts to contain one physical science and one life science.
We've chosen to cover one subject per semester so we can really delve in deeply and marinate in that topic. I remember my childhood bouncing around between subtraction and addition or nature study and barometers. It was confusing. This semester long study provides constancy.
Field trips are specifically connected to content being taught in the classes. Field trips can be culminating activities, subjects for further study or preparation for new class content, depending on where they fall in the schedule of classes. Field trips are also an opportunity to showcase a variety of careers. Visiting a real biotech lab and seeing scientists doing experiments, visiting Washington University and seeing researchers working, visiting a soap store and seeing how soap makers work, visiting a chocolate factory and seeing what a chocolatier does have all provided ideas for children to ponder for their own future.
Classes are stage appropriate. Classes for kinder grades include hands-on activities and exploration. Classes for elementary grades also includes hands-on activities, but also begins to introduce lab experiments using the scientific method. Middle school classes are 75 minutes long to allow for longer labs and/or math inclusion. Middle schoolers also receive report cards and take an end of the semester content test. Homework adjusts according to the age of the child.
Classes include a variety of learning styles- songs, movement, discussion, demonstrations, hands-on activities, model building, games- to meet the needs of all learners. Classes are not writing based- students are not taking notes at desks. However, teachers often write main words on the board for literacy- science integration.
In my classes, I also try to highlight a scientist. I specially choose a scientist that is a person of color, a female or a female of color (boo yeah!). Diversity is important and I'm pretty thrilled that our coop includes such a variety.
I would like to see more content integration between the sciences and arts. I've been encouraging teachers to include connection points in their classes. Just like playing an instrument or learning a foreign language seem to open up new pathways in the brain for learning, so does content integration.
Our classes our multi-grade for practical reasons. However, I have no doubt that the third graders learn from the fifth graders in ways that they would not learn from fellow third graders. Also, being able to help the younger students with practical skills, helps encourage both responsibility and compassion in our students.
Lastly, our classes want to make known the glories of our God. We don't need to attach a Bible verse to every lesson (though, of course, sometimes we do!) or craft science lessons around a Bible verse. Connection between God and our lessons is more organic. "Taste and see what the LORD is good!" Isn't His creation amazing with all its patterns and richness and depth?!
(By: Liesl)