Science

The primary goal of the science program at the Day School is to encourage children to understand and appreciate the systems and processes of the world around them. The curriculum focuses on the steps of scientific inquiry: define a problem, create a hypothesis, test the hypothesis make careful observations, draw conclusions and ask new questions. Our science program affords opportunities for purposeful exploration and experimentation that develops critical thinking skills applicable to all aspects of life. Through examination of the physical, chemical and biological world students begin to identify relationships. These relationships include cause and effect, patterns, and cycles. Process skills are taught by integrating background knowledge with experiential classroom activities and scientific terminology.  These skills are reinforced and expanded at each grade level.

Lab journals require students to document and communicate their findings. From initial drawings to more complex analysis, lab journals provide a method for students to document their learning. The curriculum is integrated to connect with ideas and processes used across the curriculum. Mathematical skills are given practical application in science and are integrated with other disciplines as appropriate. The curriculum is designed to teach benchmarks found in National Science Standards as well as the Minnesota State Standards for K-12 Science education.

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, students practice and develop observational skills, apply mathematical concepts, and draw conclusions about their immediate environment. Our units focus on multi-sensory approaches while at the same time allowing students to develop beginning scientific skills.

Science experiences include:

  • Seasonal Changes: Fall: leaves, apples, popcorn, hibernation, migration; Winter: birds, light, shadow; Spring: plants and plant growth; climate adaptation by animal life
  • Human Body: Human organism, dental health, food and health
  • Plants: Importance of plants, growth, parts of a plant
  • Wood, Paper, Fabric: compare and contrast characteristics, global sources, elements of experimentation

“In 1st grade at HMJDS we raised caterpillars and watched their metamorphosis. Now that I’m graduating 8th grade, I realized while the caterpillars were growing, I had been growing too.” – HMJDS Student

First Grade

First grade science focuses on the life cycles of organisms. It includes observations of frogs, butterflies, and plants. Students learn to document their observations in a science journal and to hypothesize about changes that may occur. Students learn about the habitat of each of these organisms and what they need to survive.

Butterflies

  • What is the life cycle of the monarch butterfly?
  • What is the habitat of the monarch butterfly?
  • What does it need to survive?

Frogs

  • What is the life cycle of the frog?
  • What are the habitats of different kinds of frogs? How do frogs adapt to their environment?
  • What do frogs need to survive?
  • What are the differences between frogs and toads?

Plants

  • What is the lifecycle of flowering plants?
  • What do plants need to survive?
  • What are the parts of a plant and their purpose?

Second Grade

Second grade science curriculum focuses on introducing students to the physical sciences. It includes the study of matter (solids, liquids, and gas), balance and motion. Students learn to describe and categorize the properties of an object, learn how matter can change from one form to another, and how the design of an object impacts its function and purpose.

Solids and Liquids

  • What are the properties of solids, liquids, and gases?
  • How are the states of matter changed?
  • How does the property of an object affect its use?
  • How does the choice of material impact the design of an object?

Balance and Motion * How can the use of counterweights make something balance? * How does movement affect balance? * How does an axis affect balance?

Third Grade

In third grade students begin to appreciate the general principles of science and how these laws connect between different disciplines. They are able to identify trees by their leaves and characteristics. We also study the water cycle and how weather impacts our daily lives. During our study of electricity students will be introduced to how series and parallel circuits work.

  • Tree Study: characteristics, identification, field trips
  • Weather and Water: properties of water, climate, temperature, water cycle, wind/storms, weather conditions, clouds, use of weather instruments, meteorology
  • Electricity: Circuits (series and parallel, electrical phenomena)
  • Levers and Pulleys: Simple machines, real life examples, effort, creation of simple machines.

Fourth Grade

In our fourth grade science units, students are challenged to think more abstractly about complex systems, such as tectonic plates, the solar system, and the circulatory system. Students learn relevant knowledge about taking care of their bodies and changes that occur during puberty.

  • Geology: study of rocks, minerals, fossils, layers of the earth, earth changes (earthquakes, volcanoes), fossil hunting field trip
  • Astronomy: Solar system, moon, stars/ constellations
  • Human Body: Major body systems (circulatory, skeletal), nutrition, and learning about puberty