Science

Through observation, inquiry, and investigations, students receive a hands-on approach to science and work as scientists, carefully recording their findings in science journals. Each year students explore areas in life, physical and earth science.  Some highlights of the year include raising monarch butterflies to release them in the fall for their long trip to Mexico for the winter.

            Another highlight for fourth, fifth and sixth grade is the opportunity to pick an area of science of their choosing and conduct an investigation and present their findings judges from the community at the annual Science Fair. This year’s will be held on February 24, 2009.  Due dates for this each part of the project is given to the students in November to help them organize their time and is their main homework for science.  (That the fifth and sixth graders must show they understand the process of an investigation is a state standard and a fifth/sixth expectation.) Sixth graders get to expand their problem solving and critical thinking by making an invention.  Fourth Graders do small group investigations in class and present at the science fair in training for fifth grade.

            Other science events, include a week long commute to Starbase, where students conduct investigations with simulated flights and simple rocketry for both fourth and sixth grade.  Fifth grade attends Physics Circus at the UM in January and trips to the planetarium and Valley View Nature Center are scheduled for the younger ones.

K-6 Science is taught by a specialist, Rosalie Eldevik, in 4 three week rotations for one hour a day.  Careful and planning is taken to meet and teach as many of the science standards in the time permitted. We are currently working toward embedding science more with the classroom as teachers follow- up  in non-fictional

Researching Planets in Science

reading and writing when possible.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 651-293-8815 #2245 or e-mail me at Rosalie.Eldevik@spps.org.

How to help your children in science.

1. Read and sign the safety contract with your child.  We spend the first week of school on safety and review throughout the year.  Your child must have this contract signed in order to participate in investigations in class.

2.  Check with your intermediate students periodically on how their science project is progressing and assist them in getting any needed supplies.

3.  Take walks with your children to observe nature or take them to the children’s and science museum.