Science

Science is woven into all of the thematic units at Wingra. We believe that children are naturally curious about the world around them. Our science program strives to nurture that curiosity through a hands-on, problem-solving approach to science.

We develop in our students the ability to discern between science, pseudo-science, and myth, and we seek to engender an understanding of the importance of science as it relates to our modern history as humans.

At the primary and intermediate levels, ages 5 to 8

Even the youngest students learn the process of careful observation and experimentation. In unit activities and science centers, students working individually or in small, collaborative groups are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, collect, count, measure, make qualitative observations, and talk and write about what they see. Older students use tables and graphs to summarize and interpret data and share their results with others.

At the junior and senior levels, ages 9 to 14

Older students work in each area of the physical, biological, and ecological sciences during the course of a year. Embedded in students' science learning are aspects of the history of science, scientific methods and practices, and model-building explanations for natural phenomena.

Teaching strategies include readings from various sources, labs, and demonstrations and talks by experts in the field. The junior classroom is exploring Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences this year with units adapted from Crime Scene Investigations. We frequently borrow materials from the University of Wisconsin and visit working science laboratories. Older students learn to write lab reports and practice various lab techniques.

Our approach to progressive education »

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How we evaluate student progress »

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