Goals and Objectives
- Students will become familiar with scientific equipment and how to handle the equipment safely in a laboratory setting.
- Students will realize that science is an ever changing subject and will appreciate the role of scientist in society today.
- Students will be able to make hypotheses and conclusions based on their own observations, research and experimenting.
- Students will gain an understanding and appreciation for the world around them, as well as an understanding that people have an effect on the environment and a certain responsibility to maintain a safe habitat.
- Students will gain an understanding of the living world, both on a microscopic and macroscopic level.
- Students will develop the ability to research a scientific topic, design an experiment and draw conclusions.
- Students will gain an appreciation for
the human body and become more aware
of important health-related issues our world faces today.
- Students will be aware of all current events relating to science.
- Students will recognize the common thread between all living things.
- Students will be able to maintain an organized science journal and write proper scientific laboratory reports.
Laboratory Experience
Each student is expected to complete a minimum of twenty hours of laboratory work per year. These labs are designed to help the students to learn how to work effective and safely in the laboratory. The students will develop a proficiency in manipulating and setting up materials and equipment. These laboratory activities help students learn how to properly carry out the process of scientific inquiry, including collecting, organizing, recording and interpreting data.
In addition to the in-school laboratory activities, each grade participates in an additional twelve labs with an outside affiliation. This outside group brings exciting and high-end labs into our classrooms for our students.
Annual Science Symposium
Each year the students in Fifth through Ninth Grade complete an independent science project to be displayed at the Annual Science Symposium. Students are to investigate a topic of interest to them. Students in Fifth and Sixth Grade are required to develop a scientific experiment in compliance with the scientific method. Each student then creatively designs a tri-fold board presenting their findings. Students in Seventh through Ninth Grade are allowed to complete the same project as described above; however, they are also allowed to investigate a scientific topic of interest to them and report their findings in an inquiry-based paper.
Students have the opportunity to present their projects to local scientists from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and participate in a contest in which the best project per grade is chosen.