What began as one
parent's vision has become a dynamic, innovative, and award
winning project. Through ExploreLAB, parents and teachers
partner together to supplement the science education of students
by providing hands-on experiences in addition to those provided
in the classroom. We are proud to say that in its first year,
ExploreLAB was recognized by the Association of Christian
Schools International as an Exemplary School Program (Christian
School Education, ACSI, Vol. 6, Issue 5, May 2003. www.acsi.org
) But we are not resting on our laurels.
Every year the program has expanded, and is part of the curriculum
from preschool to high school.
Welcome Parents and Students!
There are many pictures on this page, so be sure to scroll
down to see science fun at every level!!
First
Grade enjoys the "Build It" Lab where they use manipulatives
to help internalize mathematical concepts and patterns.
This is a stepping stone toward more abstract thinking.
And besides that, they're having loads of fun!
At
the upper campus, biology students start with an onion and
follow a step by step procedure to get to the nucleus and
extract DNA. Ask a 10th grade student why detergent
is used in this experiment!
Mystery
Festival is a "rite of passage" for our 6th grade
students. They practice critical thinking as they attempt
to separate fact from assumption, make observations, and do
scientific testing on evidence. Was there a crime?
Ask a 6th grader!
Students observe
the Crime Scene, then take their own evidence. Over
the next days, they become forensic scientists, and finally
judge and jury. Things are never quite as simple as
they seem!
Lots
of ExploreLAB going on at the lower campus! Pre-school
is busy with garden planting and a unit on the five senses.
First grade gets messy with matter, and the third grade investigates
a suspicious mystery... where is the teddy bear??
8th
Grade Students take a close look at Rocks and Minerals...
our lab includes great specimens, and even the opportunity
to crack open geodes. The students identify rocks using
classic testing procedures, discuss rocks and minerals in
every day life, and go into a darkroom to see luminescent
samples.
Preschool
Students will be doing lots of planting
this
year, starting with their FALL GARDEN!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile,
back at the upper campus, 7th Grade
students
take a look under the Microscope.
The
students looked at a variety of ordinary objects such as fabric,
paper, and salt. They learned how to describe an object
using scientific terms and quantitative data. Then they
compared animal to plant cells. The best part was investigating
pond water - they may never take another swallow of lake water
again!!
Here is a partial
list of what students will explore this year:
Check this site for pictures of our students as they experience
ExploreLAB throughout the year.
- Children's Garden
- Force and Motion
- Plant Power
- Matter
- Weather
- Magnets
- Simple Machines
- Rocks and Minerals
- Mixtures and Solutions
- Mystery Festival - Using forensic Science to solve a
"crime"
- DNA - Genetics and Heredity
- Electricity
- Plasmolysis
- Invertebrates
|