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!

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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