SCIENCE CURRICULUM & PARTNERSHIPS AT DISCOVERY

  • Maritime Aquarium  : Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk conducts classes at our school, at the aquarium and on a boat. Classes are taught according to grade specific curriculum throughout the school year.

    Discovery Museum and Planetarium : Discovery Museum conducts classes at school and at the museum according to grade specific curriculum.  Our school is a participant of a new satellite program in response to Discovery Museum's own satellite launch.  We also have robotics support from the Discovery Museum staff.

    Beardsley Zoo, SEC (Science Education Center) - ZOO Kids Program : 16 upper grade students focus on local habitats, behavior and adaptations.  Zoo kids explore surrounding grounds of the zoo and our own woods, learn to identify plant and animals, observe wildlife tracks, collect data, create a computerized field guide virtual map for the Beardsley Zoo and turnkey their findings to other students.  Students work on projects with other grades, including adopt a tree in second grade and a pollination garden in fourth grade.

    Robotics : Fourth grade science classes and our computer tech club use LEGO WeDo to learn basic computer programming with LEGO's, a product most students are familiar with.  We are in the process of purchasing robotics and curriculum for middle school students as well.

    Science Club after school : We hope to expand on this idea next year as a Science Club, offering different topics throughout the year, including astronomy, rocketry, robotics, invention convention, ocean exploration, etc.

    Nature's Classroom : Sixth grade students attend a 5-day trip learning about various academic subjects by exploring and doing exciting activities outdoors.

    Sustainable Garden : A school garden was implemented with raised beds in which different foods are planted.  We harvest greens in December and celebrate by serving our salads during the lunch periods. In early spring we plant a variety of other products for more themed food celebrations (i.e.: salsa day).

    Hydroponics : Green Up has given us a hydroponics system.  We are harvesting the vegetables with grade levels and teaching them fun and tasty ways to prepare them (i.e.: vegetable smoothies).

    Pollination Garden : We are currently in the process of designing and implementing a pollination garden to be installed in the front of the school.  Guided by a landscape architect, students in all grades will be participating in cultivating, planting and maintaining the garden.  We hope to bring back the pollination population!

    Composting : Second graders are beginning compost bins to aid in adding nutrients to our sustainable garden.

    Trout in the Classroom :  While learning about environmental conservation and rehabilitation, sixth grade students raise trout eggs throughout the year and release them in a local river in May.  In the process they learn about ecosystems, habitats, fish life cycles and fish anatomy, ways to conserve and rehabilitate local environments, and they put what they learn into PowerPoint presentations to show our younger students.

    Family Science Night : Throughout the year we get the rest of the family involved in science exploration, offering a night of science for the entire family. Topics such as astronomy, what lives in Long Island Sound, trees/plants, things that fly, and ooey gooey stuff have been some of our favorite nights.Each night offers many stations that focus on each topic that are for all ages and kid friendly.

    Invention Convention : The school will participate in Connecticut's Invention Convention this year.  Students design and build an invention and present them to their peers and a panel of judges.  Students who earn the most points in each grade level move on to compete in a state championship.

    Science Fair : School-wide science fair involves every student at IDMS.  Students in grades Pre-k contribute to a class science project.  Students in Kindergarten constructed animal cubes.  Second grade filled out steps to the scientific method guided by the teachers.  Students in 3rd grade did a project related to a Consumer Challenge and 4th and up work either independently to create a science fair project.  Students in 7th-8th grade judged 3rd and 4th grade students and 6-8th graders were judged by volunteers from our partners.

    Science Professional Development : Once a month, for the entire school year, each grade level receives one professional development in science.  These are grade level specific and focus varied topics. These PDs also cover topics for teacher support in areas such as science note booking, managing materials in labs, and strengthening our school as a science school.

6TH GRADE TROUT RELEASE

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