• ParkBulletinCover - The Park School

ENCE AT PARKark’s youngest students in Pre-Kindergartenare eager scientists: observing the naturalworld and the change of seasons, producingice crystals in winter, and growing seeds inthe spring. The Kindergarten classroomsare equally full of life—hatching monarchcaterpillars in the fall and baby chicks in thespring. But formalized science classes beginin Grade I.First-graders are excited to venturedown the corridor to Brian Cassie’s LowerDivision science room. He capitalizes on thechildren’s fascination with the world aroundthem and introduces them to an inquirybased,hands-on science program thatbegins by looking at the trees on campusand culminates in a study of the ecology ofAmerican rainforests, which complementsthe Grade I social studies curriculum.When students reach the UpperDivision science labs, they are introduced tothe scientific disciplines of earth science,physics, and biology, and begin to develop afoundation of scientific skills: observing,hypothesizing, analyzing, inferring, anddrawing conclusions.In 2010–11, Park’s Science Departmentis undergoing a periodic review toassess both the quality of teaching and thecurricular content. In the review process,every topic and unit will be considered.Some may get expanded and some may bedropped. You can read more about this comprehensiveevaluation in a piece by ScienceDepartment Chair Karen Manning.The Park Bulletin | Fall 2010 17