Category: Science
An Exploration of Outer Space
May 21, 2015 by
This year, my kindergarten class, Gan Anavim, undertook an in-depth and exciting exploration of outer space and the Solar System in ways that reflected the Reggio Emilia philosophy that inspires our school. The investigation provided opportunities for collaboration between the students and teachers as we co-constructed our knowledge about different aspects of space in a […]
- Project Based Learning
- STEAM
- STEM
Students Build a Working Arcade out of Recycled Materials
April 29, 2015 by
The Cardboard Box Challenge is a program that takes science, math, economics and especially Earth Day to a new level. Students had the chance to make arcade games out of an endless amount of recycled materials over four Sundays and during special recess periods once a week for thirty-minutes. Third grader Zoe Kaiser-Blueth said, “I […]
- STEAM
- STEM
- Student Stories
STEM Learning in Action
April 27, 2015 by
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education is growing and thriving at JPDS-NC. On the evening of April 2, four JPDS-NC sixth graders attended the Grand Award Ceremony of DC STEM Fair 2015 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Esther Feron, Sami Himmelfarb, Noa Schleifer and Beri Gershwind swept the Junior Division with 1st, […]
- Project Based Learning
- STEM
Teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) at JPDS-NC
April 16, 2015 by
The concept of teaching STEM is designing curriculum to include science, technology, and engineering in an applied approach. True STEM education provides opportunities for students to practice designing and implementing real-life science experiences at all ages. What does that look like in an elementary school classroom? It involves diving deeper into a topic and spending more […]
- STEM
Second Graders Transform their Classroom into the Human Body for the Art & Science Expo
March 1, 2015 by
The Art and Science Expo is a special night at JPDS-NC, when children and parents come to learn in a fun and exciting way! In second grade, we focus on systems within us and around us. One of the systems we learned about is the human body. For the Expo, we decided to transform our […]
- Project Based Learning
- STEAM
- STEM
- Student Stories
First Graders Conduct Research and Present their Oceans Studies
February 25, 2015 by
We came up with “big ideas” that we wanted to learn about: the human body, technology, recycling and the ocean. We took a vote to see what we should focus on, and the ocean won. We read books and decided to research ocean animals. We chose to focus on sharks, dolphins, fish, jellyfish, silver gulls, […]
- Project Based Learning
- Student Stories
Ecologist Dr. Reuven Walder Explains his Work with Birds in Alaska to Third Graders
February 18, 2015 by
In science, we studied ecology. We were studying living and non-living things. Our friend’s father, Dr. Reuven Walder, came to talk about birds to us. He is an ecologist. He spent time in the Aleutian Islands which are in Alaska. He went to an island that had thousands of different species of birds, but the […]
- Environmental Education
- Student Stories
Kindergarteners Learn about Seeds and Visit the Audubon Society
November 12, 2014 by
We learned about seeds in Kindergarten Science. At the end of our unit, we thought about everything we learned. Elana said, “Seeds make plants. They grow into big plants.” Daniela added, “seeds are like little babies because when they grow, it is like babies growing; and when they open, it is like babies talking.” We […]
- Environmental Education
- Student Stories
Sixth Graders Participate in the World Water Monitoring Challenge
October 8, 2014 by
JPDS-NC’s sixth grade participated in the World Water Monitoring Challenge, an international educational outreach program. It helps build awareness and involvement in protecting water resources. This year, JPDS-NC’s 6th grade students went to Luzon Run, a tributary of Rock Creek Park, which is across the street from the school. In this study, you must find […]
- Environmental Education
- Student Stories
- Tikkun Olam
Third Grader Engineers Conduct an Egg Drop Science Experiment
June 18, 2014 by
In science, the third-graders did a project called “Egg Drop.” There were 12 groups, and each group was challenged to use recycled materials to protect an egg that was going to be dropped from the school’s roof. Each group was given tissue paper, a paper towel, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, an egg carton and string. […]
- Project Based Learning
- STEAM
- STEM
- Student Stories
