We seek to capitalize on our students’ innate curiosity about the natural world by sharpening their powers of observation and measurement. We ask our students to phrase hypothetical questions and subject their hypotheses to careful analysis. We want our students to understand the complex relationships between our actions and our world and to consider the local and global consequences of our decisions. We hope that our students will view science as a way to investigate questions about our world and as a positive force for change.

Students learn best by “doing” science. Experimentation and discovery are the essence of the program. Demonstration and explanation also play a role, as does lecture to some extent. We instruct students in the skills of reading a science textbook and scientific literature.

Students are active in the lab where, for example, they measure mass, observe the flow of water down a simulated stream, and dissect a flower. This experiential approach may be less orderly than learning from a textbook, but leads to a deeper and more personal understanding of scientific principles.