Elementary Science

The Branch School is committed to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math, (STEAM) to better equip students for the 21st century. The Elementary science curriculum provides the foundation for inquiry-based learning.

Elementary teachers use STEMscopes, developed by Rice University. It is a comprehensive science curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning. Students study science through hands-on activities, games, and virtual labs. Based on the 5 E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), STEMscopes allows students to construct their own meaning as they question, experiment, analyze, and evaluate their observations.

Goals of the STEMscopes program:

  • Encourage students in interactive-based learning, in checking through games, virtual labs, and online assessments.
  • Develop life-long science learners through inquiry-based hands-on science.

In addition to STEMscopes, students develop engineering literacy through the Engineering is Elementary (EIE) program. Engineering is Elementary is an engaging, project-based curriculum which compliments the STEMscopes curriculum, but allows students to explore science through the lens of engineering. Each unit has an engineer design challenge, giving students the opportunity to apply the engineering design process.