Lower School Expands Science Curriculum

Kindergartners Nash Larsen and Claire Fawson investigate the interaction of water with different fabrics in a unit on materials.

New this year, the Academy has a dedicated space and teacher for pre-K through 4th grade science. Dr. Tricia Dieck has worked at AHN for 13 years and was most recently the middle school curriculum specialist and instructional coach. Dieck has always gravitated toward math and science and is excited to be back in the classroom as the lower school science teacher.

Elementary School Principal Bridgid Fishman created the position and has noticed many benefits. She says, “A teacher dedicated to teaching only science allows that person to have a deeper understanding of science content knowledge and pedagogy. Dr. Dieck has the passion for science that is shared with students, thereby sparking greater interest and excitement for science.”

The students feed off the excitement Dieck has for the subject and love having a dedicated science lab to visit during class. Investigations tend to span several class sessions with students’ active engagement and inquiry-based learning. Having a science lab gives Dieck time to prepare and manage materials more efficiently than teachers of all subjects using one classroom. When the firstfloor renovation is complete, the addition of a developmentally appropriate STEM lab will enhance the science experience.

Dieck will teach the same students year after year, which helps her easily make connections to what students learned previously. “From a teaching perspective, because I am teaching all lower school students, I can see how the science concepts and skills vertically align as students move from pre-K through 4th grade, and with my background as the middle school curriculum specialist, I also know what the students need to be prepared for our middle school science program.”

Feedback has been very positive for the new science position, and Fishman has noticed that parents are very supportive of having a teacher dedicated to only science. “Parents have shared that their child is coming home and asking to do science activities as an extension of what they are learning in class — just for fun!”

While investigating motion using balls, ramps and runways, kindergarten student Victoria Rodriguez says, “This is the most fun I’ve ever had in science!”

Dr. Dieck uses her puppet, Newt, to engage her pre-K students in engineering concepts. Kendall Garnett explores the vibrations made from sound in the second grade sound and light unit.

Addison Stockham and Gilberto Perera construct a cart as part of the third grade motion unit.