Science
Our science curriculum is an adaptable and evolving resource focused on using the scientific process to help students better understand their world. It provides a scaffold for learning experiences while remaining flexible enough to incorporate student interests, new opportunities, and emerging ideas in science education. Its current stage of development is heavily influenced by a variety of sources. These include Miquon’s environment and rich traditions, current research on science literacy, progressive education practices, student interests and the wisdom of our experienced staff.
View The Science Curriculum Scope and Sequence, which uses specific terminology from Project 2061: Benchmarks for Science Literacy, the Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards, and the NYC Department of Education has been used to describe key ideas already in place.
School is out for summer, but let`s flash back to the excitement of the last few days of school.
After Memorial Day, our pool opened for the season — one of our absolute favorite Miquon traditions. During their last few PE classes, children head down to the Miquon pool together to celebrate the start of warmer days ahead.
Whether children were jumping all the way into the deep end (not literally for our youngest students), wading in the shallows, playing with the pool noodle basketball hoop, or just relaxing in the sun with friends, everyone had a blast soaking up the beautiful weather.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #independentschools #progressiveeducation
🥖 Spotlight on... the Merzbacher’s field trip! 🍞
Our 2nd grade students recently had an incredible morning diving into the communal process of making bread with @merzbachers.bakery! While the aroma of fresh bread and the warmth of the bakery were wonderful, the real magic happened when the 2nd graders connected the experience to their classroom theme for the year: work and labor.
Bakery owner Pete challenged the children with a tricky question: “How many workers do you think it takes to make a single loaf of bread?” While guesses ranged from 10 to 100, Pete revealed a staggering reality: over 10,000 people contribute to every single loaf! From the farmers growing the grain and the drivers shipping ingredients to the factory workers producing packaging and the bakers themselves, our students learned just how interconnected our world truly is. ✨
Here are a few highlights from our day:
The Bakery in Action: They got to witness the exciting baking stage firsthand—watching the bakers hard at work mixing, shaping, and baking.
Engineering Meets Tradition: A crowd favorite was the specialized roll maker, showing the children how machinery and traditional baking work hand-in-hand.
Hands-On Helping: Students rolled up their sleeves to peel sweet potatoes, an essential ingredient for Merzbacher’s famous Sweet Potato Pullman!
A Sweet Ending: The team sent the class back to school with some pre-shaped dough. We baked the rolls right in our classroom and enjoyed them together before the end of the day. 😋
A huge thank you to Pete and the whole Merzbacher’s team for an unforgettable, delicious lesson in community, economics, and teamwork!
#IndependentSchool #ExperientialLearning #FieldTrip #HandsOnLearning #Merzbachers #CommunityConnections #ElementaryEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #PhillySchools
In anticipation of the Class of 2026`s graduation in under two weeks, we looked back through the archives to see how much they`ve grown!
To this year`s graduates: we`ve loved getting to cultivate your love of learning, celebrate your childhood, and inspire you to care for yourselves, each other, and the world. May you go on to do more amazing things with your lives and always keep Miquon in your hearts! ♥️
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #independentschools #progressiveeducation
This year’s edition of Miquon Grass is here! 🌿
Miquon Grass is our beloved literary magazine featuring a written piece from every child on campus.
Throughout each spring, students work closely with their teachers to select a piece, make final revisions, and add illustrations before submitting their work for publication. In the days leading up to this year`s deadline, campus buzzed with young writers putting the finishing touches on their stories, poems, and reflections.
The Grass is a cherished Miquon tradition — one children eagerly revisit in the library year after year, alongside alumni who return to rediscover their own writing from years past.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #independentschools #progressiveeducation
THREE MORE DAYS to get your Spring Fair raffle tickets!
The raffle closes on Sunday, May 17th at 1:30 pm, so be sure to pick out your favorites before then. Offerings include original artwork, Spanish lessons, sports tickets, theater tickets, and much more.
Buy your tickets through the link in our bio.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #ProgressiveEducation #IndependentSchool
🚲 27 students
🚲 5+ miles
🚲 Riders from 6th grade all the way down to tiny 16-inch wheels
Nearly 30 students traded cars and buses for handlebars as they tackled the Schuylkill River Trail with confidence and enthusiasm. They arrived at school with ear-to-ear smiles and enough energy to power the whole campus.
We couldn’t be prouder of their grit, determination, and school spirit!
How do you commute? Drop a 🚲 or 🚗 below!
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #progressiveeducation #independentschool
We’re gearing up for our annual Spring Fair raffle!
Thank you to everyone who helped organize, create, and donate such incredible prizes. Now it’s time to grab your tickets!
From themed class baskets and handmade items to restaurant gift cards, sports and theater tickets, and more—there’s something for everyone.
Our online platform makes it easy for friends and family near and far to join in (though you may need to visit to claim your prize 😉). Good luck!
Buy your tickets today! Link in bio.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #progressiveeducation #independentschools
Last Thursday was the big day our Kindergarten/1st graders had been waiting for: tasting the sugar maple syrup they made themselves on Pancake Day!
Children helped read the recipe, measure ingredients, crack eggs, and mix the batter. When it was (finally!) time to taste, they noticed the syrup’s color, aroma, and, of course, its flavor.
As they enjoyed the feast, children drew and wrote about their experiences. Our Sugar and Silver Maple groups especially loved comparing syrup from their different trees. What a joy to revisit their maple studies through such a delicious morning!
#themiquonschool #progressiveeducation #foreveramiquonkid
It`s National Teacher Appreciation Week, and we want to shout from the rooftops about how much we love our teachers!
Our teachers live our mission every day: they celebrate childhood, cultivate a love of learning, and inspire children to advocate and care for themselves, each other, and the world!
We wouldn`t be Miquon without them.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #progressiveeducation
Approach
To support the development of curious, life long learners, Miquon students actively experiment to better understand the world. The science program emphasizes critical thinking processes that give children the skills they need to explore their own questions.
These essential questions guide the development of worthwhile experiences for Nursery through 6th Grade students:
- How can we observe, question and experiment to better understand our world?
- What lives, grows and breaks down at Miquon?
- How do parts of a system affect each other?
- How can we create what we need or want?
- How does science work? How does science information change over time?
Specific areas of study are selected through the interplay of a variety of factors (including, but not limited to): personal relevance to students’ daily lives, local and global events, the availability of resources, and student and teacher interests. The disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, ecology, engineering, and art are woven throughout the curriculum. Core ideas in these fields are investigated and revisited in age appropriate ways to build the foundation for a broad and nuanced knowledgebase.
The Art and Science Show
The Art and Science Show is an event in the spring that showcases work from every child in the school. The art presentation is curated by the students and the art specialist teacher. The science show has had a variety of iterations over the last few years, but it always features reflective learning exhibitions from fifth and sixth grade students. These exhibitions may feature inventions developed by students, extensions of science projects completed earlier in the year, live demonstrations, or creative exhibits that educate visitors about a specific topic. Younger students are also invited to present their projects and inventions, but it is not mandatory.
Science Choice
In addition to scheduled classes, many children also enjoy visiting the science room at lunch choice. The science room is open two to three days a week. Students visit to continue projects from class, build new creations, work with computer programs, read books and spend time with the live animal visitors.
Minicourses
Minicourses are elective courses for children held for an hour on Friday mornings in eight week installments. Topics for these courses may be suggested by teachers or children. Some science related minicourses held over the last few years include: SCRATCH-an introduction to computer programming created by MIT, Google Sites, Woodworking, Art and Sculpture in Nature, Baking Bread, Move It–a dance and fitness class, Bird Watching and Hiking, Paper Airplane Design, Building Things That Go, and Chemistry & Crystals.
Science Blog
Want to learn more about the latest with Science Kate? Check out pictures, kid projects and the other happenings posted to the Science Blog.
Science Blog
- The Miquon Kids’ Research Journal Volume Three
- The Miquon Kids’ Research Journal Volume Two
- Spotted Lanternflies and Children
Curriculum Report
The curriculum report is the teachers’ review of the entire year, looking back and making observations after their plans, projects, problems, and revelations are long over. One of the distinguishing features of this report is the great extent to which each teacher’s style, focus, and personality come through in this retrospective narrative. Check out the Science Curriculum Report.
