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.
The Meadow Nursery students were so excited for a brand new swing set in their playspace last spring! The swings quickly became a favorite addition to their outdoor play, and the children practiced taking turns and pumping their legs to help push themselves higher.
Now we know why the swing went to school...to hang out with friends!
#progressiveeducation #miquonschool #outdoorclassroom #phillyareapreschools #phillyareaschools #independentschool
Planting roots, growing leaders. 🌳✨
At Miquon, we believe in honoring the magic of childhood by giving students the time and space to play, explore, and find their voices.
We also believe in the power of those voices to create real, lasting change.
When the Classes of 2026 and 2027 noticed changes to our campus landscape, they didn’t just observe—they acted. Driven by a deep love for their community, they asked how they could help guide the future of our outdoor spaces. That curiosity blossomed into the Students of Miquon Environmental Action Committee (SMEAC), which has since evolved into a powerful Student Council.
As a living legacy of their leadership, a beautiful sycamore tree now stands tall on the Woodchip Field. This tree will now serve as a reminder that when you give children the space to ask “How can we help?”, they will always find a way to make the world—and their community—a little better.
The students chose this tree for its beautiful appearance, moderate growth rate, disease resistance, and general sturdiness. A sycamores can live 400+ years, and is also a host plant for western tiger swallowtail butterflies and imperial moths, among others.
We are so proud of these students for modeling the very qualities we hope every Miquon graduate carries forward: stewardship, curiosity, and the courage to lead.
Here’s to the legacy they’ve planted and the bright future they’re helping to cultivate. 💚
#MiquonSchool #StudentLeadership #EnvironmentalStewardship #PlantingTheFuture #ElementaryEducation #StudentVoice #CampusLegacy #MiquonPride #GrowingLeaders #OutdoorClassroom
At Miquon, our beautiful campus is more than just a place to learn; it’s a thriving, living ecosystem. We believe that teaching environmental stewardship starts right under our feet, and teach children daily to care for themselves, each other, and the environment.
From creekwood hollow to the bamboo forest, we share our home with some incredible campus residents. On any given day, you might spot:
🐞 The Helpers: Ladybugs keep our rain gardens pest-free. 📷 @fabio_erdos
🐸 The Pond Patrol: Frogs and toads sing near our pond.
🐛 The Transformers: Caterpillars prepare for their big glow-up (also spotted on occasion: the breathtaking Luna moth! 🟢✨).
🦎 The Hidden Gems: Salamanders and crayfish hide under cool, damp logs.
🦝 The Night Shift: Curious raccoons and possums keep an eye on things after the bell rings.
By preserving natural habitats, investing in our trees and rain gardens, and teaching our students to tread lightly with respect for all creatures, we aren`t just caring for our environment—we are raising the next generation of conservationists.
#miquonschool #progressiveeducation #independentschools #outdoorclassrooms #phillyindependentschools #learningoutdoors #learningoutside #phillyfamilies #foreveramiquonkid
Pure joy in the palm of their hands. 🥹🎓
There is nothing quite like the look on our 6th graders` faces when they see their custom diplomas for the first time!
These beautiful pieces are hand-crafted by artist Leila Sawyer - @sawyer.leila - and filled with personal, heartfelt words from our teachers about the graduates and their time at Miquon. Swipe to see the exact moment when gratitude and delight took over! 👉✨
Thank you to Leila and our amazing faculty for sending our graduates off with these one-of-a-kind treasures.
#MiquonGraduation #CustomArt #StudentVoices #PhillySchools #ProgressiveEd #MeaningfulTraditions #ClassOf2026
🎓✨ There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Earlier this summer, our incredible 6th graders took the stage to deliver their graduation speeches in front of the larger community.
Hearing them share their favorite Miquon experiences—from classroom discoveries to outdoor adventures—was a beautiful reminder of what makes this place so special. We are immensely proud of who they have become, the leadership they’ve shown, and the unique marks they’ve left on our community.
Congratulations to our graduates! We can’t wait to see the ways you’ll change the world next. 🌲❤️
Thank you as well to the 5th graders for adding your talents on recorder to the event. We look forward to celebrating with you next June.
#MiquonGraduation #ProgressiveEducation #ClassOf2026 #MiquonSchool #IndependentSchool #GrowingLeaders #NurturingCuriosity
3 Days, 2 Nights, and a Whole Year in the Making! 🌲🎒
See a glimpse of the second end-of-year 5/6 trip! As a reminder, our 5th and 6th graders wrapped up their unforgettable End-of-Year Big Experiences (EOYBE) trips in May. These trips were the culmination of a full year of fundraising and a busy spring of student planning.
Both classes spent three days away from campus, putting their teamwork to the test, braving the elements, and making memories to last a lifetime. Here’s a peek into where their hard work took them:
Part 2: Team South Mountain Camp: Archery, Marshmallows, & Community Building
The second group headed to YMCA South Mountain Camp (@smymcacamps) for an adventure-filled celebration. From rock climbing and swimming to mini-golf and archery, the energy was high from start to finish.
Community in Action: The kids stepped up big time as "Hoppers," taking turns setting tables, preparing plates, and cleaning up after meals.
Sweet Endings: Nights were spent around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and singing beloved songs music teacher Diego taught them during Sing. These evening moments were a beautiful way to honor the final EOYBE for some of the group, and the first EOYBE for the other half.
#smymcacamps #miquonschool #progressiveschool #ProgressiveEducation #fieldtrip #ExperientialLearning #independentschools
🌲🧗♂️ Big Adventures, Deep Connections: Celebrating Our 5/6 End-of-Year Big Experiences! ⛺️🥞
Our 5th and 6th graders wrapped up their highly anticipated End-of-Year Big Experience (EOYBE) trips in May! Both groups spent 3 days and 2 nights away from campus, braving the elements, building independence, and creating memories to last a lifetime.
Part 1: Team Harriman State Park: Rain, Ridgetops, & Rattlesnakes
Our first group loaded up the cars and headed up to Harriman State Park in New York, showing incredible resilience and keeping the giggles going even through a sheet of summer rain!
Gourmet Camp Crew: The students did the heavy lifting on meals! They whipped up pancakes and fresh fruit; "walking tacos"; and trail lunches.
Exploring the Wild: Days were packed with kayaking, spotting juvenile Eastern Newts (Red Efts), and fishing in Breakneck Pond. Stefan led a crew up Panther Mountain for a stunning 862-foot elevation hike with views all the way to NYC.
An Unexpected Guest: A nighttime game of "Base" had to be cut short when a chaperone spotted a real-life timber rattlesnake! The group safely shifted gears to s`mores by the lake and an early bedtime.
The Sweet Ride Home: The crew wrapped up the magical trip with a stop at Peddler’s Village for a gazebo lunch and ice cream before heading back to Miquon.
Stay tuned for Part 2!
#progressiveschool #miquoninourhearts #ProgressiveEducation #independentschools #fieldtrip #ExperientialLearning #phillyareaschools
🏙️🍲 Our future is in good hands.
In early June, our 3rd and 4th graders hosted our City of the Future Exhibition and Potluck—the culmination of an incredible year of exploration in Theme. Seeing our community come together to share a meal and witness the children`s proud, glowing faces as they presented their work was such a lovely culminating moment in our school year.
Weeks of rigorous, student-led work lay behind each final project:
✍️ Writing: Students put their persuasive writing skills to the test, revising and editing pieces that blended researched facts with powerful, emotional calls to action. Their collective goal was to preserve or restore a part of Philadelphia for the future, and their letters, speeches, and essays powerfully demanded action!
🛠️ Building: Constructing miniature models to showcase their ideas required meticulous planning, careful material choices, deep collaboration, and plenty of engineering trial-and-error!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our young urban planners. We hope you enjoyed seeing the final result of all their learning, planning, writing, and building as much as we did!
#ProgressiveEducation #IndependentSchools #HandsOnLearning #experientiallearning #phillyareaschools #themiquonschool #phillyindependentschools
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
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.
