Learning With PacPrep: We Bring The Science Lab To You

Science–but how do you make it hands on!? This is one of the most common questions we get when speaking to prospective families about PacPrep’s online, one-on-one model. It comes up most often in the context of science classes. After all, for students to really learn science, they have to become scientists themselves – tinkering, experimenting, gathering evidence, and making and testing hypotheses. It’s not enough to just memorize Newton’s laws of motion, for example. To internalize those laws, and understand why they matter in our day-to-day lives, you have to see them in action and put them to the test!

Whether a student is in 1st grade or 12th, our teachers use creative approaches – and lots of interactive, hands-on materials – to bring science to life. We provide all the supplies our students and teachers need to conduct authentic science labs at home, curated to each student’s specific learning goals and curriculum. For our youngest learners, we may provide a collection of tools they can use to explore scientific concepts in their home environment, from magnifying glasses to magnets to building supplies. For our older students enrolled in more specialized science classes, we’ll provide all the lab equipment they need to conduct investigations in biology, chemistry, or physics. At every level, our teachers also seek out ways to make connections to the scientific phenomena we can observe in our daily lives and surroundings.

Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite science labs our students have engaged in recently:

Chain Reactions

If you’ve ever watched an intricate array of dominos topple over or played the game Mouse Trap as a kid, you know how fun it can be to witness a chain reaction in motion. One of our first graders got to do just that in a unit on Matter and Motion that integrated early concepts in physics and chemistry. Using materials found around his home, he combined solids, liquids, and gasses to create chain reactions comprising his very own Rube Goldberg machine.

Sound Waves in Action

As part of a unit on Sound and Light, one of our fourth graders became the sound designer for an animated cartoon. Based on her understanding of sound waves, she identified materials that could be used to produce different sound effects. She used this process to demonstrate the role that vibrations play in creating different qualities of sound.

Butterfly and Radish Garden

In a multi-week Life Sciences unit, another one of our first grade students grew radishes from seed and tended to live caterpillars as they transformed into butterflies. He documented his observations along the way, and used his findings to compare and contrast the life cycles of plants and animals.

Virtual Labs

Of course, in the 21st century, science happens in the virtual space as much as it does in the physical space. Our students turn to online resources to delve deeper into scientific concepts, often engaging with authentic digital tools used by scientists in their real-world research. Our students have analyzed real-time data from NASA’s Hubble Mission. They’ve used weather radar tools to inform their thinking to design a windproof house. And they’ve participated in interactive science simulations through the PhET Project, founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman at the University of Colorado Boulder.

On the screen and off, our student-scientists engage in meaningful curricular experiences that deepen their understanding and spark their curiosity. Are you ready to don your goggles and lab coat yet?