Science at the WIDE School

“The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.”

-Sir William Bragg

Science at the Wide School takes center stage in many ways. At its core, the Reggio Emilia Philosophy aspires for children to learn by carrying out the scientific method as they learn about the world around them. Children are encouraged to be curious about the world around them, carry out their experiments, make observations, explore, build knowledge to expand their thinking… and then do it all again. Our students live the scientific method in all their project work. The subject of science is essentially the study of life. What a captivating subject for young people!

We carry out the actions of a professional in whatever discipline we are studying and we strive for the students to speak with experts whenever possible. Young children dissect animals, explore using microscopes, and record data through words, symbols, pictures, photographs, and more. Children are natural scientists. As children carry out their experiments and create they hypothesis, not only are they learning about their chosen topics but they are also developing something far greater… they are developing a strong sense of self. The child is seeing themselves as a person that is capable of doing and learning through their own initiative. This is a very powerful seed that must be nurtured in every child. And it all starts with the simple wishes of childhood: collecting sticks, catching bugs, jumping higher, playing with food, building, writing stories, putting on a play, and wondering about the stars and the moon.