Welcome to the new science lab & classroom. After many months of research and design, the architects and contractors have built a handsome science lab with adjoining math and technology centers, fresh and flexible classrooms, and of course a sunlit art room with elements reminiscent of art museum storage.
Here is the first glimpse at the science lab, built to withstand anything a can boy can brainstorm, create, and demolish. With four mad scientist, the lab was ready to be unveiled in style.
8th graders started their year of Engineering and Design, with a challengedto create towering structures out of soap and water. With the aid of straws and forks, towers had to be measured with meter sticks. During the challenge, boys had ample space to navigate the soapy table tops. After the challenge, clean-up was a breeze with the bank of six interconnected sinks.
7th graders inspected mysterious soil samples, some even containing worms. Navigating supply distribution as well as group monitoring was quick and efficient. No more squeezing between chairs, climbing over backpack, or tripping over power cords. With all the investigating supplies stored in minimalist white cabinets, the boys will soon master the ease of gathering hand lenses, microscopes, thermometers, markers, and anything else they can dream of using for grand explorations.
6th graders began their year of studying matter with a look at a special non-Newtonian fluid - Oobleck. Tubs of this slimy, sticky substance was easily created behind the scenes in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) office corridor - both a prep-room and office space for teachers. With just a slide of the door/wall, the science lab quickly opens up to the prep area, where carts of science supplies are ushered under a prep counter and into the science lab. Although dripping Oobleck created a breadcrumb trail from workspace to sinks for clean-up, not a student (or teacher) slipped or tripped due to the textured floor.
5th graders ventured into Upper School science with a look at hydrophobic sand. Their materials arrived on prep-carts, much like the 6th graders. With beakers in hand, the boys quickly began exploring the unique interaction (or lack of interaction) between this sand and water. All boys had front-row seats to the projection wall, where they saw their discussion taking form as notes. They also enjoyed the ample acoustics as they watch Youtube clips of how to make hydrophobic sand, and the science behind their observations.
With so many details built into this amazing lab for boys, not every feature was tested in the first two days. A giant ruler marks the ground at every foot, and ten feet. Two metal support grids stretch across the ceiling for physics exploration of pulleys, pendulums, and gravity. Tall cabinets will house and hide the many works-in-progress being built by all Upper School boys. Outlets dot the outer walls, above counter space, for electrifying every science tool from microscopes to power drills to hot glue guns.