- Science
At Hangzhou International School (HIS), science is much more than a subject. It is a way for our youngest learners to explore, question, and make sense of the world around them. In our Lower School and Kindergarten classrooms, scientific inquiry sparks curiosity, nurtures critical thinking, and helps children develop lifelong skills for learning.
From their first days at HIS, students are encouraged to be inquirers. In ECE, children might investigate what happens to ice cubes when left in the sun. They ask questions, make predictions, and observe changes over time, carefully recording what they notice. In this process, they are also thinkers, connecting cause and effect: why did the ice melt faster in one area than another? Meanwhile, Lower School students experimenting with different forces learn to communicate their observations clearly, explaining in small groups why the ball stopped, or why it didn’t. These tasks show how learner profile attributes come alive through hands-on science.
At HIS, our approach to science is closely aligned with the IB PYP Units of Inquiry. Science is integrated into meaningful, real-world contexts. For example, during a unit on “How the World Works”, students explored world climates. Here, they practiced collaboration skills as they worked in teams to plan, measure, and record results. They applied thinking skills by analyzing patterns in their data and drawing conclusions as well as research skills to dig deeper and find out more.
The upcoming Lower School Science Fair, on June 3rd to 5th, will showcase these inquiry journeys. Students will present individual projects and collaborative investigations, highlighting how they used observation, problem-solving, reflection, and communication to understand scientific phenomena. We warmly invite all members of the HIS community to join us on June 5th, to celebrate the curiosity, creativity, and achievements of our youngest scientists.
At HIS, science empowers students to be inquisitive, thoughtful, and engaged learners. Through inquiry, observation, reflection, and real-world problem solving, our Lower School students are not just learning about science, they are learning to think like scientists, communicate like scientists, and connect their learning to the world around them. The Science Fair is a wonderful opportunity to see this learning in action and celebrate the wonder of discovery.