Science

From the study of seeds and plants in Kindergarten through accelerated physics, genetics, sustainable horticulture and organic chemistry at Princeton High School, we offer a full spectrum of science courses designed to prepare students for a changing world. We want to instill in students a love of scientific inquiry, enable them to meet challenges, and to persevere to find solutions.

Vision for PPS Science

Our goals for teaching and learning science in PPS are to:

• Build scientific literacy
• Utilize sensemaking and inquiry-focused lessons to engage students in learning about, and doing, science
• Apply scientific knowledge to real-world problem solving and personal decision making
• Foster a motivation and passion to study science for ALL who may be interested in it, including historically underrepresented groups (self-efficacy)
• Value an interdisciplinary approach to science teaching and learning, including the use of partnerships in technology and engineering
• Collaborate and work in teams to critically evaluate information and design creative, innovative solutions
• Establish metacognitive strategies that allow students to think about their own learning in our classrooms and beyond
• Encourage students to ask questions to expand and clarify their own understanding of the world

For specific information about science courses offered at Princeton High School please consult our PHS Program of Studies.

Our vibrant school gardens provide hands-on learning experiences for a multitude of classes, from art to science. The lessons our school gardens provide range from teaching students how to plant, tend, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables to studying prey and predator relationships within a garden ecosystem. Our garden educators work with students to care for each school's garden and teach students how to make a garden thrive.

EMERALD NECKLACE FOOD FOREST

Beginning with a simple green necklace of plantings that connect PHS and PMS, we hope to gradually enlarge the scope of this exciting climate action project to reduce the effect of heat sinks on the built environment. By 2030, we hope to engage students, teachers, and families in ecological restoration projects. The larger goal of the project at each campus is to create an eight-layer food forest that builds on the Edible Gardens partnerships while also supporting biodiversity, habitat, and human wellbeing.

Watch A Forest Garden for more information.