P.S. 89 Liberty School, NYC

At PS 89, we believe in connecting learning across all subjects so that students see how science, literacy, math, and the arts come together to help them understand the world around them. We use the Amplify Science Curriculum for our science work in our well-equipped elementary school science lab. The curriculum engages students from Kindergarten through 5th grade in hands-on, inquiry-based learning that builds curiosity and critical thinking. Our Pre-K learners explore science through play, observation, investigating all sorts of materials and engaging in sensory activities, to nurture their natural sense of wonder. In Kindergarten and first grade, students explore light and sound, study plants and animals, and learn how engineers solve problems through building and testing. Second and third graders investigate changes in matter, design tools for survival, and explore how forces and motion affect everyday life through experiments and models. Fourth graders dive into energy transfer, the rock cycle, and human impacts on Earth, using data and simulations to draw conclusions. By fifth grade, students engage in advanced investigations, such as studying ecosystems, Earth’s systems, and chemical reactions, while preparing for the NYS Science Exam through inquiry-based tasks that mirror real-world scientific challenges. At PS 89, science learning extends beyond the classroom with our PS 89 Green Team, where students take action on climate initiatives and sustainability projects, showing how knowledge and teamwork can make a difference in their community and the world.