A place where children feel happy, supported, and inspired to learn every day.
With an understanding of their own environment, they are better able to understand other societies and cultures.
A joyful place to learn, grow, and belong
At CSB Elementary School, we create a warm and joyful environment where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to grow. Our students learn with curiosity, build confidence, and develop the skills they need for school and for life.
Our philosophy
We believe every child is unique. We help students become confident learners, kind classmates, creative thinkers, and responsible young citizens.
Belonging
At the heart of our school is a strong sense of belonging. Children learn best when they feel safe, respected, and connected to their teachers, friends, and school community.
Beyond the classroom
Learning at CSB goes beyond textbooks. Through projects, performances, enrichment opportunities, and student-led experiences, children discover new strengths and interests.
Family partnership
We believe strong learning happens when school and families work together. We value open communication and meaningful partnerships that support every child’s growth.
The Mathematics and Science programs at the elementary level in BC follow common topic areas as students move from simple concepts and processes to more complex problem solving and higher order thinking.
With English being the language of instruction, our elementary program stresses not only reading comprehension but writing in all genres.
As the students move through the British Columbia elementary school grades, social responsibility and global citizenship is taught, modeled and practiced. These are integrated into the different subjects and students are given many opportunities to practice their skills. Healthy living and healthy choices are core to not only the physical education program but the school community itself.
Elementary Science (Grades 1 - 4)
At CSB, our Elementary Science programme inspires curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of
learning. Based on the British Columbia (BC) Curriculum, science is taught through hands-on
investigations, inquiry-based learning, and real-world problem solving. Students develop
essential scientific skills by asking questions, making observations, conducting investigations,
analyzing data, and communicating their findings. Throughout the year, students explore the
living world, physical sciences, Earth systems, and environmental sustainability while building
confidence as young scientists.
| Grade | Science Focus Areas | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Scientific Method, Living Things, Matter, Light & Sound, Earth & Space | Students investigate living and non-living things, properties of materials, sources of light and sound, and observable patterns in the sky and local environment. |
| Grade 2 | Scientific Method, Life Cycles, Materials & Changes, Forces, Water Systems | Students explore life cycles, physical and chemical changes, forces and motion, magnetism, and the importance of water conservation and the water cycle. |
| Grade 3 | Scientific Method, Biodiversity, Matter, Thermal Energy, Landforms | Students learn about ecosystems, food chains, matter and atoms, heat transfer, and how wind and water shape Earth's surface. |
| Grade 4 | Scientific Method, Living Systems, Matter, Energy, Earth & Moon Systems | Students investigate human senses, plant and animal responses, biomes, states of matter, energy transformations, and the Earth-Moon-Sun relationship. |
A Day in the Life
A typical science lesson at CSB encourages students to think and act like scientists.
Sample Lesson Structure
- Engage: Students explore a driving question or real-world phenomenon.
- Investigate: Students conduct an experiment, observation, or hands-on activity.
- Analyze: Students record data, identify patterns, and discuss findings.
- Explain: Students use scientific vocabulary to communicate their understanding.
- Apply: Students connect their learning to everyday life, environmental issues, or sustainability challenges.
Whether investigating plant growth, exploring forces and motion, testing material properties, or studying the water cycle, students actively participate in meaningful learning experiences that build confidence and curiosity.
Key Activities & Events
Scientific Method Programme
Across all Elementary grade levels, students are explicitly taught and consistently apply the scientific method. They learn how to ask meaningful scientific questions, develop testable hypotheses, plan and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret data, and communicate their conclusions using age-appropriate scientific language and tools.
Sustainability & SDG Projects
Students take part in sustainability-focused projects that promote environmental stewardship and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through these projects, they apply their scientific understanding to real-world environmental challenges, strengthening their sense of responsibility as global citizens.
Earth and Environmental Investigations
Throughout the year, students investigate local ecosystems, biodiversity, water conservation, weather patterns, and Earth systems. Hands-on fieldwork and collaborative projects help them make meaningful connections between classroom science learning and the natural world around them.
How We Teach
Science learning at CSB is active, engaging, and student-centred. Students learn through inquiry-based investigations where they ask questions, make predictions, conduct experiments, collect evidence, and communicate conclusions. The scientific method is embedded throughout every grade level, helping students develop strong scientific thinking and problem-solving skills from an early age.
The Elementary program is designed to solidify a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy skills.
A thematic, integrated approach in both Arabic and BC classes helps students see that learning, like life, is holistic, connected, and meaningful. Through this approach, children strengthen their minds in core subjects, develop their bodies in Physical Education, and express their creativity through a rich variety of visual, performing, and even culinary arts experiences.
In Elementary, there is a strong and intentional focus on living our school and cultural values of respect, responsibility, personal integrity, and courage. In the classroom and on the playground, students learn and practice positive behaviours, work through challenges, and take responsibility for their choices in a caring, structured environment.
Students also begin to step into the spotlight as confident communicators and leaders. They participate in Arabic and English competitions, develop public speaking skills, use technology purposefully in their learning, and take on leadership opportunities that nurture their voice and character.
In grade 4, students are introduced to the one-to-one iPad program.
As our students move through the British Columbia elementary school grades, social responsibility and global citizenship are taught, modeled, and practiced. These are integrated into the different subjects and students are given many opportunities to practice their skills. Healthy living and healthy choices are core to not only the physical education program but the school community itself.
