Discover. Create. Explore.
Our STEAM Curriculum: Kindergarten through 5th Grade
Our school brings learning to life through STEAM — an integrated approach that connects Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in every classroom. Our program is designed specifically for our unique environment here in Costa Rica, taking advantage of the extraordinary natural world around us and the rich culture we share.
Rather than teaching subjects in isolation, our students learn by doing — solving real problems, building with their hands, creating art, coding, and exploring the biodiversity in our own backyard. With resources including LEGO building sets, robotics kits, computers, and internet access, along with the incredible living laboratory of Costa Rica itself, your child will develop the curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills they need for the future.
Grade-by-Grade STEAM Journey
Every grade level features hands-on projects, collaborative teamwork, and connections to the world around us.
Kindergarten — “Little Explorers”
Ages 5–6
In Kindergarten, STEAM learning is all about wonder. Your child explores the world through play, observation, and hands-on discovery. Every activity is designed to spark curiosity and build confidence as a learner.
Science
Observing insects, plants, and animals on our school grounds. Exploring the five senses through nature walks. Simple experiments like mixing colors, floating and sinking, and watching seeds sprout.
Technology
Introduction to tablets through guided activities. Learning to take photos of their discoveries. First exposure to simple educational apps and digital storytelling.
Engineering
Building challenges using LEGO bricks, blocks, and natural materials like sticks and leaves. Constructing simple bridges, towers, and animal homes. Learning the basics: “What can I build? How can I make it stronger?”
Arts
Drawing and painting what they observe in nature. Singing songs about animals and weather. Creating collages with leaves, seeds, and recycled materials. Storytelling and dramatic play.
Mathematics
Counting and sorting natural objects such as shells, seeds, stones. Measuring plants as they grow. Recognizing shapes and patterns in the environment. Simple graphing of weather and observations.
1st Grade — “Creative Builders”
Ages 6–7
First graders build on their natural curiosity with more structured exploration. They begin to ask “why” and “how” questions and learn to test their ideas through simple investigations and building projects.
Science
Investigating weather patterns and seasons in Costa Rica. Exploring animal life cycles like butterflies, frogs. Simple experiments with magnets, light, and sound.
Technology
Using tablets to record observations with photos and voice notes. Introduction to Bee-Bot or similar simple robotics for learning directional commands and sequencing.
Engineering
Guided LEGO building challenges with specific goals — build a bridge, a boat that floats, or a tower that stands in wind. Learning the design cycle: plan, build, test, improve.
Arts
Creating nature journals with detailed drawings and labels. Learning color mixing through painting. Acting out stories about Costa Rican wildlife.
Mathematics
Measuring with non-standard and standard units. Creating simple bar graphs from class data. Exploring symmetry through art and nature. Basic addition and subtraction through hands-on problem solving.
2nd Grade — “Young Investigators”
Ages 7–8
Second graders become more independent thinkers and investigators. They collect real data, work in teams, and begin to understand how science, math, and creativity work together to solve problems.
Science
Studying Costa Rica’s ecosystems — rainforest, cloud forest, coastal. Investigating properties of materials and what dissolves, what is waterproof. Growing plants and tracking changes over time.
Technology
Introduction to basic coding concepts through Scratch Jr. Using the iNaturalist app to identify and catalogue local species. Taking digital photos for class projects and presentations.
Engineering
Building more complex LEGO structures with constraints. Designing solutions to classroom problems — a better way to organize supplies, a tool to reach something high. Introduction to simple machines through hands-on exploration.
Arts
Creating detailed observational drawings of plants and animals. Designing posters and infographics to share learning. Exploring patterns inspired by indigenous Chorotega pottery designs. Writing and illustrating original stories.
Mathematics
Collecting and graphing real data: rainfall, temperature, plant growth. Measuring in centimeters and meters. Introduction to multiplication through arrays and grouping. Exploring geometric shapes in nature and architecture.
3rd Grade — “Problem Solvers”
Ages 8–9
Third grade marks a shift toward deeper project-based learning. Students tackle multi-week challenges, collaborate in teams, and begin connecting their work to real issues in their community and country.
Science
Exploring forces and motion through experiments. Studying Costa Rica’s volcanoes and geology. Investigating the life cycle of local plants and their role in ecosystems. Introduction to food chains and energy flow.
Technology
Learning to code with Scratch — creating simple animations and interactive stories. Using computers for basic research and presentations. Introduction to robotics with guided building and programming activities.
Engineering
Multi-step design challenges: build a bridge that holds weight, design a container that protects an egg from a drop. LEGO engineering projects with specific performance criteria. Learning to iterate — testing, failing, and improving designs.
Arts
Designing scientific diagrams and labeled illustrations. Creating stop-motion animations about science concepts. Exploring Costa Rican oxcart painting traditions. Collaborative mural projects.
Mathematics
Working with data: surveys, tables, and bar graphs. Applying multiplication and division to real-world problems. Calculating perimeter and area in engineering projects. Introduction to fractions through cooking, measuring, and sharing.
4th Grade — “Innovators”
Ages 9–10
Fourth graders take on more independence and responsibility in their STEAM projects. They manage longer investigations, work with real data, use technology as a tool for creation, and begin to see themselves as capable problem-solvers and innovators.
Science
In-depth study of Costa Rica’s biodiversity and conservation efforts. Investigating renewable energy: solar, hydroelectric, wind. Conducting fair-test experiments with multiple variables.
Technology
Intermediate Scratch programming — creating games and simulations. Introduction to robotics programming. Using spreadsheets to organize and analyze data. Digital presentations and basic video creation.
Engineering
Designing and building working models: a solar oven from recycled materials, a simple water filter, a wind-powered vehicle. Robotics challenges with increasing complexity. Learning to work within constraints: time, materials, budget.
Arts
Architectural drawing and scale modeling. Documentary-style photography of local environments. Designing logos and branding for class projects. Integrating visual storytelling with scientific communication.
Mathematics
Working with decimals and fractions in real contexts: measurement, budgeting. Analyzing data sets with mean, median, and range. Scale and ratio in mapping and model building. Multi-step problem solving connected to engineering projects.
5th Grade — “Changemakers”
Ages 10–11
Fifth grade is the capstone of our STEAM program. Students lead complex, multi-week projects that address real community and environmental challenges. They combine everything they’ve learned — scientific inquiry, coding, engineering design, artistic expression, and mathematical reasoning — to create meaningful work with purpose and impact.
Science
Independent and group research projects on real environmental issues: deforestation, wildlife corridors, marine conservation. Designing and conducting original experiments. Analyzing results and drawing evidence-based conclusions.
Technology
Advanced Scratch or introduction to Python for coding projects. Robotics design and competition-style challenges. Using Google Earth and mapping tools for environmental research. Creating websites, videos, or digital portfolios.
Engineering
Capstone design projects: design a sustainable feature for the school or community, a rainwater collection system, school garden irrigation plan, a model eco-friendly building. Full design cycle with documentation, prototyping, testing, and revision.
Arts
Creating professional-quality presentations and visual displays. Documentary filmmaking about community or environmental topics. Designing and illustrating original books or guides. Public art proposals connected to school or community spaces.
Mathematics
Budgeting and financial planning for projects. Working with percentages, ratios, and proportional reasoning. Graphing and interpreting complex data. Geometry and measurement applied to architectural and engineering design.