Kindergarten

Amazing Mammals by Animal Embassy - Program director Chris Evers (repeat visitor to Riverside School for over 15 years) did an incredible job fostering our students' appreciation and respect for the natural world, as well as the incredible diversity of life on Earth. Our students learned that, much like us, our furry friends take care of their offspring to impart the essential knowledge they need to succeed.

1st Grade

Surf The Waves by High Touch High Tech - Students explored the invisible world of sound and vibrations by using tuning forks to create physical waves and tackled a "magic" engineering challenge: using sound vibrations to physically move a ping-pong ball. Students applied their new knowledge to create custom musical instruments.

Animal Adaptations by Animal Embassy - Students learned how animals survive in their natural habitats and discovered how they have adapted to unending environmental challenges in their own unique ways with special physical and behavioral attributes.

Zoom to the Moon by Starlab Planetarium - A pop up planetarium visited Riverside school so our 1st Grade students could "zoom to the moon" without needing to leave school! Students explored the solar system and focused on the moon, stars and sun. Thanks to an integration with Live Sky and Google Earth our 1st graders were able to see celestial objects in our sky in real-time.

2nd Grade

Sustainable Sounds by Bash the Trash – "Sustainable Sounds" from Bash the Trash, combined a performance with hands-on instrument building. The opening full-grade assembly was a fast and funny show that introduced students to the concepts of science, sound, and sustainability. After the assembly, the students had classroom workshops where they made musical instruments. Forging STEM to STEAM connections, students used engineering skills and scientific methodology to create, explore, and categorize their musical inventions, culminating in a musical exercise. 

Dirtmeister: Mirrors and Light – Our students attended hands-on workshops where they conducted mirror and light experiments, exploring the science behind the reflection and refraction of light. Their scientific discussion centered around how mirrors work, and how many different things such as windows, aluminum foil, etc. can all work to show your reflection.

Shifting Sediments by CT Science Center - The CT Science Center drove down from Hartford to facilitate students working in small groups to perform hands-on experiments with a model house on the shoreline so they could explore the impacts of wind and water on erosion. They simulated how the movement of matter due to erosion takes place, demonstrating how pieces of the ground move to different locations, either gradually or over thousands of years.

3rd Grade

Forces and Motion by MotionEd - This interactive assembly was designed to introduce students to the principles of physics and their application to everyday life. Through thrilling demonstrations, students learn about gravity, Newton's three laws of motion, inertia, and forces such as centripetal force and gyroscopic stability. The program features hands-on experiments, audience participation, and real-life examples to make physics exciting and accessible.

Bird Beak Variations by Eli Whitney - Ever wonder why different birds look the way they do? Why are some birds' beaks pointy, curved, long, or short? In this program, combining engineering concepts with biology, students built an 'arm' with the beak of a bird at the end, activated it, and discovered why it's shaped the way it is, learning that adaptation happens with the need for survival.

4th Grade

Pinball Forces and Motion by Eli Whitney - The program is an interactive experience designed to teach students about physics concepts like gravity, inertia, and Newton's laws of motion through the fun and engaging context of a pinball machine. Students explored how forces affect motion by experimenting with angles, speed, and energy, giving them a hands-on understanding of fundamental physics principles. This program makes learning about forces exciting and accessible, blending science with play to enhance student engagement and curiosity.

Electricity Show by Dirtmeister - Our students explored the physics of electricity and learned about current vs. static electricity, how batteries and generators work, and the role of insulators and conductors. The program highlighted discoveries by scientists like Volta, Faraday, Edison, and Tesla, ending with a look at past and future "green" energy sources.

Watersheds by the Town of Greenwich - Students explored ways to protect water resources, modeled pollution in a mini basin, and tested methods for water purification. We are grateful to the Environmental Commission for teaching our students about Greenwich as a watershed.

STEM Fair

Riverside’s annual STEM Fair (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) will take place in April 2027. The STEM Fair offers students an opportunity to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges! Read more here.