Silverwood teachers believe that learning through experience is a crucial part of a balanced curriculum. “Experiencing the subject” covers a wide range of activities. Our primary program includes gardening, hands-on math, cooking projects, Spanish lunch parties, outdoor science, young author presentations, ceramics, chorus, drama, and physical education. Primary classes regularly attend plays locally and in Seattle .

Experiential learning in our intermediate and senior classes may take the form of dramatic re-enactments in history, students reading their own poems in a performance “coffee house” or mapping the school property for math. Science has a major theme each year resulting in trips and projects such as the 6” reflecting telescope designed and built by students for an astronomy unit. Students also travel to local and regional theater productions and art and history museums. Two particular highlights of the intermediate years are the Olympic Park Institute (O.P.I.) trip each March and the culminating sixth grade trip each June.

Fifth and sixth grade travel to Lake Crescent on the Olympic Peninsula each spring for an intensive five-day investigation of our Northwest ecosystem. The curriculum includes botany, zoology, and geology as well as the culture of early Northwest peoples. Silverwood teachers and parents join in the learning while O.P.I. staff does the teaching. The third and fourth grade students spend a four-day simular experience on Bainbridge Island at Islandwood.

Each spring our sixth grade undertakes a major travel experience as a culmination of a curricular theme in either history or science. This week-long excursion focuses on the chosen topic but will also include significant leadership and growth opportunities along with a bunch of fun. Students, parents and teachers all look forward to this intense learning and growing experience.

Silverwood strives to include regular field trips in tuition so that parents are not continually billed for new program elements. The Islandwood trip, the OPI trip and sixth grade trip are the exceptions. Given the worthwhile, but significant, cost of past sixth grade trips, the Board of Trustees voted in January, 2002, to build in funds for the cost of this trip. The cost of this trip is now supported by $150 / student for each year of attendance at Silverwood. The total cost per student could vary from several hundred to a thousand dollars, depending on the destination and specific program. The Islandwood and OPI trips will be billed separately to families for the foreseeable future. Your family might choose to set aside a small amount each month in anticipation of these costs. Some need-based assistance is available for these two trips. All other curricular trips will be covered by tuition.

Sixth Grade Trips Since 1989

2007 – Colorado Geology Adventure –This six-day trip included four days of canoeing, camping, hiking and geological exploration on the Gunnison River, a visit to Fort Umcompahgre History Museum in Delta, and an exploration of the Fairy caves and Glenwood Caverns in Glenwood Springs.

2006– Florida - Splash Into Science - This five-day trip included a marine biology study and lab work with both fresh water and ocean environments, a natural swim with dolphins, a visit to a Turtle Hospital, and Everglades tour and night walk, and two snorkeling explorations.

2005 – Grand Canyon – This six-day trip will include a hike into the Havasupai reservation with a two-night campout, an evening of star-gazing at the Lowell Observatory, visits to several Anazazi ruins and a half-day raft trip (float) on the Colorado River.

2004 – Colorado – Crow Canyon Archeological Center – Anasazi cliff dwellings and hands-on experience in the field with archeologists. Because of their two-year experience with paleo-archeology at Silverwood, our sixth graders spent two days participating in their current “dig.” This is a first since elementary students have previously been limited to a simulated site.

2003 – Spokane/Inland Empire – Traveled 1,400 miles by bus through Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Students dug for fossils, traveled down a mine, visited historical sites, stayed in teepees, jet boated and floated down the Snake River, biked down a mountaintop, and learned about the journey of Lewis and Clark.

2002 – Florida – NASA & Disney World – Students visited NASA just prior to a shuttle launch and studied the physics of amusement rides with the “backstage” tour of Disney World.

2001 – Hawaii – University of Hawaii at Hilo – Volcanology, marine science, Hawaiian history and culture. We were fortunate to have the renowned volcanologist Janet Babb as our guide and teacher as we traveled the volcanoes. Measuring hot gases, hiking over the lava filled craters, and transversing lava tubes filled the students minds with memorable lessons of geology.

2000 – Colorado – Crow Canyon Archeological Center – Anasazi cliff dwellings and hands-on experience in the field with archologists.

1999 – Arizona – University of Arizona Astronomy Camp – Exploration of our universe.

1998 – Southeast Alaska – Hiking, kayaking, searching for gold and exploring Native American history.

1997 – Hawaii – University of Hawaii at Hilo – Volcanology, marine science, Hawaiian history and culture.

1996 – Florida – NASA, Epcott Center, Universal Studios, Sea World, St. John’s River and Wetlands – Space program, world history, science, hydraulics, marine science, wetland preservation and alligator experiences during an air-boat ride.

1995 – Arizona – University of Arizona Astronomy Camp – Exploration of our universe.

1994 – Oregon – Ashland Shakespeare Festival – Improvisational, make-up and production workshops with college students and festival participants.

1993 – Washington, DC – Williamsburg, Jamestown and the Smithsonian Museums – United States history.

1992 – Arizona – University of Arizona Astronomy Camp – Silverwood School was the first elementary school to participate in this typically high school or college experience. University staff members are very impressed with our students’ enthusiasm and knowledge!

1991 – Colorado – Crow Canyon Archeological Center – Anasazi cliff dwellings and hand-on experience in the field with archeologists.

1990 – Florida – NASA, Epcott Center, Disney World – A smaller scale version of the 1996 excursion.

1989 – Van tour of Washington State – Washington state history and geography.