The members of the Junior class explore the concept of change and continuity through the study of the Earth's geologic history, its weather systems, and the development of the measurement of time. Students learn about the minerals, rocks, and soil that make up the Earth and apply that understanding to a study of how the face of the Earth has changed over time. This later study focuses primarily on the geologic forces at work on the topography of the Pacific Northwest, Tualatin, and the Arbor campus. Students also investigate what makes the weather, what causes the atmospheric changes that we experience, and how we can learn to predict those changes. As with the study of the Earth's composition, the weather unit has a regional and local focus. Finally, students explore the concept of time by learning about and constructing clocks and calendars.

Topics:
Geologic History, the Rock Cycle, Earth Science
Weather: Clouds, the Water Cycle, Wind, Temperature, Storms
Time: Clocks and Calendars

The children's sense of place, time, and the development of community flows through cultural and geographic channels as the Juniors study North America, with a particular focus on the Northwest. This study begins with a look at the emergence of the continent that is now North America and at the ancient animals which inhabited it. Students learn about the first Americans' migration to people a continent and the development of distinct Native American cultures. The children then study the arrival of Europeans, westward expansion, and the settlement of the Northwest. Students delve into the history of Portland and explore concepts of engineering through a close look at the city's bridges.

Topics:
North American Physical Geography & Paleontology
First Americans, First Oregonians, Migration
Colonization, Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail
Early settlement of Portland
Portland bridges