Kindergarten - 5th Grade Elementary School Program

Our mission at Mousam River STEM Academy is to inspire a love of  science, engineering, technology, and mathematics in all of our students.  

With a science & engineering lab in every classroom and dedicated outdoor learning time every day, your child will love coming to school! 

Our hands-on "discovery-based" program is designed to excite and challenge the minds of every student.   Students at Mousam River STEM Academy interact with, discuss, and truly engage with lessons. We aim to bring the spirit of world class children's science museums into our classrooms!

  Students of all ages benefit from frequent "Expeditions" to local STEM companies, science & history museums, and local nature preserves.  We plan to take at least 14 field trips per year!

Students will also benefit from in-house field trips/hands-on outreach programs from organizations like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pratt & Whitney!

The picture shown here is of one of our students aboard the USS Albacore!

  Outdoor learning opportunities abound with direct access to the Mousam River and Old Falls Pond right out our school's back door! Students will have learning opportunities that soar beyond the typical school experience.

 Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, American history, Maine history, geography, civil government, including the privilege and responsibility of citizenship, health education and fine arts will also be woven into our dynamic STEM-themed curriculum throughout the year.

 In a multiage classroom, every child moves forward and is not limited by a grade-level curriculum.   At Mousam River STEM Academy,  we “follow the child” as they progress at different rates in varying areas.  This benefits your child because they will be continuously challenged, no matter their age! 

In our experience, mixed-age classrooms offer 6 amazing benefits to children who are lucky enough to enjoy them.  

1. Improved Academic Outcomes- Younger children can be inspired by watching older, more advanced students and also receive lessons from them. Older children also benefit from  re-teaching because it reinforces the previously learned concept and  moves the child toward complete mastery. This is a  well-researched phenomenon officially known as the "protege effect." 
2. Boosts Social Skills-   Research shows that older children often develop a mentor role in mixed-age classrooms, helping everyone practice pro-social behaviors such as  sharing, helping, and more!  
3. Encourages Emotional Well-being- Children in the same age group tend to compare themselves to one another  a lot! With a mixed-age group, the focus is on discovery and the joy of  learning.
4. Builds Self-Confidence- In our mixed-age  classrooms, the younger children look up to the older ones as role  models and the older children look forward to the opportunity to be  mentors.
5. Provides Stability- Children remain with the  same teacher and group for multiple years,  allowing the children time to form solid relationships and a sense of community with both their peers and their teachers.
6. Offers a Real-World Experience- How often do  people divide by age group in the real world? Not too often! Mixed-age  classrooms better prepare children for the “real world,” in which they’ll interact with other people of a range of ages, experiences, and abilities.

As our oldest students age up, we will be expanding into a middle school and high school too!