---
title: "Guest Blogger Elisabeth Lepert: Middle Schoolers Engage with the Scientific Process"
description: "Guest Blogger Elisabeth Lepert: Middle Schoolers Engage with the Scientific Process"
image: https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Play.jpg
---

[![Silicon Valley International School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Logos/INTL_Logo_RGB_2024.png)](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/)

![](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/search.png) [![](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/hamb.png)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/blog/2014/06/25/guest-blogger-elisabeth-lepert-middle-schoolers-engage-scientific-process#sidr-main)

- [admissionstour and variable tuition](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/admissions)
- [early yearspreschool and pre k](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/early-years)
- [elementary school kindergarten–5th grade](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/elementary)
- [middle school 6–8th grade](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/middle-school)
- [high school9–12th grade](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/page/education/high-school)

**Locations**  
[Palo Alto and Menlo Park, CA](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org/about/contact-us)

**Email**  
[admissions@svintl.org](mailto:%20admissions@svintl.org)

**Social**

- [![facebook](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417421_134652.png)](http://www.facebook.com/svintlschool)
- [![Instagram](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417426_134654.png)](http://www.instagram.com/svintlschool)
- [![Twitter](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417432_134655.png)](http://www.twitter.com/svintlschool)
- [![LinkedIn](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417433_134656.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/svintlschool)
- [![YouTube](https://dto-sf-media.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/403/link/large_link2417434_134657.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/istpnet)

[All](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog) Bilingual Education Early Years Program Elementary School [Middle School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/middle-school) [High School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/high-school) Design Thinking

![german_french_chinese_INTL](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design-1.png "german_french_chinese_INTL")

##### [merger](https://blog.istp.org/topic/merger)   [international baccalaureate](https://blog.istp.org/topic/international-baccalaureate)

# [Together: INTL and Alto Announce Merger](https://blog.istp.org/together-silicon-valley-international-school-alto-announce-full-merger)

###### AUG 17, 2020

The Board of Directors for Silicon Valley International School (INTL) of Palo Alto, CA and the Board of Trustees of Alto International School (Alto) of Menlo Park, CA are excited to announce a full merger of our two schools, to be known as [**Silicon Valley International School.**](https://www.istp.org/about/istp-changes-its-name)

[Middle School](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/middle-school)

# Guest Blogger Elisabeth Lepert: Middle Schoolers Engage with the Scientific Process

Jun 25, 2014

In my years as the French [Middle School](https://www.istp.org/page/Learn/French-English-N-8/Cycle-4-International-Middle-School-Grades-6-8)science teacher, I have seen that students learn best when they are given the freedom to find answers to complex problems on their own. It is also important for students to learn to present their conclusions clearly to their peers. To accomplish these tasks, they need to ask themselves the right questions and to follow the scientific process.

To help my students better understand the scientific process, I created a special in-class, interactive activity. To begin, I hand out a set of documents. In these documents (which include graphs, scientific articles, and photos of experiments), students can find all the information they need to answer a complex scientific question. Once they study the documents in their groups and find a solution, they build a short but effective oral presentation for the class, using PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Presentation. They present the different steps that led them to find their answers, as well as their conclusion. While they present, others in the class listen actively, and make a list of positive comments as well as advice for each presenter. These comments help everyone learn what it takes to be a good presenter and improve their presentation skills.

To see this interactive activity in more detail, please watch this movie.

[![Play](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Play.jpg?width=471&height=263&name=Play.jpg)](http://www.istp.org/page/Home?#video/324265)

\*In 2020, the International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) formally changed its name to Silicon Valley International School (INTL) to better reflect its bilingual programs, location, and international values.

- Recent
- Popular
- Categories

### Lists by Topic

- [Middle School (79)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/middle-school)
- [Community (66)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/community)
- [Social Emotional Learning (37)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/social-emotional-learning)
- [Culture (28)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/culture)
- [High School (19)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/high-school)
- [Inquiry Learning (12)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/old-blog/topic/inquiry-learning)

![INTL](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/crop%20INTL.jpg?width=1120&height=331&name=crop%20INTL.jpg "INTL")

### Fostering bilingual leaders with boundless futures. Learn more about our school.

#### An International Baccalaureate education from preschool to high school.

[![contact us](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/2564279/3c112494-75f6-4e4f-95f3-be54b76926b2.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/2564279/3c112494-75f6-4e4f-95f3-be54b76926b2)

![svINTL-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/INTL_Logo_RGB_2024.png?upscale=true&width=300&name=INTL_Logo_RGB_2024.png)

Silicon Valley International School.  
151 Laura Lane Palo Alto CA 94303 United States  
[admissions@svintl.org](mailto:admissions@svintl.org)  
[https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org](https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org)

[![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/facebook.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/SVINTLSchool/)  [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/instagram.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/SVINTLschool/)  [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/linkedin-in.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=linkedin-in.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/?about=&gid=3678595)  [![istp-email-logo](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sv_pdd_email/youtube.png?upscale=true&width=24&name=youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCumv__A7wzB86YH0q8u7A)

 © 2026 All rights reserved.