Elementary Science K-2

SCIENCE

The goal of the district science program is to stimulate and challenge the students at an early age in order to enable them to achieve scientific literacy. All students engage in science experiences that promote the ability to ask, find or determine answers to questions derived from natural curiosity about everyday things and occurrences. Through problem solving, decision making, and critical thinking, students will gain the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes.

The program focuses on the four major strands of science: physical, life, earth, and health. These strands are vertically articulated throughout the grade levels. Further embedded in the program is the belief and practice that students must experience science and scientific processes, such as planning, predicting, observing, classifying, measuring, comparing, interpreting, analyzing, and communicating their ideas. This is done through adherence to the scientific method and the use of experiments. The premise being that science is experienced as an active process in which inquiry is central to learning. The program is enhanced by providing a strong contextual background to the experiments, including appropriate content delivered in a multimedia fashion through the use of textbooks, equipment kits, videos, CD ROMs, interactive websites, science center connection kits, transparencies and timelines.

In keeping with a focus on context, science is presented in connection with other subject disciplines and as an authentic part of our everyday lives and our real world. Students will be led to examine the world around them and to come to understand how science is an active part of that world, including the prevalence of scientific careers.

It is our belief that as students explore, discover, and come to understand science fully, it becomes for them a fun and engaging subject relevant to all areas of their lives.