Science
is for all students. All
students must have the
opportunity to attain high
levels of scientific
literacy. Scientific
literacy means being able to
use scientific knowledge and
ways of thinking in daily
life. Scientific literacy
ensures the ability of our
students to participate
fully as informed citizens
and decision-makers in a
scientific and technological
world.
Learning science is an
active process. Students
learn science by describing
objects and events, and
asking questions. Students
learn science by acquiring
knowledge, and constructing
explanations of natural
phenomena. Students learn
science by testing those
explanations many different
ways, and communicating
their ideas to others. In
this way, students actively
develop understanding of
science by combining
scientific knowledge with
reasoning and thinking
skills. Students will
recognize that science is
more than a body of
knowledge. It is also a way
of investigating. Students
have the opportunity to
examine the impact science
has had and will continue to
have on society.
The science program reflects
the changing emphasis of
science education.
-
There is more emphasis
on activities that
analyze and investigate
science questions, and
less emphasis on
activities that
demonstrate and verify
science content
-
There is more emphasis
on investigations over
extended periods of time
and less emphasis on
investigations confined
to one class period
-
There is more emphasis
on groups of students
analyzing and
synthesizing data after
defending conclusions
and less emphasis on
individuals and groups
of students analyzing
and synthesizing data
without defending a
conclusion
-
There is more emphasis
on collegial and
collaborative learning
and less emphasis on
individuals learning in
isolation
From www.aacps.org |
Arundel Middle School