In the afternoons, we will be studying topics from the three sciences: physical, earth, and life sciences. Each topic is taught through hands-on activities and science experiments. These are a great opportunity for students to increase their vocabulary. We also integrate our science topics into other content areas such as reading and writing. The goal of science education is to promote science literacy and provide students opportunities to practice and form those habits of the mind associated with critical and creative thinking, problem solving, and informed decision making. The science core curriculum emphasizes: - providing opportunities for active, engaging, student-centered learning - exploring science concepts and processes through hands-on and minds-on activities - applying previously learned concepts - reflecting critically on the validity and accuracy of scientific evidence - presenting science concepts in engaging, relevant, and meaningful contexts - providing opportunities to use scientific process skills such as observing, classifying, measuring, collecting, and interpreting data, controlling variables, inferring, analyzing, and communicating - using a variety of instructional materials, including lab equipment, print and electronic material, multimedia, and internet resources - having equitable access and success for all children Our kit-based science curriculum promotes the goals of science literacy by providing the tools necessary for students to engage in an activity-based, intellectually challenging program. Students learn the processes and techniques of science by doing them. The adopted science kits offer a balanced science curriculum with meaningful integrations with math, literacy, and technology. Units of study include: Physical - Wood and Paper - Properties of materials can be observed, measured, and predicted. Earth - Trees - Earth is composed of land, air, and water. Life - Animals - Different types of plants and animals inhabit the Earth. Health - HeartPower (American Heart Association) - Here's Looking at You 2000 (drug education and prevention) |
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| Science Cupertino Union School District Highlights of the Core Subjects (Revised August 2005) |