Curriculum / Quality Curriculum

Quality Curriculum

Curriculum in grades 1-6 includes a core science unit in the areas of physical, earth and life sciences at each grade level. Currently, kindergarten has three physical science units (see chart below).

GRADE	LIFE SCIENCE	EARTH SCIENCE	PHYSICAL SCIENCE
K	Ladybugs	-	Wood/Paper Fabric
1	Organisms	Weather	Solids and Liquids
2	Life Cycle of Butterflies	Soils	Balancing and Weighing
3	Plant Growth and Development	Rocks and Minerals	Sound
4	Animals Studies	Land and Water	Electric Circuits
5	Food Chemistry (health)	--	Motion and Design Mixtures and Solutions
6	Experiments with Plants	Landforms	Measuring Time
Characteristics of a Good Hands-on Science Curriculum: Developmentally appropriate for children Explores important science topics in depth Centered around hands-on investigations of scientific phenomena Stimulates student inquiry Teaches science process skills in the context of investigations Teaches students to work together in teams Are appropriate for diverse student populations Captures teachers’ imaginations Manageable in classrooms Makes use of materials that are inexpensive and widely available Facilitates integration, especially in mathematics and language arts Includes methods for assessing student learning