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Science Curriculum
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The overarching goal of MCPS K-12 science education is “to ensure that by the end of 12th grade, all students have some appreciation for the beauty and wonder of science; possess sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage in public discussions on related issues; are careful consumers of scientific and technological information related to their everyday lives; are able to continue to learn about science outside school; and have the skills to enter careers of their choice, including (but not limited to) careers in science, engineering, and technology.” (From NGSS Framework for K-12 Science Educations, Chapter 1, pg. 2.)
To that end, MCPS is aligning its science curriculum with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). “The NGSS – developed by educators, scientists and experts in science education – will, by design, engage students at the earliest grades through graduation so that all students become informed citizens who are knowledgeable about how science and technology affect everyday life.“ (From ACHIEVE implementation manual, pg. 84.)
Through a collaborative process, the K-8 Science Adoption team constructed a vision statement to guide science teaching and learning. "At MCPS, we believe through inquiry-based science students will see themselves as scientists who innovate, solve problems creatively and critically, collaborate and communicate effectively."
Professional Reading
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"In the best science classrooms, teachers see learning through the eyes of their students, and students view themselves as explorers. But with so many instructional approaches to choose from - inquiry, laboratory, project-based learning, discovery learning - which is most effective for student success? In Visible Learning for Science, the authors reveal that it's not which strategy, but when, and they plot the vital K-12 framework for choosing the right approach at the right time, depending on where students are within the three phases of learning: surface, deep, and transfer." (Corwin, 2018)
Curriculum
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K-5 Curriculum
6-8 Curriculum
9-12 Curriculum