Student Learning
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Overview
The purpose of science education is to produce individuals capable of understanding and evaluating information that is scientific in nature and of making decisions that incorporate that information. Science offers students the ability to access a wealth of knowledge and information which will contribute to an overall understanding of how and why things work the way they do.
AHSD25 provides students with science instruction beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through their 8th grade year. Elementary students experience science through Activate Learning PRIME. Throughout a year of study, K-5 students will cover three units: a life science, an earth science, and a physical science unit. Middle school students cover four different branches of science in a year: physical science, chemistry, life science, and earth science through the STCMS curriculum.
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Standards
In February 2014, Illinois adopted Illinois Learning Standards for Science (ILS-Science), which and are based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). To see the complete scope and sequence for NGSS, please feel free to visit the NGSS website.
The ILS-Science are designed to help students acquire a deep understanding of core science and engineering content and ideas as well as experience applying that knowledge in any context. Students will demonstrate their scientific proficiency by engaging in practices that demonstrate the ability to apply scientific concepts.
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Contact
Sean McGann
Curriculum Coordinator
Math, Science, CTEResouces
Next Generation Science Standards
Activate Learning PRIME & NGSS
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Instruction
GRADES 1-5
All grade 1 through grade 5 students experience science through the Activate Learning PRIME curriculum. The core philosophy behind Activate Learning PRIME is inquiry-based, student-centered learning, as students learn best while doing science rather than merely reading about science.
The student becomes a problem solver, builds the capacity to make observations, develops explanatory models based on their data, seeks and considers concepts and ideas related to those models, and sees new applications for them. In essence, the student becomes a junior scientist. (Chicago Educational Publishing Company, 2013).
Elementary Science Subjects by Trimester:
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1st Grade
In 1st Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Activate Learning PRIME curriculum:
Trimester 1: Watching the Night Sky
Trimester 2: Light & Sound
Trimester 3: Examining Living Things
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2nd Grade
In 2nd Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Activate Learning PRIME curriculum:
Trimester 1: Diversity in Habitats
Trimester 2: Solids, Liquids, & Gases
Trimester 3: Land, Wind, & Water
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3rd Grade
In 3rd Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Activate Learning PRIME curriculum:
Trimester 1: Weather & Climate
Trimester 2: Forces in Action
Trimester 3: Inheritance & Variation
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4th Grade
In 4th Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Activate Learning PRIME curriculum:
Trimester 1: Our Geosphere
Trimester 2: Energy Transfer
Trimester 3: Waves
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5th Grade
In 1st Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Activate Learning PRIME curriculum:
Trimester 1: Earth in Space
Trimester 2: Investigating Matter
Trimester 3: Ecosystems
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The “I Wonder” Circle® is at the heart of Activate Learning PRIME’s approach to inquiry-based science learning, providing an enticing visual of the process of doing science.
I Wonder: notice, ask questions, state problems
I Think: consider, gather information, predict
I Try: experiment, model, test ideas, repeat
I Observe: watch, examine, measure
I Record: record data, organize, describe, classify, graph, draw
I Discover: look for patterns, interpret, reflect, conclude, communicate discoveries
GRADES 6-8
Middle School: All middle school students experience science through STCMS™. Science and Technology Concepts Middle School (STCMS) will engage students in authentic science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences through hands-on learning, science notebooking, and a deep dive into content.
STCMS™ begins with students exploring phenomena, moves them towards planning investigations and designing solutions to real world issues. This curriculum will engage students in authentic science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences through hands-on learning, science notebooking and a deep dive into content. As students explore the various aspects of science, STCMS will prepare them to be the next generation of scientifically literate citizens (Carolina Biological, 2020).
Middle School Science Units by Grade:
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6th Grade
In 6th Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Science and Technology Concepts Middle School (STCMS) curriculum:
Unit 1: Ecosystems & Their Interactions
Unit 2: Matter & Its Interactions
Unit 3: Space Systems Exploration
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7th Grade
In 7th Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Science and Technology Concepts Middle School (STCMS) curriculum:
Unit 1: Energy, Forces, & Motion
Unit 2: Structure & Function
Unit 3: Weather & Climate Systems
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8th Grade
In 8th Grade, students will cover the following topics of the Science and Technology Concepts Middle School (STCMS) curriculum:
Unit 1: Electricity, Waves, and Information Transfer
Unit 2: Earth's Dynamic Systems
Unit 3: Genes & Molecular Machines