Children have substantial knowledge of the natural world before entering school. What children are capable of depends on prior education, not just age and grade. Students' knowledge and experience influence science understanding.

• Students learn science by actively engaging in science practices.
• A range of approaches is needed in order for students to be proficient in science.
• Doing science entails much more than reciting facts or being able to design experiments.
• To develop a strong understanding of science, students in elementary and middle school should be encouraged to master a relatively small number of crucial concepts, and gradually expand their knowledge of those topics.
• Too often, students are presented with a long list of disconnected facts and ideas, leaving them with no sense of what is most important and a poor understanding of the overall rules of science.

The next generation of science standards and curricula at the national and state levels should be centered on a few core ideas and should expand on them each year, at increasing levels of complexity, across grades K–12.

• Develop the ability to know, use, and interpret scientific explanation of the natural world.
• Generate and evaluate scientific evidence.
• Understand the development of scientific knowledge.
• Learn to participate productively in scientific practices and discussions.

Bay City Public Schools Science Center4721 S. Three Mile Rd. Bay City, MI 48706

Contact:

Ted Davenport Phone: 989-686-1048 ext:2962 Fax: (989) 684-6795

Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:00 - 3:30 Friday 6:30 - 3:00

• Kindergarten
• First Grade
• Second Grade
• Third Grade
• Fourth Grade
• Fifth Grade

Download science journals for the appropriate grade below.