SCIENCE 21
Science 21, a science program designed for students in Kindergarten through Grade 6, emphasizes a hands-on approach to science while addressing NYS Standards in Science, Math, and Technology. St. Margaret School implemented this program in September 2009 to enhance science instruction in those grades. Each science teacher in grades K through 6 attended workshops at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES where they learned a variety of pedagogical techniques that would help them convey concepts in physical, earth, and life sciences to their students.
The main focus of the Kindergarten program is learning the difference between living and non-living things. Through their senses, the students explore different mixtures of common ingredients and learn about their properties. They also learn where plants come from and how a seed grows through reading books such as Seeds and The Tiny Seed.
Children in Grade One also use their senses to investigate attributes and properties of objects. They learn to sort objects using their properties, and, then, the first graders are instructed to draw Venn Diagrams when sorting and comparing themselves. Another unit in physical science introduces them to the properties of the three states of matter. In addition, they discover how temperature changes liquids to solids and solids to liquids.
The life science unit in Grade One provides the class with a collection of hermit crabs that live in a small environment set up by the teacher to meet the needs of the little creatures. The children enjoy observing their classroom "pets" and making comparisons between themselves and these simpler living creatures.
Second graders also enjoy studying different units in science, with a focus on measurement. They learn how to properly utilize a variety of measuring tools such as thermometers, rulers, and balance scales. The program encourages the students to notice and measure changes in the physical world, such as temperature and sunrise/sunset times, throughout the year. During each season, one week is dedicated to observing these changes. The children measure these changes and compare them to the data that was recorded in the previous season, during the last week of school. Then, they are encouraged to draw conclusions based on this data, tying their observations to explanations of natural phenomena such as the rotation and tilt of the Earth.
The third graders enjoy the Science 21 program's approach to the study of electricity. The students use batteries and light bulbs to create different circuits. This helps them understand open and closed circuits and parallel and series circuits.
Another important topic in Grade Three is plants. The students are able to observe a seed inside a plastic container. They document the growth of the seed in their journals making observations about the roots, leaves, stems, and flowers.
In addition to watching a plant grow from seed, the third graders observe the life cycle of a butterfly. They thoroughly enjoy the process of seeing a caterpillar eat, change into pupa and finally evolve into an adult butterfly. Finally, at the end of the unit, the lovely butterflies are released to the heavens by the teacher and students.
The science curriculum in Grade Four prepares the students, well, for the Fourth Grade NYS Science Test. The hands-on approach used for teaching about the food chain, simple and complex machines, the process of digestion, nutrition, and earth science topics including volcanoes, earthquakes, fossils, and erosion, helps the students comprehend the concepts and retain vital information.
Just as in the lower grades, the fifth graders are introduced to the scientific method and spend a good deal of time on the ingredients of a good experiment at the beginning of the school year. They learn about variables, constructing hypothetical experiments, the use of word problems, and mastering the writing of conclusions. Lab reports are written.
Students in the fifth grade also study interactions in the natural world and the micro-world. They make wet mount slides and observe human blood cells after learning how to use a microscope properly. In other activities they sketch and identify cells and learn the difference between plant and animal cells.
Fifth graders study space science, as well. They are taught about rotation, revolution, eclipses, and tides. Other astronomy topics covered in this class are inner planets, outer planets, asteroids, and galaxies.
The sixth grade curriculum is even more challenging with the inclusion of engineering design and energy and matter. Sixth graders are taught about different types of energy and how energy changes forms. A unit on electricity covers insulators, conductors, parallel and series circuits.
Students in Grade Six also learn about the restless earth and space science topics including tides, eclipses, time zones, and the inner and outer solar systems.
All of the Science 21 teachers at St. Margaret School agree that this program is beneficial to their students thanks to the student-centered activities and hands-on approach. According to one teacher, "Science 21 provides an age appropriate balance between process and content, and promotes the integration of Science activities with other subject areas, in particular English Language Arts and Mathematics. In addition, a strong literature component provides content-based readings to enhance and support concept development. "
Another teacher states, "Science 21 teaches our students the skills and knowledge to become independent and collaborative inquirers. The program fosters a learning environment where students become problem solvers and self-directed learners. "
Finally, a third teacher wrote, "I have found that using Science 21 enhanced the learning process with the students. Hands-on settings are a more influential way for the students to learn and remember the concepts that we are studying. Visually, students retain more and doing retains the most information."
To learn more about this dynamic program, go to http://www.pnwboces.org/Science21
