Science
Our science curriculum is aligned with the 2007 Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction. Science standards are defined for students in grade clusters 3-5 and 6-8. Students in grades 5 and 8 are tested for achievement of state science standards through completion of the MEA - Maine Educational Assessment.
Science Philosophy
The philosophy of the Science Department is to expose all students to the scientific method as a process. The scientific method gives students the ability to examine information and discriminate between what is fact and what is emotion or opinion. Using scientific knowledge, students will be able to model systems to understand relationships and further to see how changes in one system can lead to changes in another interconnected system. Using models will lead students to understandings in the life sciences involving natural and life processes and in physical sciences involving physical and chemical processes.Maine Learning Results Quick-Reference
All science curriculum guides contain references to MLR standards and performanace indicators. As an example, fourth grade science contains a unit in which students study adaptions of species. This unit references E2 from Maine's Learning Results. Below you will notice that standard E is "The Living Environment" and performance indicator 2 is "Ecosystems".A. Unifying Themes
1. Systems
2. Models
3. Constancy and Change
4. Scale
B. The Skills and Traits of Scientific Inquiry and Technological Design
1. Skills and Traits of Scientific Inquiry
2. Skills and Traits of Technological Design
C. The Scientific and Technological Enterprise
1. Understandings of Inquiry
2. Understandings about Science and Technology
3. Science, Technology, and Society
4. History and Nature of Science
D. The Physical Setting
1. Universe and Solar System
2. Earth
3. Matter and Energy
4. Force and Motion
E. The Living Environment
1. Biodiversity
2. Ecosystems
3. Cells
4. Heredity and Reproduction
5. Evolution