Science
Overview
It is the mission of science education in the Iowa City Community School District to develop scientifically literate students who will understand how science and technology affect society. Students will be equipped to approach societal problems with confidence and creativity using their understandings of science concepts and scientific inquiry.
The ICCSD science program promotes the participation of all students in challenging opportunities to learn science. Science education contributes to the broader goals of education by providing students with a scientific understanding of the natural world through knowledge of the basic concepts of science, scientific modes of inquiry, the nature of the scientific endeavor, and the historical, social, and intellectual contexts within which science is practiced. The ability to apply such scientific knowledge to aspects of one’s life is called "scientific literacy."
The K-6 science program is process oriented. Students are offered a hands-on approach to science. Problem solving is an integral part of the science experience for students in the ICCSD. A number of district units are assigned to each grade level. These units serve as the core of each year’s science program at the elementary level. A resource guide containing supplemental activities and designated supplemental text book chapters is available to science teachers. Mathematics is recognized as an important tool in science investigations and is integrated as appropriate. Many of the science units are taught thematically and integrated with other subject areas. This is particularly common at the primary level.
The junior high program uses personal and societal issues to engage students. The curriculum does not advocate a particular position on issues, but encourages students to support their views with relevant evidence. Students are provided with some evidence about the issue at hand, but they often realize that they may have more questions than answers. Their new questions are addressed in a series of science activities that introduce and teach relevant science concepts. Eventually, the students apply their new knowledge to re-considering the issue.
The high school programs are designed to offer students a variety of choices in the sciences. Foundations of Science III, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are foundation courses designed to give students a basic background in the major fields of science. The range of courses available to students prepares them to address the complex societal issues of their future. Three years of high school science are required for graduation.
Reports
- Informational links forthcoming.
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