Next Generation Science Standards

Our team showing chemical reaction results
Ingredients used in experament


Graphic organizer to analyze data (place post its to show what happened)
As part of our preparation for teaching science, we took a field trip to the Lawrence Hall of Science. We are discussing seeing science as a verb, instead of as endless facts to memorize. We investigated different types of sand, chemical reactions, and the varieties of bees that live in Costa Rica.
 This picture is after a presentation we did where we got to design our ideal school science plan. We dreamed of a school where every classroom had earthworms as pets, worked in a garden, and composted. This science plan focused on student-centered learning, where inquiry was rewarded and fostered in a community of learners. Students had buddies that would carry out scientific investigations and update a newsletter monthly about what they had discovered. What I love about the Next Generation Science Standards is that this student- driven investigation and interrogation of the world is supported and nurtured. I'm looking forward to using some of the curricula that the Lawrence Hall of Sciences has developed. They are really innovative and clearly explain how scientists use observations about the world around to understand what's going on.

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