Science

The overarching goal of the Science department is for all students to have sufficient knowledge of science and engineering by the time they graduate high school to engage in public discussions on science-related issues, be careful consumers of scientific and technical information, and enter the careers of their choice. The major goals of the Science curriculum are to:

• Implement a guaranteed and viable district science curriculum that is aligned with learning expectations set forth in the Connecticut Core Science Curriculum Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards that helps children continually build on and revise their knowledge and abilities, starting from their curiosity about what they see around them and their initial conceptions about how the world works.

• Achieve scientific literacy preparing students to be confident and capable lifelong learners who are equipped with the skills needed to access, understand, evaluate and apply information and present coherent ideas about science, integrating common core science literacy skills into the curriculum.

• Develop a thorough understanding of scientific explanations of the world through experimentation of the disciplinary core ideas and applying these understandings to solve environmental and societal challenges.

• Foster each student's understanding and use of technology and engineering, including the ability to assess the relevance and credibility of scientific information found in various print and electronic media.

The Science curriculum is aligned with learning expectations set forth in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Information regarding these standards can be found on the Connecticut State Department of Education website.