The Science Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools identify academic content for essential components of the science curriculum at different grade levels. The content of the standards, in conjunction with effective instruction, provide a platform for creating scientifically literate students. The Science Standards of Learning reflect a vertical progression of content and practices. The Standards of Learning contain content strands or topics that progress in complexity as they are studied at various grade levels in grades K-5 and are represented indirectly throughout the middle and high school courses. These strands are:
· Scientific and Engineering Practices
· Force, Motion, and Energy
· Matter
· Living Systems and Processes
· Earth and Space Systems
· Earth Resources
Six critical components for achieving Science literacy are 1) Goals; 2) Investigate and Understand; 3) Nature of Science; 4) Science and Engineering Practices; 5) K-12 Safety; and 6) Instructional Technology. These six components support the Profile of a Virginia Graduate and an integrated instructional approach that incorporates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It is imperative to science instruction that the local curriculum consider and address how these components are incorporated in the design of the K-12 science program.
PLTW Modules
Nonfiction reading passages
Units of study
Classroom immersive experiences
Experiments
Help your child understand that there are many ways to understand science (there is more than one right answer) and that science is always changing
Note the weather- watch a forecast
Identify machines, forces, and motion in daily objects
Identify animals, plants, and habitats
Take walks and hikes to identify habitats and ecosystems
Plan field trips with your child or family