Science,

Technology, and Engineering

Westfield Public Schools aims to prepare all students with 21st century academic, social, civic and technological competencies and skills. The 21st century skills will require our students to be innovative, creative and collaborative, so that they can apply their knowledge to new and unique problems.

The study of Science, Technology and Engineering will:

Inspire students to become innovative thinkers in creative environments where students can gain an understanding of how to think and work as scientists and engineers,
Create opportunities for students to use higher order thinking skills and communicate their understandings effectively and
Puzzle with natural phenomenon and allow students to apply content knowledge to relevant situations, allowing them to explain the natural world.

Outlined in the 2016 STE Curriculum Frameworks, our students in science & engineering classrooms will be able to:

Asking Questions and Defining Problems: Scientific questions are distinguished from other types of questions in that the answers lie in explanations supported by empirical evidence, including evidence gathered by others or through investigation.
Developing and Using Models: Models include diagrams, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and computer simulations.
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations: Scientific investigations may be undertaken to describe a phenomenon, or to test a theory or model for how the world works.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data: Once collected, data must be presented in a form that can reveal any patterns and relationships and that allows results to be communicated to others.
Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking: Students are expected to use mathematics to represent physical variables and their relationships,and to make quantitative predictions.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions: The goal of science is to construct explanations for the causes of phenomena. Students construct their own explanations, as well as apply standard explanations they learn about through instruction.
Engaging in Argument from Evidence: Argumentation is a process for reaching agreements about explanations and design solutions.

DESE has provided Parent Guides to the Curriculum Frameworks to help families understand what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade. The Massachusetts Science and Technology / Engineering Curriculum Frameworks were developed based on the Next Generation Science Standards.

Curriculum Renewal Process - Science

Science Curriculum Committee: A group of 20 PreK-12 educators was selected through an application process to complete the Curriculum Renewal Process for Science and using the Next Gen TIME process, will make recommendations for Science resources to pilot in grades K-12 for the 2020 - 2021 school year. The Science Curriculum Committee will continue to meet during the next year and will make a recommendation for purchase of Science units for use by all students during the 2021 - 2022 school year.