It’s an exciting time in the world of science education! The Next Generation Science Standards, based on the Framework for K-12 Science Education written by the National Research Council, part of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, have been developed with the input from 26 lead states. For the last several years, the Kentucky Department of Education has been working as one of those lead states in offering feedback as these standards were developed. Kentucky has now adopted the NGSS and all schools will begin implementing them next year. These new standards are different than what we have used in the past due to the very intentional interweaving of 3 core strands- science core ideas, science practices, and crosscutting concepts. The science core ideas are the content portion of the curriculum that typically makes up the state standards. These are the life science, physical science, and Earth science concepts critical to understanding science. The science practices focus on what it means to actually do science, and include the following:
· Asking Questions and Defining Problems
· Developing and Using Models
· Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
· Analyzing and Interpreting Data
· Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
· Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
· Engaging in Argument from Evidence
· Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
These practices are a major focus of the NGSS and will reinforce the idea that science is not just a body of knowledge, but instead is a way of thinking. Students will develop these scientific practices throughout their education K-12 to develop scientific ways of thinking. The third strand of the NGSS is the crosscutting concepts. These are major themes seen across all fields of science and offer students a framework for connecting knowledge from various disciplines into a coherent, scientifically based view of the world. These crosscutting concepts include:
· Patterns
· Cause and Effect
· Scale, Proportion and Quantity
· Systems and System Models
· Energy and Matter
· Structure and Function
· Stability and Change
Science teachers throughout Oldham County have been working on developing a new curriculum built around these new standards. At the high school level, that meant a shift in some required courses to best meet the intent of the standards. Now, instead of offering Principles of Science to some freshmen, all Oldham County high school students will be required to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Here at SOHS students will still be required to take a fourth science elective course of their choice.
Within each of the three core courses, units are being developed to incorporate the content, science practices, and interconnecting crosscutting concepts to provide students with a deeper level of understanding. The new science curriculum strives to ensure the learning of each student by building scientific thinking- a way of questioning, observing, hypothesizing, experimenting, and logically approaching the world. This type of scientific thinking equips students to embrace struggle, persevere, and develop as independent, critical thinkers. And aren’t these the skills our students need to be successful, not only in science, but in every aspect of their lives? We are very excited to implement these new science courses next year and offer our students the opportunity to develop their skills and better prepare for their future.
· Asking Questions and Defining Problems
· Developing and Using Models
· Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
· Analyzing and Interpreting Data
· Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
· Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
· Engaging in Argument from Evidence
· Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
These practices are a major focus of the NGSS and will reinforce the idea that science is not just a body of knowledge, but instead is a way of thinking. Students will develop these scientific practices throughout their education K-12 to develop scientific ways of thinking. The third strand of the NGSS is the crosscutting concepts. These are major themes seen across all fields of science and offer students a framework for connecting knowledge from various disciplines into a coherent, scientifically based view of the world. These crosscutting concepts include:
· Patterns
· Cause and Effect
· Scale, Proportion and Quantity
· Systems and System Models
· Energy and Matter
· Structure and Function
· Stability and Change
Science teachers throughout Oldham County have been working on developing a new curriculum built around these new standards. At the high school level, that meant a shift in some required courses to best meet the intent of the standards. Now, instead of offering Principles of Science to some freshmen, all Oldham County high school students will be required to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Here at SOHS students will still be required to take a fourth science elective course of their choice.
Within each of the three core courses, units are being developed to incorporate the content, science practices, and interconnecting crosscutting concepts to provide students with a deeper level of understanding. The new science curriculum strives to ensure the learning of each student by building scientific thinking- a way of questioning, observing, hypothesizing, experimenting, and logically approaching the world. This type of scientific thinking equips students to embrace struggle, persevere, and develop as independent, critical thinkers. And aren’t these the skills our students need to be successful, not only in science, but in every aspect of their lives? We are very excited to implement these new science courses next year and offer our students the opportunity to develop their skills and better prepare for their future.