Elementary Science Curriculum PDF

INTRODUCTION Science is valued because it has helped in satisfying many basic human needs and improving living conditions. Advances in technology and science are transforming our world at an incredible and unimaginable pace. We cannot escape from and we cannot measure the significance of science. S...

INTRODUCTION Science is valued because it has helped in satisfying many basic human needs and improving living conditions. Advances in technology and science are transforming our world at an incredible and unimaginable pace. We cannot escape from and we cannot measure the significance of science. Science has shaped the world. Technology and the products of scientific knowledge surround us every day. Public and private policy decisions that impact every aspect of our lives driven by scientific process and scientific evidence. The enormously complex physical world around us illustrates boundless scientific concepts. Being "scientific literate" has become not just an advantage nut an absolute necessity in the 21^st^ century. Unit I: The Elementary Science Curriculum Lesson 1: What is Science? Science is our way of understanding the world -- its wondrous structure, natural events, interrelated elements and systems, and processes. It is an exciting and, at the same time, a useful endeavor that benefits our community and society at large. Another important goal of science has emerged during the past decades: to find a way to responsibly and ethically use natural resources to guarantee their continuity and that of humanity itself; an endeavor and advocacy that is referred to as "sustainability". Aside from sustainability movement, education could become the most important application of science in the next decades ("Importance of Science...", 2017). It is crucial to provide humanity with a basic understanding of how science has shaped the world and human civilization. It is for this reason that education institutions need to constantly equip science educators with the tools and competence to advance science education and to engage the learners in the love for learning and doing science. The word "science" is derived from the Latin word *sciencia* meaning "knowledge". Science is commonly referred to as systematic and organized body of knowledge in any area of inquiry that is acquired using "the scientific method". Science has many facets and definition that can be summarized into the following: - Science as broad body of knowledge -- Physical sciences consists of disciplines such as physics (the science of physical objects), chemistry (the science of matter), and astronomy (the science of celestial objects). Earth science consists of disciplines such as geology (the science of the earth). - Science as a set of skills -- The science process skills form the foundation of scientific methods. There are six basic science process skills: observation, communication, classification, measurement, inference, and prediction. These basic skills are integrated when scientists design and carry out experiments. All six basic skills are important individually as well as when they are integrated. - Science as an intellectual activity -- Science is the intellectual, practical, and systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. - Science as a social activity -- Science is a social activity shaped by history, institutions, beliefs, and values. Society shapes science and vice versa. - Science as problem-solving -- Problem-solving skills are necessary in all areas of life, and the science class provides the students opportunity to develop and utilize their problem-solving skills, which include the ability to critically analyze a problem, determine all its elements, and prepare a feasible solution. These are valuable skills one can acquire in life. - Science as career -- Individuals who have devoted themselves in studying and doing science have established careers in science, such as biologists, chemists, environmentalists, astronomers, medical practitioners, among others. - Science as a global human endeavor -- Science is a result of human imagination, ingenuity, and creativity. Individuals and team from many nations and cultures have contributed to advances in technology. - Science as a process -- The scientific methods is a set of steps for verifying and building scientific knowledge. When performing this process, one employs skills necessary to research a topic, develop a plan and timeline, and draw conclusions from research results. A. **ACTIVATE:** Activity A. 1: Defining Science Do you remember how your previous teachers, readings, and classes define science? Create a word cloud to illustrate/show these definitions or keywords. Be guided by the sample word cloud of knowledge below. B. **ANALYZE** Activity B. 1: The Facets of Science Science means several things of various individuals and institutions. You can see the various facets of science in the first column below. On the opposite column, write your insights and reflections about each of the facets of science. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Facets of Science | Insights and Reflection | +===================================+===================================+ | 1. Science as a broad body of | | | knowledge. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 2. Science as a set of skills. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 3. Science as an intellectual | | | activity. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 4. Science as a social activity. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 5. Science as problem-solving. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 6. Science as a career. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 7. Science as a global human | | | endeavor. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 8. Science as a process. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Activity B. 2: The Scientific Method Scientific method refers to a set of steps for verifying and building scientific knowledge. Steps include making valid observations, interpreting results, and generalizing results. The scientific method allows researchers to independently and impartially test preexisting knowledge and prior findings and subject them to scrutiny and enhancements. Recall a problem or challenge that you were able to solve recently. Identify the steps you did went through. Write your process following the steps in the scientific method. C. **ABSTRACT** Activity C. 1: The Scientific Irony Science is a very exciting subject and process, but why do teachers have difficulty engaging all the students in learning and doing science? Write the reasons why the students love learning and doing science in the first column and the reasons for their disinterest in the third column. In the second column titled BUT, write the manifestations of the students' disinterest in the subject. Students love Science BUT They hate Science class ----------------------- ----- ------------------------- Activity C. 2: Designing My Future Science Class Your goal as a future science teacher should be to engage your students to love learning and doing science. What are the teachers of a ideal science class? Characterize each of the elements below. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | *Elements* | Characteristics/Features | +===================================+===================================+ | Teacher | | | | | | Curriculum | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Students | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Classroom | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Other Support Systems | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ D. **APPLY** Activity D. 1: Characterizing an Inspiring Science Teacher Research shows that the teacher is the most important factor in the effective delivery of classroom instruction. Engaging classes are facilitated by inspiring science teachers. But what are the important traits of an inspiring science teacher? Write descriptions and simple illustration below. ANATOMY OF A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER academic brain creativity extra eyes quick witted big voice broad shoulder big heart stamina clear handwriting strong knees strong immune system good shoes Do you embody these traits? What steps do you undertake to develop them? \-\--