The Middle School science program provides a challenging learning environment which stimulates curiosity, discovery and critical thinking. In order to make connections and develop understanding of concepts, students’ questions are used to drive learning and identify misconceptions in each unit.
Students will engage in a variety of activities including open-ended investigations and engineering projects which support habits of learning with particular focus on the scientific method and engineering design cycle. Increasing students’ ability to use and interpret scientific data related to the natural world is key to improving scientific literacy. Embedded in each unit are opportunities for students to construct explanations or models using data and scientific knowledge; this helps deepen their understanding by making connections between concepts. Opportunities will be given to evaluate experimental results and design solutions by considering the validity and reliability of data sets as they reflect on their own work and that of others.
Assessment criteria are grouped into four strands: Knowledge and concepts, investigating practices, sensemaking practices and critiquing practices.
- Units of Study:
- Unit 1: The Anthropocene?
- Unit 2: Energy at the Amusement Park!
- Unit 3: High Chemistry?
- Unit 4: Riding the Waves!
- Unit 5: Species at War?
- Unit 6: Should we eat bugs?