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Lincoln Public Schools
Ballfield Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/ENGINEERING
The Lincoln Public Schools strives to provide a challenging science curriculum for our students. Currently we are making gradual changes in how we assign science topics across the K-8 grade span. In this process we are attempting to achieve close adherence to the standards of the Massachusetts Science Curriculum Frameworks (found here) and National Science Education standards. In addition, we are checking for cumulative coherence across the grades, consistency between our two campuses and compatibility with the science programs at the high schools our students typically attend---Bedford High School and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. We consider the descriptions that follow as works in progress, a fluid set of guidelines that will change as the needs of our students change, as our knowledge of science and science education deepens and as we do our best to provide clear statements about our curricular and instructional emphases. We intend for this information to keep parents and community members informed of grade-level expectations, while providing our faculty with necessary guidelines to ensure consistency and quality of instruction. Hence, we welcome and value the participation of parents and community members in purposeful and constructive dialogue that will enhance our science program.
The K-8 Content Overview for Science and Technology/Engineering that follows shows that the program has been organized as a series of specific topics for each grade. These topics name specific units of study. Within each grade these units appear under sub-headings that identify the four strands that organize the science standards promoted by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Following are brief descriptions of these strands.
As they learn information and concepts related to each of these four strands, students will also develop a systematic approach to scientific inquiry. They will formulate questions, observe, plan, collect, organize and interpret data and present research findings. They will develop an understanding of science in everyday life and apply previously acquired knowledge in practical or new ways. They will also learn to work safely and will learn to use information technology to collect, store, retrieve and present scientific information. The following overview identifies the individual science units for each grade level. Although the units of study at each campus are not identically named or assigned to the same grades, each grade level and campus is aligned with a high degree of adherence to the content and concepts required by Massachusetts Science Curriculum Frameworks and reflective of National Science Education standards. You will notice that in some instances the name of a unit is linked to a PDF document that specifies the unit Learning Expectations which correspond to the standards of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Science and technology/Engineering. Some standards will be new to particular grade levels and in some cases standards have been moved from one grade level to another in order to provide age-appropriate instruction for the expected content and concepts or to avoid redundancy. The number of units with specified learning expectations has increased significantly during the past year, and during the 2006-2007 school year that level of detail will be available with additional unit descriptions. It is also likely that new units will be created to accommodate standards or domains that are not sufficiently addressed in our current program. Because these revisions and refinements are ongoing, interested parties are encouraged to check this page frequently for the latest updates and additional documentation of our science curriculum.
Note that table entries that are underlined are links to descriptions of learning expectations for that unit
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| October 11 2006 | We welcome your comments about this website. Send email to: webmaster@lincnet.org |