Second
grade science should be a time of wonder and discovery. It
should be a time to explore the world and begin to develop
the tools of exploration that can carry students through life.
This second grade curriculum views the scientific disciplines
of biology, physical science, astronomy, and environmental
science through the eyes of the scientists that work in each
field. As students carry out a series of hands-on learning
activities, they are introduced to the challenges faced by
scientists in each field. Students also become familiar with
the tools and methods the scientists use to form a better
understanding of their world.
In the first unit students are introduced to what a scientist
is, and to the methods and tools he or she uses to study the
world and the creatures that inhabit that world. The subsequent
units introduce students to insects; sunlight and energy;
movement, force and work; the ocean, ocean life and
ecology, and finally, to the types of science the student
might want to study later in life.
The overarching objective of the second grade curriculum is
to provide students with an understanding of basic scientific
method while broadening their understanding of the breadth
of science and the myriad of careers that fall under the heading
of science. The specific objectives are to provide students
with an understanding of the growth and development of insects;
to give students a chance to grasp the importance of the sun
to the survival of the world; to help students see movement
and work in action; to help students grasp the interdependence
of sea creatures and the effects that human carelessness can
have on that ecosystem; and finally to let students dream
about the kind of scientist they might be someday. |
