Science Resources
How will we prepare all students for academic success?
Our state has adopted new standards based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) because we understand that a robust science education in elementary school will pave the way for increased opportunities in middle school, high school, and college. The Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Standards enable our teachers to offer all students interactive science instruction that promotes analysis and interpretation of data, critical thinking, problem solving, and connections across science disciplines—with a high set of expectations for achievement.
A quality science education can help expand opportunities for all students.
These science standards complement our English/Language Arts and mathematics standards, enabling classroom instruction to reflect a clearer picture of the real world, where solving problems often requires skills and knowledge from multiple disciplines. Further, these standards are designed to provide an equitable, high-quality science education to all of our students.
What is our vision for science education?
Massachusetts standards reflect the latest research and advances in modern science. In order to equip students to think critically, analyze information, and solve complex problems, the standards are arranged such that—from elementary through high school—students have multiple opportunities to build on the knowledge and skills gained during each grade, by revisiting important concepts and expanding their understanding of connections across scientific domains. Parents should understand that while some content might be similar to the past, it may look different from how they were taught.
What resources are used to implement the science standards Grades K-8?
We have recently chosen STEMscopes, an online science curriculum from Accelerate Learning, as our primary instructional resource for teaching science in grades K-8. STEMscopes is built on an instructional philosophy that centers on students learning the Massachusetts Science & Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework through hands-on exploration and inquiry. Each lesson includes a series of investigations and activities to bring science to life for our students so that they can "learn by doing" and fully engage in the scientific process.
Please visit your child’s school website for more information under Families/Student Resources, Science Resources for additional information.
If you have any questions about your child’s daily instruction, we encourage you to talk to your child’s classroom teacher. For information regarding the curriculum, please contact:
Elizabeth Pontius, Director of STEM Instruction, 508-398-7621, pontiuse@dy-regional.k12.ma.us