Science in 109

The central tenets of District 109’s instructional model for science are designed to support the Next Generation Science Standards, which revolve around making sense of phenomena in the natural and human-made world. After conducting and recording these observations, students design and test solutions to problems they see. These key applications of the scientific endeavor provide meaningful, authentic contexts to motivate and engage students across learning experiences. Depending on the grade level, students explore content within the domains of Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science and Engineering Design. Students are encouraged to make connections across these domains and identify common and/or broad applications across different disciplines.

K-8 Science Instructional Best Practices

• Constructing Explanations: Students revise their thinking as they construct explanations and models to make sense of phenomena and design solutions to problems.
• Hands-on Investigations: Students engage in hands-on investigations to collect evidence that can be used to justify claims about how and why phenomena occur.
• Student-Centered: Student questions and ideas are a salient part of making sense of phenomena and designing solutions to problems.
• Student Discourse: Students share and respectfully critique ideas about scientific investigations and potential explanations for phenomena.