Why Science?

Science surrounds us. Children interact with their environment, asking questions and seeking answers.  It is a way of knowing and thinking about the world in which we live and it is the skill at heart of Science instruction.

Active, hands-on/minds-on experiences, and problem-solving opportunities, build an understanding of what it means to know science. Doing science develops our ability to ask questions, collect information, organize and test our ideas, problem-solve and apply what we learn. 

Please consider the following when making curricular decisions on Science instruction in your school or classroom.      

• Science is Inclusive -  Our knowledge of science comes from the contributions of many diverse cultures and people. Access to science education develops self-confidence and positive self-image for all learners, regardless of culture, gender, race, social class or religious beliefs.
• Science Crosses Subjects -  The world is not disjointed into distinct subjects and science is not isolated from everything else in our lives — it crosses into all subjects.  Integrated programs help learners understand concepts across different subjects and make connections within a particular subject area. 
• Science Can Develop Literacy Skills; Literacy Skills Do Not Always Develop Science Skills -  Active hands-on/minds-on science programs provide priceless context for students to expand literacy skills through reading and writing informational and non-fiction text. But literacy in science is more than just reading and writing.
• Science Develops Numeracy Skills -  Science investigations provide context and authentic opportunities to learn and use numeracy skills within the context of science. For instance, understanding and predicting how forces act on a structure involves science, mathematics and design technology through data collection, measurement, and presentation and interpretation skills.
• Science Develops General and Technical Skills -  Science also requires using technical skills, important to procedures used in various disciplines of science, such as doing a titration in chemistry or using a spring scale in physics. Inquiry is a circular process: the conclusions can take the learner back to the original question and lead to more questions, involving learners in the process of learning. By formulating their own questions, planning, and conducting investigations, learners build new meanings, understanding and knowledge. This helps develop their critical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills.

By Brian Crawford, CA BOCES Learning Resources