 SPOTLIGHT ON . . . . LOWER SCHOOL SCIENCE
Research into cognitive development is giving teachers an
exciting new framework for curriculum development. Developmental
appropriateness and in-depth, multiple experiences create a "horizontal"
curriculum designed to provide challenges for all students and a much deeper
understanding of the subject.
Next year's Lower
School will be using a
science course that recognizes the way students think at different times in
their lives and that students learn science best from direct experiences in
which they describe, sort, and organize observations about objects and
organisms. With this new approach to science, students first explore science
concepts through hands-on investigation and then extend and reinforce their discoveries
and vocabulary with science stories that include a variety of fiction and
non-fiction selections, as well as full color photographs and illustrations.
Practical experience
shows that all children can learn science and that there is no differentiation
between genders in interest or ability. Moreover, the course supports the CCS
commitment to teach EVERY student from "where they are"; students with learning
differences often shine in solving science problems, students learning English
as a second language have success in the universal language of science and
gifted students are often inspired to "run with the topic" to satisfy their own
interests and curiosities.
With literacy as the focus, students will be using books
(not text books) developed specifically to complement the program. These books
integrate reading and language arts skills in the context of learning science.
To read more about curriculum at Charleston Collegiate, visit the curriculum section on the CCS website.
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