• One of the best ways to engage children in their learning and in the world around them is to provide hands-on opportunities to learn and actually “do” science. Science and engineering education is more important than ever. Becoming college and career ready not only involves gaining factual knowledge, it also involves teaching children to question, explore, build, collaborate, explain, analyze, think critically and creatively, and communicate. Science provides the opportunity for all children to be engaged and solve problems which require these skills.

    Science skills and processes give students real situations to apply what they have learned in reading, writing, and mathematics. Technical writing is necessary when students record their observations, record their analysis of data, and develop conclusions and reports. Integration of the subject areas is critical.

    We added engineering standards to our curriculum in 2015-2016 because we know that this type of thinking and “doing” is an important part of STEM education. Inquiry and the Engineering Design Process are the two main threads in science education from kindergarten through fifth grade.

    Each elementary school is tasked with implementing science instruction that is aligned with the Arizona Standards for Science. The Amphitheater Science Guides provides teachers with resources and references to standards to assist them in planning and implementing instruction. Schools choose a variety of approaches to science education in our district. Engineering is Elementary is implemented in a number of schools. FOSS Science is commonly used as well as many other materials that are readily available to teachers.

    For more information regarding science instruction in elementary school, consult the school principal or contact Dr. Roseanne Lopez at rlopez@amphi.com