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The National Science Resources Center's curricula, Science and Technology for Children (STC) and Science and Technology Concepts for Middle Schools (STC/MS), are organized by science strands, which help young students develop an understanding of scientific concepts over a period of years. These strands include physical science, earth science, life science, and technology. All unit covers are color coded to the strands.
The curricula provide children with the opportunity to learn age-appropriate concepts and skills and to acquire scientific attitudes and habits of mind. In the primary grades, children begin their study of science by observing, measuring, and identifying properties. Then they move on through a progression of experience that culminates with the design of controlled experiments.
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Grade
Levels
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Central Themes
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Observing, Measuring, and Identifying Properties
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Seeking Evidence
Recognizing Patterns and Cycles
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Identifying Cause and Effect and Extending the Senses
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Designing and Conducting Controlled Experiments
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1
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X
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2 - 3
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X
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X
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4 - 5
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X
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X
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X
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6 - 8
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X
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X
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X
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X
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The learning cycle incorporated into the NSRC curricula is based on research about how people learn. This research indicates that knowledge is actively constructed by each learner and that children learn science best in a hands-on experimental environment where they can make their own discoveries. The steps of the learning cycle are:
- Focus: Elicit and clarify the ideas that children already have about the topic
- Explore: Have children engage in hands-on explorations of the objects, organisms, and science phenomena to be investigated
- Reflect: Encourage children to discuss their observations and to reconcile their ideas
- Apply: Help children discuss and apply their new ideas in new situations
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