Curriculum & Instruction
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Science Department
Coordinator: Jessica Kalagher
(434) 245-2421
jessica.kalagher@ccs.k12.va.us
In the Charlottesville City School students learn scientific content through active involvement in hands-on, problem-solving activities. They use a variety of science processes to explore the world around them. Students learn scientific methodology through the systematic use of inquiry skills such as observing; classifying and sequencing; communicating; measuring; predicting; hypothesizing; inferring; defining; controlling and manipulating variables in experimentation; and interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data. They are encouraged to associate science with aspects of everyday living. Teachers have access to a variety of resources when teaching the science curriculum. These include the VDOE Curriculum Framework, science activity kits, textbooks, paperback books, web sites, and technology resources.
Elementary Science
Elementary science curricula are in place for students in grades K–6. Grade specific curriculum is structured around major strands associated with the disciplines of earth science, physical science, life science, and environmental science. These strands focus on the study of:
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning, and Logic — This strand represents a set of inquiry skills that defines what a student should be able to do when conducting activities and investigations. By developing these skills students will achieve greater understanding of scientific inquiry and the nature of science.
Force, Motion, and Energy — The focus is on student understanding of what force, motion and energy are and how the concepts are connected. The major topics include magnetism; types of motion; simple machines; and energy forms and transformations, especially electricity, sound and light.
Matter — The focus is on the description, physical properties, and basic structure of matter. The major topics include concepts related to solids, liquid and gases (especially water); phase changes; mass and volume; and the structure of matter.
Life Processes — There is a focus on the life processes of plants and animals and the specific needs of each. Major topics include basic needs and life processes of organisms, their physical characteristics, orderly changes in life cycles, behavioral and physical adaptations, and survival and perpetuation of species.
Living Systems — This strand begins in second grade and builds from basic to more complex understandings of a system, both at the ecosystem level and at the level of the cell. The concept of five kingdoms of living things and a general classifying of organisms are also presented.
Interrelationships in Earth/Space Systems — The strand focuses on how Earth systems are connected, and how the Earth interacts with other members of the solar system.
Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change — The focus is on student understanding of patterns in nature, natural cycles, and changes that occur both quickly and over time. An important idea represented in this strand is the relationship among Earth cycles and change and their effects on living things.
Resources — The strand focuses on student understanding of the role of resources in the natural world and how people can utilize those resources in a sustainable way. An important idea represented in this strand is the concept of management of resources. This begins with basic ideas of conservation and proceeds to more abstract consideration of costs and benefits.
(From the Science Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework, 2003,
Virginia Department of Education)
Textbooks
At the elementary level, adopted text materials include Harcourt Science published by Harcourt School Publishers as well as Physical Science and Earth Science published by McDougal Littell.
Secondary Science
Schools serving students in grades 7–12 provide curricula and instruction with the goal of producing scientifically literate citizens. The science program offers experiences for students to explore, explain and apply scientific concepts, skills, and processes to events that affect their lives. Students learn to systematically investigate, analyze data, use reasoning and logic to evaluate evidence, and understand the importance of research that validates or challenges ideas.
Buford Middle School
Life Science is offered in seventh grade. Students explore the cellular organization and the classification of organisms; the dynamic relationships among organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems; and change as a result of the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation. Inquiry skills at this level include organization and mathematical analysis of data, manipulating variables in experimentation, and identifying sources of experimental error.
Eighth grade students take Physical Science, a course that emphasizes the technological application of physical science principles. Major areas covered include the organization and use of the periodic table; physical and chemical changes; nuclear reactions; temperature and heat; sound; light; electricity and magnetism; and work, force, and motion.
Charlottesville High School
An array of appropriate science course sequences is available at the high school level. In making their choices, students consult with guidance counselors to find classes that best match their own interests and abilities. The selection of a course is made with careful reference to the prerequisites that serve as indicators of the academic skills and knowledge necessary for success. Descriptions of high school science courses are available in the CHS Program Planning Guide.
Textbooks
At the secondary level, adopted text materials include:
- Holt Science & Technology, Life Science published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston;
- Holt Science & Technology, Physical Science published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston;
- Modern Earth Science published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston;
- Concepts and Challenges - Earth Science published by Globe Fearon;
- Living in the Environment published by Brooks/Cole;
- Holt Biology published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston;
- Biology: The Dynamics of Life published by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill;
- Introduction to the Human Body published by Wiley;
- Biology published by Pearson;
- Holt Chemistry published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston;
- Chemistry published by McDougal Littell;
- Holt Physics published by Holt, Rinehart; and Winston;
- Physics: Principles and Problems published by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill; and
- Conceptual Physics published by Prentice Hall.
VA Standards of Learning (SOLs)
The science Standards of Learning identify academic content for essential components of the science curriculum at different grade levels for Virginia’s public schools. In January 2003 the Virginia Board of Education approved the newly revised science Standards of Learning document for kindergarten through grade six, for the middle school, and for a core set of high school courses including Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. These standards replace the 1995 Science SOL. To accompany the new standards, the Department of Education published a curriculum framework as a resource for developing sound curricular and instructional programs. It defines the content knowledge, skills, and understandings that are measured by the science Standards of Learning tests. Links to these resources are:
For a listing of specific Standards of Learning in science, go to:
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/ScienceSOL02.html
To access the science curriculum framework for all grades and courses,
go to:
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Science/sciCF.html
Web-based Science Resources
National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/
Welcome to Simply Science
http://www.simplyscience.com/
Newton's Apple
http://www.ktca.org/newtons/index.html
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics & Science Education
http://www.enc.org/
The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/faces.html
Science Central
http://www.scicentral.com/