1. Science in the School Curriculum
Chapter 5
Science in the School Curriculum
Science in the School Curriculum

2. How to Read This Chapter
The chapter is divided into sections on the curriculum for middle and high school science in the U.S., followed by a section on science education in Australia, Chile, China, Ghana, Japan, Russia and Turkey.
You can focus on each section separately depending on your interests. You might, for example take a look at a description of science education in a country of your interest and compare it to your knowledge of science education in the U.S.
Inquiry activities are designed to help you investigate various curriculum projects and curricula at the middle and high school level.
Science in the School Curriculum

3. Invitations to Inquiry
What is meant by the term curriculum?
What should be the nature of the elementary, middle and high school science curriculum as outlined by the National Science Education Standards?
What was the influence of school science curriculum reform projects of the 1960s and how do they differ from the current era of science curriculum reform?
What are the characteristics of exemplary middle and high school science programs?
How does the science curriculum of the United States compare with the science curriculum in other nations?
Science in the School Curriculum

4. Science in the School Curriculum
Chapter 5 Map
Science in the School Curriculum

5. Science Standards (NSES)
Educate students who:
Are able to experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world;
Use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions;
Engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and
Increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers.
Science in the School Curriculum

6. Inquiry 5.1 Science Curriculum Patterns
Compare the K-12 curriculum pattern of two districts in your state, or two different countries. Use the chart on the next slide to organize your material.
Use the procedures in Inquiry Activity 5.1 to complete your research.
How do patterns of curriculum compare?
To what extent is the “layer cake model” implemented in the districts?
What makes one curriculum better than another?
Science in the School Curriculum

7. Inquiry 5.1: Science Curriculum Patterns
Level
Goals
Courses
Text materials
Elementary
Middle School
High School
Science in the School Curriculum

8. Organization of Content Standards
Unifying concepts and processes
Science as inquiry
Physical science
Life science
Earth and space science
Science and technology
Science in personal and social perspectives
History and nature of science
Science in the School Curriculum

9. The Middle School Science Curriculum
Influential Projects
IPS
ESCP
ISCS
Middle School Movement
Curriculum Patterns
Exemplary Programs
BSCS Science & Tech.
Investigating Earth Systems
Earthscope
Interactions in Physical Science
Science in the School Curriculum

10. The High School Science Curriculum
Contemporary Patterns
Reform Projects
PSSC Physics
Project Physics
CHEM Study & CBA
BSCS
Standards
Exemplary H.S. Science Curricula
BioCom
Insights in Biology
ChemCom
Active Chemistry
Active Physics
Conceptual Physics
Science in the School Curriculum

11. Science in the School Curriculum
Activities Used in Middle and High School Science What activities do you think middle school science and high school science teachers use while teaching? Identify the five most frequently used activities, and the five least used activities from the lists below. Check your results by consulting the next slide.
Middle School
Work in groups
Do hands-on/lab activities
Follow instructions in activity
Read non-text material
Read from science text
Watch science demo
Record, represent data
Answer text questions
Use math as a tool in problem solving
Write reflection in a journal
Watch audiovisual presentations
Listen and take notes during teach presentation
Work on extended science project
Design own investigation
Use computers as a tool (data analysis)
Participate in field work
Take field trips
Prepare written science reports
Make formal presentation to the class
High School
Work in groups
Do hands-on/lab activities
Follow instructions in activity
Read non-text material
Read from science text
Watch science demo
Record, represent data
Answer text questions
Use math as a tool in problem solving
Write reflection in a journal
Watch audiovisual presentations
Listen and take notes during teach presentation
Work on extended science project
Design own investigation
Use computers as a tool (data analysis)
Participate in field work
Take field trips
Prepare written science reports
Make formal presentation to the class
The lists are from Weiss, I. R. Report on the 2000 National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education, p. 63
Science in the School Curriculum

12. Science in the School Curriculum
Science Activities Reported by Teachers that Students Take Part in at Least Once a Week
Activity
Middle School Activities
% of teachers reporting
High School Activities
Work in groups
Do hands-on/lab activities
Follow instructions in activity
Read non-text material
Read from science text
Watch science demo
Record, represent data
Answer text questions
Use math as a tool in problem solving
Write reflection in a journal
Watch audiovisual presentations
Listen and take notes during teach presentation
Work on extended science project
Design own investigation
Use computers as a tool (data analysis)
Participate in field work
Take field trips
Prepare written science reports
Make formal presentation to the class 80 65 70 32 46 42 51 56 36 19 54 7 13 11 3 16 9 71 20 28 43 72 52 15 21 86 4 2 24 6
Science in the School Curriculum

13. Exemplary Middle and High School Science Materials
Middle School
Middle School Science and Technology
Geology Is
Investigating Earth Systems
Wildlife Inquiry Through Zoo Education
Sci-Math
Informal Science Study
High School
Biology: A Community Context
Insights in Biology
Active Chemistry
Active Physics
Conceptual Physics
Using the material in the text, select one curriculum package, and determine the goals, curriculum, and the
context in which the teaching materials are used. You might also consult the EDC curriculum center at
Science in the School Curriculum

14. Inquiry 5.2: Exploring Science Curriculum Materials
Using the curriculum evaluation chart assess two science text books.
To what extent are the Standards met in the curriculum?
Is the science-as-inquiry theme evident in the curriculum materials?
Science in the School Curriculum

15. Science Curriculum: A Global Perspective
The science education community extends beyond the boarders of any country and is an active force throughout the world. We live on a planet that some describe as a global community. Technology supports communication of educators from countries as far apart as Australia and the Russia. What is the education of students in other countries about? When do students begin studying science in other nations? What is the nature of the science curriculum in other countries?
We asked colleagues from other countries to write brief descriptions of the curriculum and teaching issues in Australia, Chile, China, Ghana, Japan, Russia, and Turkey. What are the issues in other countries, and how do these help inform us about our own issues?
The authors have based their writing on personal experiences with the culture. In most cases they were born, educated and worked as science teachers in the country they described.
Science in the School Curriculum

16. Science in the School Curriculum
Australia
Chile
China
Ghana
Japan
Russia
Turkey
Science in the School Curriculum

17. Global Science Education Activities
What are the science education programs like in some other countries, in addition to the ones described here? You might want to investigate science education in Mexico, France, Great Britain, Hungary, or the Philippines. Prepare a brief report by creating a poster report for the country you choose.
What are some of the differences and similarities between U.S. science education and science education in Australia, Chile, China, Ghana, Japan and, Russia? Make a chart identifying the variables that you will use to make comparisons, how each country fared on the variable.
Find websites to help you learn more about science education in any of the countries described in the Art of Teaching Science.
Science in the School Curriculum