The Elementary and Intermediate Science Core Curriculums are written to help teachers and supervisors prepare curriculum, instruction, and assessment of content and skills of Standards 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 of the New York State Learning Standards for Mathematics, Science, and Technology. The Elementary Core Curriculum applies to grades K-4 and the Intermediate Core Curriculum applies to grades 5-8. Both Core Curriculums identify key ideas, performance indicators, and Major Understandings.
Key Ideas are broad, general statements of what students need to know.
Performance Indicators for each Key Idea are statements of what students should be able to do to show they understand the Key Ideas.
Major Understandings give more specific detail to the concepts underlying each Performance Indicator.
As always with science learning, students should be actively engaged in the learning and discovery process. The experiences student receive should allow them opportunities to interact directly with the natural world and practice problem-solving skills, develop positive science attitudes, in addition to learning content. The curriculum based on the NYS Science Core Curriculum will contribute to the students’ scientific literacy.