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Science education provides a way of looking at the world with a sense of wonder and confidence. It opens young minds to new ideas and possibilities and equips them with the intellectual tools to guide them through lifelong learning and understanding. A scientifically literate person is one who understands the key concepts and principles of science and uses science knowledge and ways of thinking in everyday life. The Guam Department of Education offers a Science Program for all students in grades Kindergarten through Twelve. It is designed for students to: 1. Develop an understanding of the major concepts in the natural sciences; 2. Develop the main science processing and critical skills (e.g., observing, measuring, inferring, predicting, hypothesizing, experimenting and problem solving); 3. Apply scientific knowledge and technology to selected personal, community, and worldwide issues; and, 4. Become aware of science-technological careers and hobbies. |
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Curriculum Development The driving force behind our science curriculum is Department of Education K-12 Content Standards and Performance Indicators (Standards). These Standards represent what every public school student in Guam should know, be able to do, and care about. The Standards were developed by teachers in our school system. Through their expertise and experiences in the classroom, along with local and national resources available (e.g., DOE Science Curriculum, National Science Education Standards by the National Research Council and the National Science Teachers Association), a document that outlines the expectations for our children in all grade levels was formulated. There are eleven science standards from which all lessons are centered around: |
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Content Standards 1. Science as Inquiry |
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ELEMENTARY SCIENCE Board of Education Policy 346, Instructional Time for Elementary Schools, requires 150 minutes of science instruction per week for primary level (grades 1-3) and 140 minutes per week for intermediate level (grades 4-5). The textbook for elementary (grades K-5) is the Harcourt International Series. Harcourt International has also aligned our elementary K-5 Science Content Standards and Performance Indicators and correlated them with their textbooks. This ‘”ELEMENTARY SCIENCE K-5 ALIGNMENT” is also correlated with the national standards (NSTA) and will be available to elementary school teachers. MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE Board of Education Policy 338, Middle School Curriculum Requirements, requires each middle school student to take two (2) semesters per year in science (6th grade-General Science, 7th grade-Life Science, and 8th grade-Earth Science). The textbooks for middle (grades 6-8) is by Globe Fearon and Prentice Hall Publishers. Pearson Learning Group has aligned our middle school and high school Science Content Standards and Performance Indicators and correlated them with their textbooks. This alignment is called “CONCEPTS & CHALLENGES” and will soon be available to middle school and high school teachers for their peruse and guidance in their Science lesson planning. HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE Board of Education Policy 351.4, High School Graduation Requirements (adopted November 27, 2000), requires high school students in the college preparatory path to complete 4 years of science and those in the career preparatory path to complete 3 years of science. All students must complete 1 credit in the Life Science and 1 credit in the Physical Science. The high school science program (grades 9-12) includes courses in: General Science, Physical Science, Principles of Technology, Applies Biology/Chemistry, Living Biology, General Biology, Advanced Placement Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Honors Physics, Advanced Placement Physics, Marine Biology, Honors Marine Biology, Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Climate and Global Change and Geology. |
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Program Development Enrichment opportunities are available for students through Science Fairs, Marine Science clubs, Academic Challenge Bowl teams, and Adopt-A-Watershed projects. Professional Development Professional development is essential to improving student learning. By increasing content knowledge and pedagogical skill, teachers are empowered to make decisions essential for effective learning to progress toward achievement of greater student outcomes. The Division of Curriculum and Instruction facilitates staff development in the science content area in the form of in-service training, workshops, seminars, course offerings and conferences. With the adoption of our new Science textbooks this school year (School Year 2003-2004), the Division of Curriculum and Instruction scheduled several workshops for our teachers (K-12) on the use of the new instructional materials and some effective strategies to implement in the classroom. During the first quarter, Globe Fearon and Prentice Hall Publishers conducted a workshop training from September 29 to October 3, 2003 for all the middle school science teachers and high school LOTE Biology, Physics, Climate and Global Change, and General Science teachers. Harcourt International conducted SCIENCE TEXTBOOK TRAINING for our elementary teachers (K-5) on January 26-29, 2004. Teacher representatives were identified by school principals to attend a two-day training of trainers session on Standards and SAT 9 alignment to Harcourt Science, Brain based Learning, Lesson Planning, and Using Harcourt Science Materials. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston publishers also provided Science training for high school Biology and Chemistry teachers on January 31, 2004. |
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Program Contact Science Program Tel: 472-8887/475-0444 Contact: Sylvia T. Calvo, School Program Consultant Program Affiliate University of Guam, College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences |
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