Elements of an Excellent Science Education

By Sarah Loffredo

This newsletter is created to share with you the importance that science holds in
education. There are many different types of benefits that come with teaching
science. You will learn why and how your child will be taught science, the other
life skills that are learned with science, and what your child can expect to be
doing during science class.

Why do students need to learn

science?

21 Century Skills

These are the skills that your student will

learn beyond the basic content that
Students learn science because it
is taught. The 21-century skills
is important for students to be well
include, but are not limited to: civil
prepared to live in todays society.
literacy, employability skills,
Science is all around us in all aspects of
innovation skills, health literacy,
our lives and because of this, students
and technology literacy. Teaching
can relate to science very easily.
critical thinking skills will increase
Science will forever be a part of our lives
your students inventiveness and
and learning it can only mean better
raise IQ scores. Critical thinking
success of the future. Our complex
cannot just be taught alone, it has
world will continue to quickly change and
to be taught through other subject
students need to learn science to keep
areas. Everyday problems can be
up with these changes. Techniques and
solved by learning critical thinking
procedures will be taught that are
skills and it is said that students
valuable life long skills to help them
feel their work gains significance
overcome challenges. Science will teach
when it is toward a purpose they
students to aim for success of their lives
can relate it to. These skills relate
rather than just for success in school.
to science because students will be
Science encourages students to have
reflecting on their own thinking and
healthy questioning and curiosity.
learning. Students will be
Learning science could also open up
collaboratively working together to
interest in future career opportunities.
solve problems and uncover new
discoveries. Students will learn
through posing questions or
problems. They will take those
2007 by Education World. Education World grants users permission to reproduce this work sheet for educational
1
problems and figure out how to
purposes only.
solve it by taking the proper steps

How do students learn best?

Students can expect to:

-Experimental design: generate and design

The most effective way for students to

their own scientific questions and explore the
learn science is through activity
investigation
based learning. These References:
consist
-Exercise reflective thinking
| -Work
Coalition
Essential
Schools
| Pageand
of hands-on, minds-on"Benchmarks
and
with of
others
through
collaboration
10." Coalition
ofcommunication
Essential Schools RSS2. Web. 1 May 2015.
authentic activities. Hands-on
is
where the students will execute,
-take responsibility for their own learning
What Are the
Studentsways (sharing
build meaning and gain"Inquiry Indicators:
-use technology
in meaningful
Vol 2. Web.
1 May 2015.
data and findings
in meaningful
and creative
understanding throughDoing?"
hands- FOUNDATIONS
ways)
Position Statement." : Beyond 2000. Web. 1 May 2015.
on activities. Minds-on "NSTA
activities
are where students gain the
will create
a portfolio
representing
"NSTA Position Students
Statement."
: Quality
Science
Education and
critical thinking skills. Authentic
their
performances
in
the
classroom.
21st-Century Skills. Web. 1 May 2015.
activities are real-life situations
were students have to problem"Start
Science Sooner." Scientific American Global RSS. Web. 1
solve and find a solution.
There
2015.
still needs to be some May
teacher
directed teaching but the
"Teaching Critical Thinking: An Evidence-based
balance between the teacher
Guide." Teaching Critical Thinking: An Evidence-based Guide.
directed and meaningful hands
Web. 1 May 2015.
on experiences will maximize
your students success in
science.

2007 by Education World. Education World grants users permission to reproduce this work sheet for educational
purposes only.