submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
This year Berlin Elementary School students are participating in an all new, inquiry based science program geared at sparking their interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and preparing them for Middle School and High School.
Students are participating in in-classroom lessons using real science equipment to learn about science concepts. They will also work in an all new science lab classroom, something traditionally preserved for middle and high school curriculums.
Christine Walsh is the K-5 Science Teacher and co-teaches the lessons with the students’ primary teacher when teaching in their classroom. Each grade will participate in a five week block of lessons that utilize the new science lab.
The students’ first “in-classroom” lesson actually took place outside. Students went on a short hike in the woods behind Berlin Elementary School to learn how scientists use their senses to make observations and to practice their own observational skills.
“Elementary students have a natural inquisitiveness about them so these types of lessons are a great fit,” said Walsh. “The idea is that by getting the kids to observe and use basic science process skills now, they’ll have a love of science when they get to middle school and high school and will want to extend their science education.”
Walsh is in the process of aligning the curriculum with the New York State Science Standards. She is also aligning it to the Next Generation Science Standards, which includes engineering and design components in each grade level.
