Science

Ridley School District is a leader in standards- and inquiry-based science education in which all students are scientifically literate.

The mission of the K-12 science program in Ridley School District is to ensure that all students are able to investigate scientifically in order to acquire conceptual understanding of their world, develop positive scientific attitudes, and become scientifically literate. This is accomplished through a collaborative, interactive, rigorous science program responsive to the needs of perse learners.

Learning about science and technology is fun and vitally important in today's increasingly complicated world. The rate of new discoveries and the development of increasingly sophisticated tools make science and technology rapidly changing subjects. Many adults, today, remember their first television. Many young adults remember their first experience with a computer. These objects are products of technology with the help of science. As stated in Content Standard E of the National Science Education Standards, "the relationship between science and technology is so close that any presentation of science without developing an understanding of technology would portray an inaccurate picture of science".

"Science is a dynamic, collaborative human activity that uses distinctive ways of valuing, thinking and working to understand natural phenomena. Science is based on people's aspirations and motivations to follow their curiosity and wonder about the physical, biological and technological world. Scientific knowledge represents the constructions made by people endeavoring to explain their observations of the world around them. Scientific explanations are built in different ways as people pursue intuitive and imaginative ideas, respond in a rational way to hunches, guesses and chance events, challenge attitudes of the time, and generate solutions to problems. As a result of these endeavors, people can use their scientific understandings with confidence in their daily lives.

Science has many methods of investigation, but all are based on the notion that some form of evidence is the basis for defensible conclusions. Because scientific explanations are open to scrutiny, much scientific knowledge is tentative and is continually refined in the light of new evidence. The quest to construct coherent, tested, public and useful scientific knowledge requires people in their scientific undertakings to be creative and open to new ideas, to be intellectually honest, to evaluate arguments with skepticism, and to conduct their work in ways which are ethical, fair and respectful of others..."(Curriculum Council, 27 Walters Drive, Osborne Park, Western Australia, 6017)

In the near future, we will all benefit more from basic research discoveries that will lead to new tools, materials and medical treatments. Learning more about the world around us, by observing and experimenting, is the core of science and technology that is strongly reflected in Pennsylvania's Academic Standards for Science and Technology. Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education (http://www.pde.state.pa.us/science_tech/cwp/view.asp?a=200&Q=56808&science_techNav
=|4484|&science_techNav=|4484|)

The Ridley School District implements K-12 science curriculum that aligns with the Pennsylvania State Board of Education Academic Standards 22 PA Code Chapter 4 Appendix A-E. The state academic standards are benchmark measures that define what students should know and be able to do at specified grade levels beginning in grade 3. The standards are promulgated as state regulations. As such they must be used as the basis for curriculum and instruction in Pennsylvania's public schools. State requirements for curriculum, instruction and assessment may be found in the Board's Chapter 4 regulations (www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/chap4toc.html).

Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology

Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science and Technology

In addition to aligning Ridley School District's K-12 science curriculum to the state academic standards, Ridley School District also adheres to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's developed and the State Board adopted Assessment Anchors for science at the 4th, 8th, and 11th grade level assessed by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Assessment Anchors are a subset of the state academic standards. They define the academic content and skills that are assessed by the PSSA and that are to be implemented by the district's science curriculum.

Introduction to Assessment Anchors

Science Assessment Glossary

Science Assessment Anchors - Grade 4

Science Assessment Anchors - Grade 8

Science Assessment Anchors - Grade 11