Science should be something students DO not just learn about! As a former high school Physics and Chemistry teacher, I always worked to get students to love science as much as I do. When I took on an adjunct position teaching college-level Introductory Chemistry and Physical Science, it became even more important to me to get students to develop a deeper understanding of science concepts and not just to memorize content. Curiosity is innate in small children, so I know that the love of science starts with the elementary years.
The new science standards shift the focus from learning about a topic to figuring out why or how something happens. They call for engaging students with inquiry and problem solving related to real-world phenomena and everyday situations – those things that build a deep understanding and make science fun to learn. I am excited to share how the Idaho Science standards can help to answer the question “why do I need to learn this” for students and build a relevant connection from the real world to the content.