Science

A consortium of 26 states developed national science and technology/engineering standards, titled Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), that will guide member states, including Michigan. This past November, after more than two years of review, the Michigan State Board of Education adopted new standards for science.  The new Michigan K-12 Science Standards, based upon the Next Generation Science Standards, replace the standards adopted in 2006, commonly known as the Grade Level Content Expectations and High School Content Expectations for Science.The new standards are really a set of student performance expectations. These performance expectations incorporate three main elements:

• Disciplinary Core Ideas (science specific concepts in the life, earth, and physical sciences),
• Science and Engineering Practices (the practices of engaging in scientific investigation to answer questions, and engineering design to solve problems),
• Cross-Cutting Concepts (conceptual ideas common to all areas of science)

These expectations are also interwoven across disciplines, including connections to language arts and mathematics.

FRCS is working on aligning practices with these current standards.  Our goal is to evolve into an improved, inquiry-based approach to learning.

Opened Sourced Curriculum

FRCS has chosen to try out open sourced curriculum materials whenever appropriate.  The new Michigan Science Standards lend themselves well to be open sourced and several grants have been given to develop the curriculum surrounding

ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL