Science & Engineering

The K-5 Wellesley Science Curriculum reflects and supports the vision of the Next Generation Science Standards and the Massachusetts State Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum Framework. It is designed  to develop students’ ability to think scientifically while learning about their world and to create knowledgeable, scientifically literate, and technologically capable problem solvers. By fostering a spirit of inquiry, nurturing our students’ curiosity, and bringing current, relevant and real-world science into the classroom experience, we prepare our students to become educated citizens capable of comprehending and analyzing global issues in the fields of science and engineering.

Students actively engage in the practices of scientists and engineers while studying fundamental concepts in three science strands:  life, physical, and earth & space. Each year students build on their previous years’ studies to deepen their understanding of essential science concepts. Through actively engaging in scientific and engineering discussions and explorations, students learn how to carry out investigations, ask scientific questions, use data to understand their world, and how to effectively communicate their reasoning while considering the reasoning of others.  This integration of science and engineering practice with content reflects how scientists and engineers work in the real world, and provides deeper, more meaningful experiences for our young learners.

Key Science Practices

  1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
  2. Developing and using models
  3. Planning and carrying out investigations
  4. Analyzing and interpreting data
  5. Using mathematics and computational thinking
  6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)
  7. Engaging in argument from evidence
  8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information