SCIENCE

The future of the United States depends on a strong, competitive workforce and a citizenry equipped to function in a complex world. That interest encompasses what every student in a grade should know and be able to do in mathematics and science. The connection of K-12 content standards to college amissions criteria is vital for conveying a national expectation: educational excellence improves not just the health of science, but everyone’s life chances through productive employment, active citizenship, and continuous learning.

The health of science and engineering tomorrow depends on improved mathematics and science preparation of our students today.

The St. Mary’s science curriculum centers on the idea that broad-thinking abilities should be fostered and encouraged in students. Students should become adept at solving problems through experiments, innovations and critical thinking.

St. Mary’s strong commitment to tactile learning is evident in our investment in our outdoor classroom programs and future plans for our 51 acres surrounding the campus. Some of those plans include work with the Natural Resources Conservation Services and National Fish and Wildlife Department to restore ponds appropriately and build a dock. This collaboration also includes attainment of a National Wildlife Federation Certification for the property.

Environmental activities such as Project Learning Tree help students learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment. This award winning, multi-disciplinary program meets state and national standards for math and science and brings the child into the environment. Topics range from forests, wildlife and water to community planning, waste management and energy.

St. Mary’s 4th and 5th grade students are currently working as "citizen scientists" through the Project FeederWatch program at Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology. This program allows students to partner with professional scientists and other groups across the continent to gather data regarding bird movement, species counts and long-term trends. The project will ultimately help with bird conservation and environmental issues. A grant by the Department of Environmental Quality funded the feeders to create the bird habitat.

All students participate in science activities. In grades 2 through 5, students have science in the lab at least two times a week with grades 4 and 5 increasing to three times per week. Our first grade students have a weekly lab session beginning second semester. The lab features high school level equipment including four complete lab stations and one moveable station with sink for instructor-directed investigations and experiments.

St. Mary’s aligns our curriculum with the National Science Education Standards. The goals for school science that underlie the National Science Education Standards are to educate students who are able to:

• Experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world;
• Experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world;
• Use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions;
• Use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions;
• Engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and
• Engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and
• Increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers.
• Increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of
• the scientifically literate person in their careers.

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