Science & Engineering

SEE’s science and engineering approach is informed by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013) and is implemented through the use of Big Idea Guides and the Project Approach. The Next Generation Science Standards include eight key practices for engaging in science:

1. Asking questions and defining problems.
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 and designing solutions.
7. Engaging in argument from evidence.
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

In the SEE curriculum, project topics and Big Ideas are aligned with the MA Science and Technology/Engineering standards for Pre-K, and children use the 8 NGSS practices to explore those topics in order to gain a better understanding of how the world around them works. For example, in a project centered on the role of wheels in transportation, a classroom may choose to focus on Practice 2, Developing and Using Models, by creating models of cars, busses and trains and exploring how their parts work together. Engaging in this kind of hands-on, play-based inquiry boosts curiosity and promotes scientific thinking in young learners.