The following summarizes the answer to the question:

What key elements of the revised program of studies do you support?

 Stakeholders support the…

• reduction in the number of topics, thus allowing opportunities to deepen understanding
• broadening of scope found within individual topics
• emphasis on the scrutiny of local habitats
• topics chosen (including Energy, considered to be a ‘must-have’ for Alberta)
• simplicity of having just three enduring science understandings per topic
• inquiry-based approach, and the Inquiry skills development continuum
• potential to integrate subjects and create cross-curricular units of study
• emphasis placed on outdoor education.  This helps give students ‘environmental sensitivity,’ a feeling of empathy with the natural world.
• continuity and flow within the document that connects all seven grades
• spiraling curriculum: several topics (e.g. water) can be found at several different grade levels
• flow/sequencing from focusing questions to enduring science understandings
• inclusion of ‘Stewardship and Sustainability’ as a unifying idea (and indeed the very concept of ‘unifying ideas’)
• glossary of common terms
• Addition of illustrative examples and ideas
• well-organized nature of this document
• developing resources in lockstep with this program of studies