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
