What About Social Studies and Science?

In the Elementary, we spend a lot of our time and energy in teaching ELA and Math.  At times, Science and Social Studies are pushed to the fringe.  As a result, elementary teachers have become more and more skilled at infusing Social Studies and Science content into the Language Arts and Math curriculum.  For example: 4th grade teachers are required to cover the time period of the Revolutionary War and the birth of our nation.  That content could be covered in a Language Arts unit on non-fiction reading and writing.  This layering of curriculum also helps students to see that learning is a process and isn't defined to one subject.  

Recently, NYS has refocused the Science and Social Studies curriculums through "Next Generation Science Standards" and "The New York State K-12 Social Studies Framework ." 

The New York State K-12 Social Studies Framework is designed to prepare students for college, careers, and civic life with courses that are rigorous and aligned to New York State Learning Standards. This Framework integrates existing New York State Learning Standards and the New York State Core Curriculum for Social Studies into a single, three-part document.  This Framework can be found using the following link <http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/frameworkhome.html>  or <http://www.moboces.org/Page/1040> 

In December of 2016, the NYS Board of regents approved the Next Generation Science Standards for New York State.  These Standards will be in effect on July 1, 2017.  These standards for learning can be found at <http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/sci/nyssls.html>

Teachers at HCS will be meeting over the next year to update our curriculum maps to reflect this new Social Studies Framework and the new Science Standards.