Serra sought to participate in this program nine years ago when our instructional team determined that students understood science more effectively when they were involved in inquiry and discussion of their own findings.  This approach made science instruction more authentic, meaningful, and engaging.   Students learn and retain more information though this engagement as our longitudinal assessment results demonstrate.  This hands-on approach will continue to be expanded throughout the school as the school more fully develops its facilities and supply materials.  Serra Catholic is also seeking support within the larger community to help fund and develop the richness of our science program.  Through generous community support, the school has added an Astronomy Night where the inquiry and instruction extend to not only our students but also their families.

As we begin to plan for this new school year, we have ordered 8 new Foss kits and 15 new conversion kits in Grades K-6.  The cost of the kits will be covered by the 2012-2013 Instructional budget and this Beckman Grant funds, if awarded.  With these purchases, all current kits that are used will be aligned to the California State standards.  Additionally we will supplement the hand-on portion of our K-6 curriculum with an on-line, interactive “Techbook” by Discovery Science which we piloted in fifth grade this year.

Our future goals include further expansion of our inquiry-based, hands on approach to science and to align all science curriculum with upcoming Common Core Standards, utilizing our newly purchased Atlas Rubicon on-line mapping system.