Building a science-literate citizenry is a goal of Core Knowledge Science.
Core Knowledge Foundation is committed to fostering science literacy in students K-5. But our mission is not to turn every student into a scientist by profession, but rather it is to allow for the development of scientifically literate citizens. Internet searches often only define the term science literacy to mean knowledge of the procedures and skills involved in scientific processes. Fair enough.
What does Core Knowledge Foundation mean by the term science literacy—and what is a scientifically literate citizen?
Knowledge of Scientific Processes
Science literacy is a mindset that values the importance of observing, hypothesizing, and testing. Science literacy involves awareness of how scientists obtain and analyze data, what a conclusion is, how conclusions are shared, and what it means for an idea to be elevated to the status of a scientific theory or law. Furthermore, a person who is science-literate understands that science grows and that the science behind any subject may change as new facts become established. Certainly, science literacy must encompass all these notions.
The Role of Science in Society
A science-literate citizen also understands the role of science in our society. They recognize the importance of science knowledge in helping private and public groups make decisions based not on emotion, rumor, gossip, or hearsay, but rather on the foundation of careful research and established scientific facts. One ethical commitment of a scientifically literate populace is a willingness to incorporate scientific thought into aspects of popular thought, emotion, and mood. Scientific thinking helps balance discussions at all levels of government and all levels of private decision-making.
Science is Connected to all Human Endeavors
Science literacy can apply to all aspects of human learning, such as art, history, biography, mathematics, music, philosophy, and literature. To these areas of human endeavor, the scientifically literate person applies scientific thinking to make informed judgments about a novel or a painting to understand the artist’s vision. A scientifically literate view of history, for example, focuses on how science and society interacted in the past, determines at what times science flourished, and examines when and why at other times it did not.
How does Core Knowledge Foundation meet this responsibility? We built a curriculum that addresses science literacy in a beautiful and kid-friendly suite of.
Core Knowledge Science Literacy K-5 is avant-garde, breaking new ground in elementary education by offering a systematic, logical, spiraling curriculum in what will become an important, essential body of knowledge for young students. Each grade has a Student Book, Teacher Guide, Online Resources, and our new Digital Engagements.
To learn more, visit our Science Overview page.