The New Haven Public School district encourages science literacy for all students by building a solid foundation of science topics that are interesting and relevant to students. Science is learned in a context of real world issues through active and thoughtful exploration of questions and problems. Whenever possible, learning about science topics should involve hands-on exploration that enables students to make observations, conduct investigations, test ideas, and communicate their understanding.
Water is an extremely valuable resource. Not only do we need it to sustain life, but it also shapes our environment. This unit will help students understand the role the of water in erosion and river formation in a hands-on manner consistent with the vision of New Haven Public Schools. Although at the time of this writing in 2017, water is one of the 4th grade science standards and is currently taught using a district provided Science and Technology Concepts (STC) kit. However, with the rollout of the NGSS within the district, the content of this unit has been shifted to 2nd grade. This unit will provide an additional experience for students to learn about some of the roles of water on our planet.