IUSD Elementary Science Specialist Program

The Irvine Unified School District Elementary Science Specialist Program is in its 21st year and our goal is still to provide each student with an opportunity to experience a hands-on, activity –based program. We know that children learn science concepts best when they are able to investigate, experiment and discover things for themselves.

The science curriculum for the year will cover units in all three branches of science. The fourth grade units will cover Environments, Rocks and Minerals, and Electricity and Magnetism. The fifth graders will study Weather and Space, Matter, and Body Systems. The sixth grade units will include Science Fair, Dynamic Earth, and Oceanography. All sixth grade students will participate in a science fair project.

All sixth grade students will participate in the Science Fair by completing a science fair project and all third through fifth grade students will have the option to participate in our Science Fair.

Since the priority of our science program is "hands-on" experiments, considerable emphasis will be placed on class participation and a willingness to work cooperatively with others in lab groups. Science grades will be based quizzes, performance-based tests and projects. Effort grades will be based on participation in class, in lab groups and on written assignments.