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BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach, Level 2

Inquiry

Welcome to BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach, Level 2 and your four-minute introduction to what makes it such a successful program.

Every time BSCS develops a new program, it’s a reflection of a collaborative effort among teachers, scientists, and science educators. Our goal is to create a highly teachable program with scientific integrity as its foundation. BSCS developed An Inquiry Approach with effective, student-centered learning as a central focus. We couldn’t do this without input from the many teachers who have field-tested the program as well as input from teachers who use the program in their classrooms after it’s in print.

BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach represents a new generation of instructional materials for high school science. As with all BSCS programs, An Inquiry Approach is an innovative, student-centered science program. This three-year program for high school is funded by the National Science Foundation. It introduces students to the core concepts in inquiry, the physical sciences, the life sciences, and the earth and space sciences as articulated in the National Science Education Standards.

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Grades 6-11
Grades 9-11

The curriculum engages students in integration across the disciplines in relevant contexts that explore the standards related to science in a personal and social perspective and to science and technology. When students complete all three years of the program, they’ll have been introduced to all of the national standards for grades nine through 12.

BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach provides high school students nationwide with a rigorous, coherent alternative to the traditional sequence of biology, chemistry, and physics, and covers earth and space science as well.

Foremost among the program’s innovative features is a comprehensive emphasis on inquiry and the big ideas of science. We developed this program with a team of scientists, teachers, science educators, and many students in field-test classrooms across the country. As we developed this program, we focused on these goals for students:

To increase students’ enduring understanding of fundamental concepts across the disciplines of science
To present science in a context that is relevant to students
To increase students’ interest and achievement in science
To enhance their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills

To meet the needs of teachers who must facilitate learning in classrooms characterized by student populations with multiple abilities and learning styles, our goal was to develop a flexible curriculum that can be individualized to suit particular teaching styles and unique classroom settings. An explicit instructional model, collaborative learning opportunities, ongoing assessment, optional activities, and a variety of educational technologies all can be used to adapt the curriculum to virtually any learning situation.

Our work doesn’t end when the program is published, so we invite you to join the Inquiry team at BSCS by sending your thoughts, experiences, and questions to us at info@bscs.org. For your private tour of the Inquiry Approach, Level 2 program, including chapter organizers, transparencies, and a look at the field test process, please visit bscs.org/Inquiry.

BSCS wants to be a partner in your success. That means we share our professional experience and insights toward a common end—helping students think, learn, and problem solve. Like you, we want students to be better prepared to participate effectively in an increasingly complex world. It’s one of many steps in the long journey to a satisfying adulthood. And it’s a journey we’re honored to take with you.