Timeless Teachings in a Changing World

The Science curriculum in Georgia is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills for proficiency in science. Relationships between science, our environment, and our everyday world are crucial to each student’s scientific literacy. To become literate in science, therefore, students need to acquire understandings of “how to do science”, the Characteristics of Science Standards, and of “scientific concepts”, the Content Standards.​

The Georgia Performance Standards for Science emphasized the idea that science is a way of knowing through the use of science processes to understand scientific concepts. Therefore, instruction needs to be organized so that the Characteristics of Science Standards and the Content Standards be taught together. Therefore, A CONTENT STANDARD IS NOT MET UNLESS APPLICABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE ARE ALSO ADDRESSED AT THE SAME TIME. For this reason they are presented as co-requisites.

The hands-on nature of the science curriculum standards increases the need for teachers to use appropriate precautions in the laboratory and field. The guidelines for the safe use, storage, and disposal of chemicals must be observed. Safety of the student should always be foremost in science instruction.