Science Literacy for ALL Students: The Rhode Island Science Framework

The Rhode Island Science Framework is directly linked to Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a major national reform initiative in mathematics, science, and technology education. Project 2061 has a lead document, Science for All Americans, which describes what ever American student should know, be able to do, and value in the sciences. This document was based on careful work by panels of experts in various scientific field which defined key concepts and principles in their respective fields of endeavor. The RI science framework development team accepted the deliberations and recommendations of Science for All Americans as a common starting point for its work.

The science framework committee carefully considered this document and concluded that RI schools, administrators, and teachers would benefit from linking their science education efforts directly to relevant Project 2061 benchmarks for the following reasons. First, because the benchmarks reflect the best collective thinking of the science community regarding standards for K-12 science education. Second, because Project 2061 is committed to linking concepts and principles not only across the sciences (e.g. biology, chemistry, astronomy, oceanography, mathematics) but also to other important areas of human endeavor such as history, philosophy, communication arts, engineering and allied fields, and the social sciences. Sustained use of the Benchmarks for Science Literacy enables schools to appropriately tailor their efforts to reflect local concerns and needs while ensuring that such efforts in the science curriculum area are linked to rigorous, nationally agreed-upon standards in science education.

NOTE: The numbering system for the benchmarks corresponds to the Benchmarks for Science Literacy by the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Project 2061. Not all of the Project 2061 benchmarks are represented.

Table of Contents
	How to use the Rhode Island Science Frameworks
	Introduction and list of Contributors to Science Frameworks
	Chapter 1. The Rhode Island Common Core of Learning and the RI Science Framework
	Chapter 2. Philosophy and Definitions for the Science Framework
	Chapter 3. The Rhode Island Benchmarks
	Grades K-2 Benchmarks A. The Nature of Technology B. The Physical Setting C. The Living Environment D. The Human Organism
	Grades 3-5 Benchmarks A. The Nature of Technology B. The Physical Setting C. The Living Environment D. The Human Organism
	Grades 6-8 Benchmarks A. The Nature of Technology B. The Physical Setting C. The Living Environment D. The Human Organism
	Grades 9-12 Benchmarks A. The Nature of Technology B. The Physical Setting C. The Living Environment D. The Human Organism
	Chapter 4. Insights from Research  on the Learning and Teaching of Science
	Chapter 5. Teaching Science in an Inclusive Way
	Chapter 6. Organizing the System to Support  Quality Science Education
	Chapter 7. Assessment in Science
	Chapter 8. Evaluating the School Science Program
	Chapter 9. Organizational and Information  Resources for RI Schools