Guidelines to preparing an elementary school science curriculum

Includes bibliographical references.This paper is a set of guidelines to preparing an elementary school curriculum guide. It is not intended to supplant work that necessarily must be done in preparing a curriculum guide, but is intended to guide that work which is to be done. An integrated science program for elementary schools has long been a need and happenings in recent years have brought this need sharply into focus for all educators to see. This paper presents and defines this need and then goes on to discuss methods for adequately fulfilling the need. Topics covered include} philosophy of science education, the nature of the elementary child, objectives of an ideal science program, methods by which objectives may be met, how to evaluate the science program and children, science materials and how they should be chosen, what the science curriculum should include, and conclusions reached after the completion of the study. An appendix is included which gives the science teacher or administrator a source for science materials, literature, and visual aids. It is hoped that this paper will be of assistance to school authorities in scrutinizing their science program and then the next step of making additions and/or changes to their elementary school science program.M.S. Ed. (Master of Education