In Wauconda D118, our science instruction is powered by Elevate Science, a comprehensive K-5 program designed to spark curiosity and elevate critical thinking. Moving beyond traditional rote memorization, our curriculum is built on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students don’t just read about science; they "figure out" real-world problems through hands-on exploration and evidence-based reasoning.
Our lessons follow a consistent, research-based cycle: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. This structure ensures students are active participants in their own discovery.
Science isn’t just observing; it’s doing. Every module includes an engineering challenge where students define a problem, develop a model, and optimize their design to find the best possible solution.
The Elevate Science program meets every student's need for a deep, interconnected understanding of the natural world through three distinct lenses:
Science & Engineering Practices: Students act as investigators by asking questions, developing models, and using data to construct explanations.
Crosscutting Concepts: Students learn to identify universal themes—like patterns, cause and effect, and systems—that bridge the gap between Life, Earth, and Physical sciences.
Disciplinary Core Ideas: We focus on the "big ideas" of science, ensuring students build a solid foundation of knowledge as they progress through each grade level.
Scope and Sequence