On July 15, 2022, Pennsylvania adopted new Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering. Participants in this network will be introduced to the new standards, 3 Dimensional Learning, Environmental Learning, and other topics. These educators will be their district liaison and share with others in their home district.
The new Pennsylvania standards are built upon the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) A Framework for K-12 Science Education (The Framework). Like The Framework, the Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering (Grades K-5) are based on current research in student learning and take a threedimensional approach that integrates disciplinary core ideas, practices in science and engineering and crosscutting concepts into a coherent set of expectations for student learning that builds progressively across grades. Together, these elementary school standards and the companion standards for middle and high school—the Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment and Ecology (Grades 6-12)—provide the basis for K-12 science education in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering (Grades K-5) guide the elementary-level study of the natural and human-made world through inquiry, problem-solving, critical thinking and authentic exploration. The integration of these disciplines in the elementary standards highlights the interconnectedness of scientific study, the integral relationship between humans and the environment and the importance of integrating the teaching and learning of science, engineering and technology. Presenting the standards for science, environment, ecology, technology and engineering together in a single document makes them more accessible for elementary teachers when developing innovative STEM curricula that integrate related content.
