The Hands-On Science series is an instructional program for teachers of grades 1 to 7 science. Based on recent research in science education, Hands-On Science assists teachers in developing students’ scientific literacy through active inquiry, problem solving, and decision-making. The program is activity-based and child-centred, meaning that students are engaged in hands-on activities in a real-life context to explore the world around them.

The program emphasizes the foundations of scientific literacy as established in the Pan-Canadian Protocal*, which include:

·         Awareness: Students develop an understanding of science and technology and their social and environmental contexts.

·         Skills: Students develop skills in scientific and technological inquiry, problem solving, communicating scientific ideas, working collaboratively, and making informed decisions.

·         Knowledge: Students construct knowledge in life science, physical science, earth science, and space science.

·         Attitudes: Students are encouraged to develop attitudes that enable them to acquire and apply scientific and technological knowledge in a responsible manner that benefits self, society, and the environment.

Using themes from your curriculum, the Hands-On Science series provides instructional support for teachers. Each grade-level resource guide has four instructional units. Each unit is complete with suggested websites and books for children, science vocabulary lists, science background information, detailed lesson plans focusing on specific curricular outcomes, and blackline masters for lesson visuals and activity sheets. The program also includes an authentic assessment plan based on the most current research in educational assessment.

*Common Framework of Science Learning Outcomes K–12: Pan-Canadian Protocol for Collaboration on School Curriculum (1997).