Some thoughts…
Through my years in education, I’ve seen the time allotted to science (living, physical, and Earth sciences) and social studies (history, geography, economics, and civics) classes cut in elementary schools to add additional time to reading and math blocks.
HOWEVER, less time on these subjects is not what’s best for young children!
Children are sensory learners, driven by curiosity and active exploration, rather than passive receivers of knowledge.
Most of the problems in the world today, such as food insecurity, loss of animal habitats, world relations, climate change, and pandemics revolve around issues related to the sciences. We need informed citizens!
There are well documented health benefits to spending time outside in nature.
These subjects lend themselves to project-based activities with real-world applications, resulting in deeper learning and the development of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity skills.
Knowledge of these disciplines leads to a deeper appreciation of literature, art, and music.
Research has demonstrated that reading scores actually improve when additional time is spent studying science and social studies! Standardized tests often include non-fiction passages. Children who have greater background knowledge and a broader vocabulary score higher on these exams, but more importantly, read with greater understanding.
I hope teachers are reading non-fiction books to their students and using them in small groups, not just during a science lesson. Cross curricular instruction is the most effective and as I stated in a previous post, many children prefer informational books.
And engaging science lessons create JOY!
Note: More science does not mean additional time reading science textbooks and completing worksheets! Also, although I am a major advocate for STEM, I need to caution about STEM activities replacing time dedicated to science. The scientific method focuses on understanding natural phenomena, while the engineer design process attempts to create solutions to real-world problems. Both are important. Engineers use their knowledge of science, technology, and math.
