The mission of Hampton City Schools Science Department is to prepare all students to be scientifically literate citizens and leaders in a world that is increasingly shaped by science and technology. The goal of our science programs is to actively engage our students to develop an understanding of and an enthusiasm for scientific discovery. We will encourage our students to generate and evaluate scientific explanations of the natural world and to productively contribute to scientific practices and discourse. This year emphasis will be placed on the successful preparation of our science students as we incorporate reading passages for science, interactive science journals, an increased focus on vocabulary, study guides and brain dumping.  Our goal is to ensure that every student has the necessary tools to excel in the area of science.

 

Science Program
Grades K-5 – General Science
Grade 6 – General Science
Grade 7 – Life Science
Grade 8 – Physical Science
High School – Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Advance Placement(AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment (DE) Science

 

Online Resources
https://sites.google.com/hampton.k12.va.us/hcssciencedepartment/home

• All courses have access to Discovery Ed through Clever

• Students should be able to access that at home with their email information 

• 5th, 7th, and 8th have access to FOSS Web and will get that information from their teacher

• 3rd-Physics have access to Explore Learning Gizmos (online simulations) - teachers will have login access for students

Science Standards of Learning – Adopted 2018

The elementary science program focuses on providing student-centered and inquiry-based learning experiences for students.  The instruction will emphasize building both student observational skills and knowledge of scientific inquiry as well as developing scientific habits of mind. 

 

Elementary

• 2018 Science SOLs from VDOE
• K-5th Grade 2018 Science Standards

Science Standards of Learning – Adopted 2018

The secondary science program focuses on providing student-centered and inquiry-based learning experiences for students.  The instruction will emphasize building and developing a conceptual understanding of scientific practice, scientific habits of mind and scientific skills beyond observation.  The other emphasis of scientific instruction will be providing students with authentic laboratory and field investigations giving students the opportunity to generate and evaluate scientific explanations of the natural world.  

 

The Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework comprise the science content that teachers in Virginia are expected to teach and students are expected to learn.

 

Secondary

• 6th grade
  
• Life Science
  
• Physical Science
  
• Earth Science
  
• Biology
  
• Chemistry
  
• Physics

Additional High School Science Courses Offered:

Oceanography
Environmental Science
Physiology
Forensic Science (Bethel High School only)
AP Biology
AP Environmental
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 
IB Physics (HHS)
IB Biology (HHS)
IB Chemistry (HHS)
IB Environmental Science (HHS)

Dual Enrollment courses: Biology, Oceanography, Anatomy and Physiology, and Geology

 

NASA SCIence Files
Hampton City Schools' science department and NASA Langley have joined forces to produce the NASA SCIence Files. It is a series of problem based instructional videos for grades 3-5 that introduces students to science as inquiry and the scientific method. Each program supports the national science standards and includes a 60-minute video divided into four, 15-minute "teachable" episodes, a companion teacher guide, a web-based component, classroom activities, virtual field trips and more. The problems and story lines have been created by teachers in Hampton with the help of scientists from NASA Langley Research Center. Many of the episodes have been filmed in part at Hampton elementary schools and our students have participated in the videos. This series is broadcast to thousands of schools across the country. For more information, go to https://www.nasa.gov/stem-ed-resources/NASA_SCI_Files/ The NASA SCIence Files series has been nominated for and won three Emmy awards.

Virginia Air and Space Center
Located in downtown Hampton, the Virginia Air and Space Center has much to offer to Hampton teachers as well as their students. Every year the Center offers teacher workshops designed to reinforce Virginia and National SOL skills. The Center is also the home of the NASA Educational Resource Center, where teachers can obtain countless top quality pictures, posters, videos and more. Programs offered to Hampton City Schools at no cost are shown below:

• Weather or Not one hour program
• Magic of Electricity 30 minute demonstration
• Stormchasers IMAX
• Tour, Grade 8, sponsored by the VU-BAY FOUNDATION
• Wizard’s Chemistry one hour program
• Zap! (Electricity) 30 minute demonstration
• Thrill Ride IMAX
• Hampton University
• Kids in Kayaks
• Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
• Shore Up
• National Park Service
• Virginia Living Museum

Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Sandy Bottom Nature Park is located in Hampton and offers many opportunities for life science and ecology students. The center is also the site of many professional development classes throughout the year.

 

Virginia Aquarium
The Marine Science Museum offers teacher training throughout the year. This is an excellent community resource for marine science studies.

 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

James River Association

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Fort Monroe

Old Dominion University

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Virginia Zoo

Oyster Reef Keepers

Wallops Island

Chincoteague Bay Field Station

SmallLab

Jefferson Lab