LPS Science Curriculum
The Mission of LPS Science
The mission of the LPS Science Curriculum Department is to develop all students’ scientific, engineering, and technology knowledge, skills, and curiosity in order to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and informed decision makers.
Overview
Lincoln Public Schools science program will achieve this mission by helping all students develop an understanding of natural phenomena and how humans utilize and impact the world. The curriculum is based on the Nebraska State Science Standards and the National Science Standards. The program stresses hands-on activities to develop an understanding of practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts of science. The program is structured to help students realize that science is part of everyday life and affects all individuals.
Elementary
The three themes studied in elementary schools are living things and the environment, the physical world, and space/earth. Embedded within these themes are connections to engineering, technology and applications of science and connections to the nature of science. Students investigate to learn to value curiosity, openness, inquiry, and critical thinking skills in science as a part of every day living.
Middle School
The middle school science curriculum focuses on topics from life science and the environment, physical science, and space/earth science. Embedded within these themes are connections to engineering, technology and applications of science and connections to the nature of science. Some of the specific units include cells and heredity, electricity and magnetism, weather, astronomy, and the environment. The science curriculum helps students explore science questions and discover how science is meaningful to their lives.
High School
The high school science curriculum focuses on the same core content with a continued increase in rigor. Environmental issues, daily applications, and connections to other fields are stressed. Core courses include geoscience, physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Electives vary from school to school and may include anatomy/physiology, environmental studies, forensic science, and zoology. According to LPS Board Policy 6222, beginning with the graduating class of 2015, the LPS graduation requirement is 30 credit hours of science, including 5 hours of earth, physical (physics and chemistry) and life science.
Collaborative Opportunities
Lincoln STEM Ecosystem – Working to connect in and out of school STEM rich learning environments in Lincoln since 2019! Follow along or get involved in this voluntary experience.
Featured Events
Science and Engineering Fair — Our 2024 Science and Engineering Fair will occur on March 7th, 2024. You can continue to access last year’s tremendous community resources and activities featured here.
2024 Saturday Science – Starts February 3rd
2024 Science and Engineering Fair- March 7th
