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Mahopac Fifth-Graders Embrace Science 21 Learning System

MAHOPAC, N.Y. -- Fifth-graders in Mahopac schools know how many drops of water can fit on a penny. 

Students at Fulmar Road School are enthusiastic about the Science 21 curriculum.

Students at Fulmar Road School are enthusiastic about the Science 21 curriculum.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Students at Fullmar Road School have embraced the Science 21 curriculum.

Students at Fullmar Road School have embraced the Science 21 curriculum.

Photo Credit: Contributed

And if it matters whether the penny is heads or tails, or old or new. 

These are some of the questions fifth-graders in Mark Mitchell’s class at Fulmar Road Elementary School are asking — and answering — this year in science class. 

All three elementary schools in Mahopac — Fulmar Road, Austin Road and Lakeview Elementary School — are embracing the Science 21 curriculum this year. 

Developed at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, Science 21 is an inquiry-based, hands-on elementary school science program created by teachers for teachers. It is linked to the New York State Learning Standards for Mathematics, Science and Technology.

From the active response of students in Mitchell’s class, the hands-on approach is working. 

“This is really a fun way to learn science,” said Brett, a fifth-grader. 

“I think by doing experiments, kids learn more,” said fellow student Sean. 

“The students really get into this type of approach to learning,” said Mitchell, their teacher. “They are really quiet when they are engaged in an activity, like an experiment, but then they are excited to discuss what they’ve learned with each other afterward and brainstorm ideas.” 

In this lesson, students were talking about how the variables in their experiment can change the outcome. During their first attempt, droppers with holes of different sizes were used. Students reported vastly different outcomes. 

“I got 35 drops,” said one student. “I only got 27,” said another. 

“What other variables do you think affected our outcome?” Mitchell asked students. “Whether the penny was clean and new, or old and dirty!” one student replied. Other variables reported were water temperature and whether the penny was used head’s up or down. 

“I used Science 21 when I was a teacher back in 1996, and I loved the program,” said Fulmar Road Principal Gary Chadwick. “The ongoing staff development, hands-on approach, and the fact that it’s a curriculum written by teachers and is always up to date make it exciting for the teachers and the students."

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