Science

Midland ISD Science Instructional Framework

Midland ISD Science Vision

Midland ISD will provide all students equitable access to quality science instruction that fuels curiosity and enhances understanding of science phenomena in everyday life. Students will experience productive struggle and utilize problem solving skills while making real world connections. With the support of all stakeholders, Midland ISD students will graduate college, career or military ready.

Midland ISD Science Beliefs 

1. We believe in inquiry based learning with hands-on experience to explore science phenomena.

Hands-on inquiry-based learning taps into students’ curiosity. It encourages students to ask questions, conduct experiments, and actively engage with science phenomena that fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of science. Frequent interaction with hands-on science can ignite and sustain students’ interest in scientific careers and lifelong learning. 

2. We believe in the value of productive struggle to enhance academic growth and conceptual understanding.

Productive struggle allows students to engage with challenging problems and concepts, fosters resilience, perseverance, and critical thinking that prepares students for future academic and life challenges. Students who struggle with complex problems are encouraged to think critically, analyze various approaches, creatively solve problems and work to find effective solutions. Students represent their thinking through oral and written justifications which allows for reflection and revision of their thinking. This process allows for ownership of learning and increases student motivation and engagement.  

3. We believe in daily engagement with a balanced rigorous science instruction. 

Students with regular exposure to scientific principles develop a solid foundation that enhances their understanding. Rigorous TEKS aligned instruction challenges students to analyze and evaluate information, promoting higher-order thinking skills. Students will be offered opportunities to collaborate through respectful discourse, written and oral justifications.

4. We believe that key science concepts are connected within and across grade levels. 

Science concepts within and across grade levels are essential for developing a cohesive and comprehensive science education. We believe students can understand more complex concepts when they are able to build upon prior knowledge by reinforcing learning through repetition and application of science phenomena. Seeing the relevance and connections of key science concepts and how it connects to prior and future learning help students see the big picture while increasing student interest and motivation to learn.