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.

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.