- Dear Parent or Guardian,
This year, your child is using a science course called Issues and Physical Science (IAPS)
that was developed by SEPUP, the Science Education for Public Understanding
Program. SEPUP has developed and published innovative and highly acclaimed middle
school curriculum for more than 30 years. Issues and Physical Science, like other
SEPUP curriculum materials, was funded by the National Science Foundation. To
learn more about SEPUP, visit us on the Internet at www.sepuplhs.org.
Issues and Physical Science is an engaging hands-on physical science course based on
the educational approach of scientific inquiry. As such, it uses several kinds of activities
to teach science. For example, students design and conduct an experiment to
investigate the effects of speed and mass on vehicle collisions, explore molecular
models of water and other chemicals, play the roles of scientists investigating water
quality, and read about alternative energy sources. A combination of experiments,
readings, models, debates, role-plays, and projects help students discover the nature
of science, learn science content, and experience the relevance of science in today’s
world.
How do we know that this is a good way for your child to learn? In general, research
on science education supports it. In particular, SEPUP tests out its materials, such as
Issues and Physical Science, with hundreds of students and their teachers throughout
the country, and experts in earth and space sciences provide scientific review of the
content. SEPUP then revises the materials based on the feedback and evaluation of
the materials. We believe the resulting curriculum shows students that learning and
using scientific ideas is an important and an exciting endeavor.
Sincerely, - Pamela Wortman