The Office of Science believes that every student is a natural scientist. Children at very young ages ask questions and have a natural curiosity about the world. Through a robust curriculum and numerous experiences beyond the classroom, HCPS students of science expand their natural curiosity and discover a lifelong passion for science. Harford County Public Schools Office of Science follows the standards established by the Maryland State Department of Education, which adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in 2013, replacing the Voluntary State Curriculum. The NGSS represents knowledge that students should have upon graduation from high school and was developed by a diverse group of scientists, researchers, and teachers. Three dimensions of science are interwoven to provide a robust scientific experience for students. Unlike prior standards, the three dimensions of the NGSS give equal weight to the Disciplinary Core Ideas, the Science and Engineering Practices, and the Crosscutting Concepts, allowing for the integrated nature of the Next Generation Science Standards. In addition to the NGSS, science curriculum includes Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards which focus on the unique environment of living close to the Chesapeake Bay. Visit the MSDE Science Site for more information

Science in elementary school emphasizes a hands-on science approach. Curriculum is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards which covers three major disciplines of science: earth/space science, life sciences, and physical sciences. Kindergarten students begin doing science through investigations, asking questions, and solving problems. They engage in developmentally appropriate Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to build the foundation of their scientific learning.

Learning develops in subsequent grade levels, with deeper learning in Earth/Space, Physical, and Life Sciences and students continue progressing in the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts. Elementary science culminates in a three-day, two-night experience at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center in which students participate in a Meaningful Watershed Experience and develop an action project to implement at their school grounds.

Elementary Students take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) in the spring of their fifth-grade year. The assessment covers content learned in grades 3-5. Middle School Science builds upon the foundation laid in grades K-5 with increasing rigor and continued focus on the Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland’s Environmental Literacy Standards. Students engage in a Gold Standard Project which is a unit designed around Project Based Learning. The units of study in Middle School continue with Earth and Environmental Systems, Life Science, and Physical Science. Unlike Elementary School, each content takes place during a separate year of middle school with Earth and Environmental Science instruction occurring during 6th Grade, Life Science in 7th, and Physical Science in 8th grade. During the spring of a student’s 8th grade year, students take the Grade 8 MISA which includes content from grades 6-8.

High School serves as the culmination of Science instruction in HCPS. Students continue in the NGSS, taking courses in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth and Environmental Science. All students must take and pass Biology. Students take the Biology MISA in May and the score on the MISA contributes to a student’s final Biology grade. Following successful completion of Biology, students have choices in which classes to take to meet Graduation Requirements. The Counseling Offices at each school meets with students to determine which coursework best meets the needs of the individual student. High School students also have the option to take science electives in a variety of disciplines.

Harford County Public Schools has three planetaria, staffed by two dedicated planetarium teachers. Planetarium experiences are built within curricular lessons in grades K-8, excepting grades 2 & 7. There are opportunities to supplement the curriculum in High School through planetarium lessons.

Harford Glen Outdoor Environmental Education Center provides unique experiences for students in Grade 5 to participate in curriculum through a two-night overnight experience. High School students are encouraged to apply to be Harford Glen counselors to support the elementary students. This experience provides valuable opportunities for Fifth Grade students to work alongside older students in a mentoring and instructional role. Harford Glen teachers support field experiences to Harford Glen as scheduling allows.

For more information, visit:

• Harford Glen Environmental Education Center
• Science and Mathematics Academy Website

• Chemistry
• Integrated Physics and Chemistry

• Earth and Environmental Systems
• Physics