Anonymous
05/23/2025 16:51
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 1st grader, science was mostly worksheets this year and my bright curious kid said it was borrrring. Does 2nd grade get any more hands on? What about AAP science in elementary, does it get more interesting and hands on or do we have to wait till middle school? I remember doing this like snails, mealworms, planting stuff in my podunk elementary school that made science feel more interesting. I feel like my pre k kiddo got better science instruction (much more hands on) than the 1st grader.
Nope. Parent of 5th grader. Our AAP teacher said most kids will likely have a hard time with the 5th grade science SOL. And it seems, she was correct. My kid still brings home science worksheets in 5th that labels plant parts and the rain cycle. They do have a STEM day twice per year though...but the kids only spend about 30 minutes touching slime or playing with magnets.
Also, I am not sure why, but do not even have a science fair for 5th grade? I think I did that in Florida growing up...but I have not seen a flyer or received any info about a science fair.
I would say your family has a much larger appetite for science that what could ever be satisfied in FCPS/ AAP.
My only advice would be to continue to supplement with science summer camps and outside of class enrichment. We have a good friend who does this and their kid aces most science stuff and he will likely be very far ahead once HS science classes are offered.
That's odd, I have a child who...isn't great at school, but still did great on the Science SOL. Initiative 6th, she's enjoyed the climate unit.
As for science fairs, they are only done if the teachers and parents are willing to do it. Pre-covid our school did it, now they don't. Everything sucks post-Covid. It's like they gave up.
Anonymous
05/23/2025 16:49
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:2nd grade science is one of the best ES science years! We had a teacher that loved the science curriculum, so that obviously helped, but they observe monarchs go through the cycle from caterpillar to butterfly and then get to release them in the school’s milkweed garden. They also do a weather unit and a magnetism unit. 3rd grade AAP science hasn’t been nearly as fun.
It's teacher dependent for sure. The 2nd grade units are pretty fun with the monarch. The way the weather and magnetism units were taught to all 3 of my kids were not that exciting. And the 3rd grade soil unit, even with the hands on experiment to go with, is really boring.
OP my older 2 kids spent years in the ES full time AAP curriculum but my kids are now at a private not known for it's math and science. However they have a separate elementary science teacher and are learning a ton more, doing a school required science fair, and actually getting prepared for middle school science.
Of course the school will never be able to offer the breadth and depth of what FCPS offers for science in high school, though.
As you said, it's teacher dependent, my 3rd grader LOVED the soil unit. I don't know when it was but she's still spouting off facts about soil, getting mad when we do something that could hurt the ecosystem, etc., FCPS has borne a true environmentalist this year, LOL!
Anonymous
05/23/2025 16:43
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
2nd grade mom here. Second grade is completely boring and uncreative. They did learn about magnets, weather, and monarchs but my kiddo was super bored with no interesting or engaging activities. We are in Langley pyramid.?
Anonymous
05/23/2025 10:43
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 1st grader, science was mostly worksheets this year and my bright curious kid said it was borrrring. Does 2nd grade get any more hands on? What about AAP science in elementary, does it get more interesting and hands on or do we have to wait till middle school? I remember doing this like snails, mealworms, planting stuff in my podunk elementary school that made science feel more interesting. I feel like my pre k kiddo got better science instruction (much more hands on) than the 1st grader.
Nope. Parent of 5th grader. Our AAP teacher said most kids will likely have a hard time with the 5th grade science SOL. And it seems, she was correct. My kid still brings home science worksheets in 5th that labels plant parts and the rain cycle. They do have a STEM day twice per year though...but the kids only spend about 30 minutes touching slime or playing with magnets.
Also, I am not sure why, but do not even have a science fair for 5th grade? I think I did that in Florida growing up...but I have not seen a flyer or received any info about a science fair.
I would say your family has a much larger appetite for science that what could ever be satisfied in FCPS/ AAP.
My only advice would be to continue to supplement with science summer camps and outside of class enrichment. We have a good friend who does this and their kid aces most science stuff and he will likely be very far ahead once HS science classes are offered.
Anonymous
05/22/2025 13:04
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
FCPS elementary science is the absolute worst. I have been so disappointed (I'm a former science teacher). I get why it is so bad, but it doesn't even seem to be a talking point for most.
Anonymous
05/22/2025 10:17
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Science has been very hands on and project based at our AAP center - but I agree that this seems very teacher dependent. In general, the minimal amount of time allotted to science in ES limits it's potential.
Anonymous
05/22/2025 09:06
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
AAP absolutely did worse in terms of science. I have two kids in centers and one kid in our local school. The local school spent way more time and energy on science and social studies.
The AAP center was very focused on math, particularly in the 5th and 6th grades when there was the year jump.
I will also note the center did way less writing instruction and more creative writing. The local school spent more time teaching how to write things like 5 paragraph essays etc. My other kids learned this more in middle school. YMMV of course.
The AAP center was very focused on math, particularly in the 5th and 6th grades when there was the year jump.
I will also note the center did way less writing instruction and more creative writing. The local school spent more time teaching how to write things like 5 paragraph essays etc. My other kids learned this more in middle school. YMMV of course.
Anonymous
05/22/2025 08:35
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Anonymous wrote:2nd grade science is one of the best ES science years! We had a teacher that loved the science curriculum, so that obviously helped, but they observe monarchs go through the cycle from caterpillar to butterfly and then get to release them in the school’s milkweed garden. They also do a weather unit and a magnetism unit. 3rd grade AAP science hasn’t been nearly as fun.
It's teacher dependent for sure. The 2nd grade units are pretty fun with the monarch. The way the weather and magnetism units were taught to all 3 of my kids were not that exciting. And the 3rd grade soil unit, even with the hands on experiment to go with, is really boring.
OP my older 2 kids spent years in the ES full time AAP curriculum but my kids are now at a private not known for it's math and science. However they have a separate elementary science teacher and are learning a ton more, doing a school required science fair, and actually getting prepared for middle school science.
Of course the school will never be able to offer the breadth and depth of what FCPS offers for science in high school, though.
Anonymous
05/22/2025 08:29
Subject: Re:Does science get better in AAP?
I would guess no. There is not enough time. In 4th grade, the focus is history and Science is mainly ignored. In 5th grade they focus on Science for the Science SOL.
DS has not found acience in 7th grade to be all that interesting, we are hoping that 8th grade is better. He is taking the AAP classes. I think that the issue in 7th grade has been that the class is more foundational and that they are not really exploring anything particularly interesting. I fear we might be waiting for HS classes for science to finally be a class that DS is interested in.
DS has not found acience in 7th grade to be all that interesting, we are hoping that 8th grade is better. He is taking the AAP classes. I think that the issue in 7th grade has been that the class is more foundational and that they are not really exploring anything particularly interesting. I fear we might be waiting for HS classes for science to finally be a class that DS is interested in.
Anonymous
05/21/2025 20:47
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Anonymous wrote:Op here, wow that gives me a little hope…you are so lucky. I guess it’s hit or miss on the teachers, sigh.
ES teacher here. Science and SS share time. We have 30 mins daily. This is the reason ES Science is lacking.
Anonymous
05/21/2025 20:27
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Op here, wow that gives me a little hope…you are so lucky. I guess it’s hit or miss on the teachers, sigh.
Anonymous
05/21/2025 20:10
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
2nd grade science is one of the best ES science years! We had a teacher that loved the science curriculum, so that obviously helped, but they observe monarchs go through the cycle from caterpillar to butterfly and then get to release them in the school’s milkweed garden. They also do a weather unit and a magnetism unit. 3rd grade AAP science hasn’t been nearly as fun.
Anonymous
05/21/2025 20:00
Subject: Does science get better in AAP?
Parent of a 1st grader, science was mostly worksheets this year and my bright curious kid said it was borrrring. Does 2nd grade get any more hands on? What about AAP science in elementary, does it get more interesting and hands on or do we have to wait till middle school? I remember doing this like snails, mealworms, planting stuff in my podunk elementary school that made science feel more interesting. I feel like my pre k kiddo got better science instruction (much more hands on) than the 1st grader.