Elementary Students from Foxborough Receive Hands-on Learning from New Science Program

Elementary students in Foxborough are learning science "hands-on."  

The school committee voted Monday to adopt the Sangari Active Science Program for grades 1-5. The Sangari Active Science Program was used in the schools this year on a trial basis.

"We want our younger students to be more prepared for what is waiting for them at the high school," said K-8 math and science director Alison Mello. "We wanted to find something to engage the students – not just reading."

The Sangari Active Science Program strives to teach science to younger students in a "hands-on" approach.

"Hands-on is the way to go," said School Committee member Martha Slattery. "It's how you learn and how you retain."

The program offers a key item that science textbooks simply cannot - the ability to stay up-to-date with current events. 

"This program offers an opportunity to remain current unlike stagnant textbooks," echoed Mello.

Unlike wordy textbooks, The Sangari Active Science program comes complete with "big lively picture books" and materials. 1st grade teacher Janet Pacitti displayed the animal unit book, which featured colorful and over-sized pictures of animals.

"This gets kids excited," said Pacitti as she showed off the animal unit book to the committee. "Parents are amazed with the information that is coming back home."

Instead of reading about light bulbs and generators, students are creating them. "Science is huge for the these kids and the program is an opportunity for me too – the books are beautiful," said 4th grade teacher Stephanie Foley. "We were lighting light bulbs and creating mini generators in our last unit."

School Committee member Kate Kominsky summed up the committee's positive thoughts on the program.

"You have made science exciting," she said.