Science
McKeesport Area School District is committed to providing students with engaging, rigorous, and meaningful science learning experiences that prepare them for the future. To support this vision, we utilize Amplify Science, a high-quality K–8 science curriculum designed to help students think, investigate, and problem-solve like real scientists and engineers.
What is Amplify Science?
Amplify Science is a phenomena-based program, meaning students learn science by exploring real-world events and problems that spark curiosity and inquiry. Rather than simply memorizing facts, students actively investigate questions, gather evidence, collaborate with peers, and develop explanations grounded in scientific reasoning.
What Students Experience
Through Amplify Science, students engage in:
- Hands-on investigations and experiments
- Literacy-rich science discussions and reading
- Interactive digital simulations and modeling tools
- Opportunities to design solutions like engineers
- Collaborative learning and evidence-based argumentation
Students are encouraged to ask questions, analyze information, and communicate their thinking while building a deeper understanding of scientific concepts.
Alignment to Standards
Amplify Science is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and state science standards. The program supports “three-dimensional learning,” integrating:
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Disciplinary Core Ideas
- Crosscutting Concepts
This approach helps students connect learning across scientific disciplines and apply their knowledge in authentic ways.
Supporting All Learners
Amplify Science is designed to support diverse learners through:
- Multiple ways to engage with content
- Visual and interactive learning tools
- Structured academic discussions
- Reading and writing connections
- Scaffolded supports for multilingual learners and students with varying learning needs
The curriculum encourages all students to actively participate in scientific thinking and problem-solving.
Why This Matters
Science education today is about more than learning facts—it is about developing critical thinkers, problem-solvers, communicators, and innovators. Amplify Science helps students build the skills needed for college, careers, and informed citizenship by fostering curiosity, collaboration, and deeper understanding of the world around them.
By engaging students in authentic scientific exploration, our district aims to cultivate a learning environment where inquiry, creativity, and discovery underpin meaningful achievement and long-term success.
Learn More
Families interested in learning more about the curriculum may visit: