What are the characteristics of culturally responsive science curricula?
• It begins with topics of cultural significance and involves local experts. • It links science instruction to locally identified topics and to science standards. • It devotes substantial blocks of time and provides ample opportunity for students to develop a deeper understanding of culturally significant knowledge linked to science. • It incorporates teaching practices that are both compatible with the cultural context, and focus on student understanding and use of knowledge and skills. • It engages in ongoing authentic assessment which subtly guides instruction and taps deeper cultural and scientific understanding, reasoning and skill development tied to standards. What are some strengths of culturally responsive curriculum? • It recognizes and validates what children currently know and builds upon that knowledge toward more disciplined and sophisticated understanding from both indigenous and Western perspectives. • It taps the often unrecognized expertise of local people and links t
