Theme Curriculum As a science
and technology magnet school recognized and supported by
the New York State Education Department, Thomas
O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST) has
a responsibility to develop a school-wide, science-based
theme curriculum. We take this responsibility seriously,
striving to develop themes and units that contain
appropriate science-based experiences that integrate as
many of the other curriculum areas as possible. We seek
to use reading, writing, math, and social studies skills
and activities in our science program.
Our theme is
Mysteries of Science. Units are outlined by grade level.
TOAST has implemented a fixed theme curriculum, which
allows teachers to develop, modify, and improve theme
units over several years. This gives teachers the
opportunity to find appropriate support materials and to
revise lessons to make them better.
Bridges to
learning is our attempt to regain the strongest element
of the original annual curriculum-writing process. That
strength was the focus gained by having all grades
working on the same content within their own units of
study, school wide. By pairing students from different
grades around similar, sequential content, we expect
that there will be a sharing of ideas between the
grades, with the older students mentoring the younger
students.
The bridged
grades are bulleted below. Please click each bridge to
learn more about their theme units.
As a science
and technology magnet school recognized and supported by
the New York State Education Department, Thomas
O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST) has
a responsibility to develop a school-wide, science-based
theme curriculum. We take this responsibility seriously,
striving to develop themes and units that contain
appropriate science-based experiences that integrate as
many of the other curriculum areas as possible. We seek
to use reading, writing, math, and social studies skills
and activities in our science program.