Science IEP Goals

Science can be a difficult subject for many students, especially those who struggle with academics. It can also be extremely rewarding for students who are able to achieve success in this subject. If your students receive special education services, it’s important to consider including science goals in their IEP. By setting specific science IEP goals, you can help your students reach their full potential in this area.

BENEFITS OF SCIENCE IEP GOALS

Science IEP goals can help ensure that your students are receiving adequate instruction in this subject. Science is an important part of the curriculum, and all students should have the opportunity to learn it. These IEP goals can help motivate your students to succeed in science.

When students have specific goals that they are working towards, they are more likely to be engaged in learning. Science IEP goals can also help you track your students’ progress over time. By setting and measuring specific goals, you can gauge whether or not your students are making adequate progress.

Students who are successful in science have many more options to consider when they start thinking about a career. When students have effective science IEP goals, they can build more confidence when it comes to learning science. This confidence will allow them to achieve greater gains in science and open more doors for them in the future.

HELPFUL TOOLS TO USE IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM

Whether you’re working with a general education curriculum and looking to help your special education science students, or you’re a special education teacher who is in a science setting, there are some tools that can help you work with your students to succeed in science. Consider using:

Graphic Organizers

These help students organize their thoughts and ideas about science concepts in a visual way.

KWL Charts

KWL charts can be used to activate prior knowledge and identify what students want to learn about a concept in science.

Experiments and Labs

Hands-on learning is often the best way for students to understand science concepts. Labs and experiments help students learn science by actually doing science rather than just talking about it.

Science Journals

Science journals are a great way for students to document their learning. Journals can be used to record observations, experiments, and new information learned about science concepts.

Real-Life Situations

Science concepts can often be difficult to understand. However, by connecting them to real-world examples, students can better grasp the concept.

SETTING SCIENCE IEP GOALS

There are a few things to keep in mind when setting science IEP goals. You will want to make sure that the goals are specific. This way, you can measure whether or not the student is achieving the goal. Ensure that the goals are realistic. Setting goals that are too difficult can be discouraging for students, while setting goals that are too easy, can lead to boredom. Make sure that the goals are aligned with the student’s individual needs. Science goals should be tailored to each student’s unique abilities and needs.

When writing science IEP goals, you will want to make sure that the goals are SMART goals. This means they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. By following these guidelines, you can be sure that your science IEP goals are well-written and effective.

Here are a few things to think about when you are considering ways you can help your students reach their maximum potential in science.

Help your student understand the scientific method by designing an experiment they can perform.
Encourage your student to ask questions about the world around them and work on problem-solving skills.
Make sure your student knows basic concepts such as matter, volume, mass, and types of energy.
Help them develop an interest in science topics that pique their curiosity.
Assist them with studying for science tests and working through lab assignments.

SCIENCE SKILLS IEP GOALS

Science skills IEP goals should be based on the student’s individual needs. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your students is key to creating effective IEP goals for them. When students learn science skills they are learning how to think and learn like scientists do. Science skills included in the IEP goals could be:

curiosity
measurement
classification
making observations
drawing conclusions
carrying out experiments

Here are some examples of some general science skills IEP goals:

The student will demonstrate an understanding of basic science vocabulary.
The student will correctly use scientific measurement tools.
The student will be able to classify objects using basic scientific properties.
The student will be able to make astute observations.
The student will be able to draw conclusions.

SCIENCE CONTENT IEP GOALS

Science classes cover a lot of really important content when teaching students how the world around them works. Some students may need to work on basic science concepts, while others may be ready to move on to more difficult concepts. It is important for all students to understand certain content according to benchmarks in the curriculum. Science content included in the IEP goals could be:

Physical Science

Earthquakes and volcanoes
Erosion and deforestation
Properties of matter and energy
Chemical reactions
Laws of motion

Life Science

Animals
Ecology
The human body
Plants and plant life

Space Science

Moon
Planets
Stars
Earth’s place in the universe

Here are some examples science content IEP goals:

The student will be able to name the planets of the solar system.
The student will be able to explain science concepts related to earthquakes and volcanoes.
The student will be able to describe chemical reactions.
The student will be able to explain the concept of inertia.

OTHER SKILLS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL FOR THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM

Learning science requires more skills than those that directly relate to science. There are important skills that students can work on that will benefit them greatly in science as well as their other academic subjects. Some of those skills include:

Organization
Attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to focus
Math and number sense
Spatial sense
Reading comprehension

Here are some examples of IEP goals that focus on these important skills:

The student will maintain science materials in an organized manner.
The student will show all of their work when solving problems.
The student will carefully read each part of the question prompts on science tests.

By including goals that focus on these important skills, you can help your students be successful not only in their science classes but in all of their academic pursuits. Don’t forget to celebrate each time a student reaches the achievement of one of these goals!

No matter what science IEP goals you and your IEP team choose for your students, make sure they are achievable and aligned with the curriculum standards at their grade level. Work with measurable annual goals that meet each child’s needs. With some hard work and dedication, your student can excel in science and exceed all expectations!