Q:  Is the KnowAtom curriculum affordable?

KnowAtom costs less than new textbook and reader-based science programs. We provide curriculum binders, leveled student readers and relevant classroom technology for less than what you’d pay for a non-inquiry based science curriculum. The biggest savings with KnowAtom is often the less-accounted for teacher time and money spent finding and outfitting their classroom units.

Q: What is necessary to implement the KnowAtom curriculum?

The KnowAtom curriculum can be implemented like any other new curriculum your district has chosen. For specific information call 877-3D-SCIENCE to schedule an appointment with us.

Q: What else does KnowAtom offer?

In addition to our in-school curriculum, KnowAtom offers after school and home school programs, along with curriculum consulting. For more information, visit www.knowatom.com.

Q: How does KnowAtom use 21^st-century technology?

Science has come a long way in the past 100 years. Medical genetics, string theory and nuclear physics are just a sample of the modern scientific fields that have sprung up in recent decades. We wouldn’t know much about the world without scientists who used the right tools to collect their data. That’s why KnowAtom integrates and provides technology like oscilloscopes and radiation detectors that students use to read and analyze data they collect and interpret themselves.

Q: Will achievement scores rise?

To date, every school that has implemented the KnowAtom curriculum have seen an increase in student performance on independent state level testing.

Q: Does KnowAtom align with state science standards?

Yes, the KnowAtom curriculum is designed to specifically address EVERY state science standard. Contact KnowAtom for a list of state specific offerings currently available.

Q: How does your program handle learning disabilities?

We are aware of the impact learning disabilities play in student learning, frustration tolerances, and attention span; however, we try our best to treat all children equally. There have been many occasions; where the hands-on inquiry environment transcends disabilities to the point we wouldn’t have otherwise known a student had learning disabilities.

Specific to in-school curriculum programming, students on Individual Education Plans can succeed in science through KnowAtom Curriculum. Our program is unique as it offers many different three dimensional and functioning contexts for concepts being presented. Through the use of engaging hands-on projects and visual aids, special educators are given a number of tools for helping students visualize, contextualize, and engage scientific concepts. All leveled student readers are produced in 16pt comic sans font for ease of readability.

Q: What are the advantages of hands-on science?

Students at any age learn by doing. By interacting with science, children can use the observations they make to form conclusions about how the world works. Science and engineering are very hands-on career choices. A day in the life of a scientist can include making exact measurements of solutions in the laboratory or digging up ice cores in the Arctic. The KnowAtom curriculum prepares students for a lifetime of scientific pursuit by showing them that the subject is naturally integrated requiring both research skills and creativity.

Q: How does KnowAtom compare to other hands-on science curricula?

At KnowAtom, our view is that science is living and breathing knowledge impacting our everyday lives and students should be engaged hands-on in fundamentals that reflect 21st -century advances. We have designed our curricula to reflect scientific topics—from stem cells and climate change to genetics—that students will encounter as they advance. In addition, we expose students to digital technology popular among citizen scientists, giving children a diverse real-world science experience.

Q: Is teacher training necessary?

No formal teacher training is required. Each unit comes with background reading and resources to help teachers refresh their memories on a given topic. The lesson plans are very detailed and guide teachers through question and answer sessions with students. In addition, some unit activities come with online instructional videos. KnowAtom is able to provide professional development workshops, guidance and support by special arrangement.

Q: How much time is needed to teach each Unit?

KnowAtom is flexible by design with time on learning recommendation varying by grade-level and unit. Please contact KnowAtom with grade-level specific inquiries.

Q: Is there homework?

Most units do not come with homework. However, each unit comes with elements that are easily assigned for homework should the teacher use to employ them as such. For instance, student readers can be uses to review though assigned non-fiction reading at home.