Integrating State Performance Objectives into Local Curricula

In 1994, the state of Ohio developed a competency-based science program for pre-K through grade 12. The program was developed with input from representatives from education, business, and government agencies.

A major component of the program is the instructional objectives, which are arranged in four strands. These strands, representing the essential components of quality instructional and performance objectives, are based on emerging national standards. The four instructional strands are:

Scientific Inquiry--the desired technical skills and abilities
Scientific Knowledge--the big ideas to be studied
Conditions for Learning Science--the strategies and activities for learning
Applications for Science Learning--ideas about how learners may use their learning

Writing instructional objectives for local science curricula is a process of blending ideas from the four instructional strands at the local level. These resulting instructional objectives identify the essential learning that should occur at a given grade level.

The following graphic shows how the school district in Clermont County, Ohio, integrated performance objectives developed at the state level into their local kindergarten science curricula.

Example of integration of performance objectives