For more than three decades, FOSS® (Full Option Science System™) has enriched student learning through immersive science investigations, fostering active participation and exploration of natural phenomena, and empowering students to construct their own schema of scientific principles.
FOSS is developed to be much more than just a science curriculum. FOSS integrates with the concepts of the Science of Reading by focusing on active science investigations that build foundational knowledge, essential for enhancing language comprehension skills.
How FOSS Supports the Science of Reading
FOSS lessons are meticulously designed to offer firsthand experiences with natural phenomena, laying the groundwork for understanding complex texts and concepts across various disciplines. This approach aligns with Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001), which emphasizes the importance of language comprehension alongside word recognition in developing proficient readers.
Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) showing the strands that contribute to skilled reading
These activities not only build background knowledge but also include vocabulary instruction, guided sensemaking discussions, and support for verbal reasoning. FOSS enhances literacy through sentence structure, writing, and speaking and listening activities, which are in line with the key components of language comprehension identified in Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
FOSS curriculum emphasizes the importance of engaging with complex grade-level texts directly related to the investigations, supporting students in applying and extending their learning to real-world experiences. This approach ensures that students develop a robust vocabulary and language structures in meaningful ways, facilitating deeper comprehension and the ability to communicate understanding effectively.
FOSS aligns with the Science of Reading concepts by combining active science investigations with explicit language development strategies, fostering comprehensive literacy and scientific understanding.
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