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Harcourt Kits (4-5th grades)

Software & Internet Sites

General Description

The study of science includes planning and implementing simple classroom and field investigations to develop the skills of collecting information using tools, making inferences, observing, communicating conclusions, and making informed decisions.

Elementary science includes:

• Nature of science – What is science and how do scientists learn about the world?
• Life science – The study of organisms and how they meet their needs and adapt to their surroundings.
• Physical science – The study of matter and energy their properties and changes.
• Earth science – The study of Earth’s physical features, cycles, seasons, and changes to our surroundings.

Science focuses on systems, cycles, structures, and processes that interact. Students should understand a whole in terms of its components and how these components relate to each other and to the whole.  All systems and cycles have basic properties that can be described in terms of space, time, energy, and matter. Change and constancy occur in systems and can be observed and measured as patterns. Studying these patterns help students to predict what will happen next and that change occurs over time.

Science in K-4 is taught on a daily basis for 30-45 minutes each day within a regular self-contained classroom.  In grade 5-6 science is taught 60 minutes daily.  A successful science program is inquiry based with collaborative hands-on learning in place.  Integrated units each six weeks at all grade levels will ensure student success.

Students grade 3-8 should participate in a school-wide science fair and then advance to the East Texas Academic Rodeo.

Working Theories

• Brain-based Theories

• Multiple Intelligences

• Engaged Learning --concrete to abstract

• Constructivist Classroom

• Experiential Learning

• Experiential Learning Cycles

• What is Experiential Learning?

 

Working Models

 

 Charles Dana Center http://www.tenet.edu/teks/science/

Best Practice Activities in Science & Education: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/sci_edu/#k12

National Science Teachers www.nsta.org

Resource Links http://www.tenet.edu/teks/science/resources/index.html?sta

Project Wild http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/edu/enved/

Links http://www.statweb.org/TCES/TeacherSites.html

Student links  http://www.statweb.org/TCES/StudentSites.html

Online Field Trips http://www.statweb.org/TCES/Field.html

 

Working Policies

    NCLB-TIERS http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/district/inservice/inserv1.htm

    Character Counts- http://www.goodcharater.com  and

  http://www.arp.sprnet.org/CC!.htm

    Reading Improvement Policy- http://www.arp.sprnet.org/curric/READ/Initiatives.htm

    Scans- http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/LivingSkills/SixSkills.htm

    Staff Development- http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/district/inservice/inserv1.htm

 

Pedagogical Resources

• How to Teach: http://www.stenhouse.com/pdfs/0405ch01.pdf

• Teaching Math & Science: http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/sfaatoc.htm

• Teaching Math & Science -->Concrete to Abstract: http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/Chap13.htm

 

Time Allotments

 

K-4 – 30 minutes daily

Monday – Teacher discussion KWL/anticipation chart /text reading

                  Hands-on experiment

Tuesday – Discussion/ KWL/Workbook pages for experiment

Wednesday –Teacher discussion KWL/anticipation chart/text reading; hands-on    

                      experiment

Thursday- Discussion/ KWL/Workbook pages for experiment

Friday – Quiz over objectives for the week.  (file folder games, CPS, class server)

 

5-8 60 minutes daily of an inquiry based hands-on learning program with student ability to report observations through the scientific method.

 

MENTORSHIP

Mentor Observation Form

Mentor Check List

 

Section 1 – General Information (Attach additional information if required)

Teacher to be mentored	Department
Mentoring Required for (Please P)     Delivery Assessment	Name of Mentor
Course Code	Course Name
Staff Development /Module Number(s)	Staff Development Title(s)

Section 2 – Mentoring (The following issues should be discussed at the initial meeting - pleaseP)

 

General Date of initial meeting   /  /    Induction Checklist (if new staff member)  Staff Handbook  Staff Development/ Module plan  Record Keeping e.g. attendance, grades       and program descriptions  Arrangements for ongoing support (all support contacts should       be recorded in section 4 on page 2 ) Delivery  Learner needs  Learning strategies  Learning resources

Assessment Is the teacher provided with all assessment tools (i.e. YEA, Benchmark tests)?  Yes           How will assessments be moderated? (Please P)  Grade reports  Sampling of completed assignments, tests, projects, etc.  Other (Please Specify)  __________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 3 – Staff Development Improvement (To be completed at the conclusion of each six weeks)

Assessment tools (including grade reports) have been forwarded to mentor.  Samples of completed assessment forwarded to mentor. What suggestions does the mentored teacher have with regards to improving the quality of assessment (validity and reliability) and delivery?

Section 4 – Details of Mentoring Activities

Record details of mentoring contacts with teacher (e.g. discussion of learning strategies, approval of teacher generated assessment tools, assessment validation, parent contacts, follow up at conclusion of assessment for improvement purposes.  Attach additional information if required.

Date	Details of Activity

 

Classroom Engagement

 

• Visual Cues, Posted Objectives
• Curriculum-based reading
• 4 Classroom Components

1.     Concrete (hands-on)

2.     Discussion/Mental Model

3.     Symbolic/Pictorial

4.     Abstract

  

Goals

 

Students should have 80% passing on all benchmarks.

Elementary Science is a division of three strands

                                    12 weeks Life

                                    12 weeks Earth

                                    12 weeks Physical  

 

Educate students who are able to:

 

• understand learning science is exciting and fun, not dull and boring
• distinguish that science careers are not gender biased
• experience and understand the natural world through exploring life, earth, and physical science
• use the scientific method to make inquiries, observations, experimentations and draw conclusions;
• obtain knowledge in science and technology for increased career opportunities
• become scientifically literate people

 

Major Concepts

 

Nature of science

Life Science

Physical Science

Earth Science

 

Concept Weaknesses

 

1. Scientific Method
2. Earth science
• Systems
• Cycles
• Characteristics/structures
3. Physical science

·       Classifying based on physical properties

·       Observe, measure, and identify physical characteristics

 

 

Example Activities

 

• www.unitedstreaming.com (Videos for introducing concepts /reinforcements)
• Student projects

 

Resources

www.harcourtschool.com

www.unitedstreaming.com

www.kidport.com

www.scholastic.com

www.sitesforteachers.com

www.aaamath.com

www.aplusmath.com

Project Wild http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/edu/enved/

Links http://www.statweb.org/TCES/TeacherSites.html

Student links  http://www.statweb.org/TCES/StudentSites.html

Online Field Trips http://www.statweb.org/TCES/Field.html

Region VII Workshops www.esc7.net

 

Accountability

• Weekly walk-thru
• YEA pre-assessment / post-assessment
•  Benchmarks –formative assessment every 3 weeks (These are stepping stones to get our students to the big picture.)
•  Assignments  and six week projects
• TAKS – K-5 objectives

 

 

Tier 1:  This will include students that have failed to meet minimum requirements on the Yearly Expectations Assessment, based on objectives the student needed to master from the previous grade level given the third week of school, or failing on of the six weeks benchmarks, based on objectives taught during the six weeks. These assessments are given in Reading and Writing.  Parents of the students qualifying for Tier I will be notified by letter.

 

Tier 2: students that have failed to master benchmarks twice during the 1^st- 4^th six weeks of school or failed TAKS from the previous school year.  This will be measured on a benchmark test given at the end of each 6week period.  The parents of the students qualifying for Tier III will be notified by letter.

 

Tier 3: students that have failed to master objectives taught for the 1^st semester of school or any combination of Tier I and/or II will be place on Tier 3.  This will be measured on a benchmark test given at the end of the 1^st semester.  The parents of the students qualifying for Tier III will be notified by letter.

 

Tutorial Options

At this time reading and math will be the only subjects for tutoring.  When science tutoring is begun, remember to use alternate materials.  (More of the same is not the answer for student success.)

 

Assessments

 

Formative assessments: Assessments made for a decision-making process.  These assessments are used to enhance student instruction and performance.  Keep in mind that these are stepping stones to student success.

 

Summative assessment: K-5 Elementary Science TAKS Test is the measure for success of our elementary science program.