Science Curriculum Update

1
Science Curriculum Update

• Winter 2007

2
District Wide Impact
3
Old Picture ( generalization)
K-4
limited often unrelated topics
5-8
some connections more time
9-12
concentrated study
4
New Picture of Science Education
K
limited
foundations
skills
content
12
focused advanced
In depth study
5
Horizontal Coherence

• All students in the same grade should have the
  opportunity to learn the same science content.
• No More SWISS CHEESE science

6
Vertical Coherence

• There needs to be a coherent plan for getting all
  students from Kindergarten to Graduation with
  clear goals and expectations for achieving
  science literacy.
• If you dont know how what your teaching fits
  
• WHY are you teaching it?

7
Science Literacy for ALL

• All of our students no matter what their
  intended career path need to be scientifically
  literate.
• Our society is BASED on science and technologyso
  our students need to be well versed in science
  and technology

8
Science Literacy for ALL

• All students should
• Have a understanding of science concepts in all
  Science Domains
• Be able to THINK
• Be able to EVALUATE EVIDENCE for BIAS and
  relevance
• Look at and understand DATA presented
• Be able to DEFEND his/her point of view
• Be able to CRITIQUE the work of others

9
NH Frameworks for Science Literacy K-12

• Approved June 2006
• Update of the January 1995 NH Science Curriculum
  Frameworks

10
Compare Old to New
Old
New

• Developed before national standards were
  finalized
• Had 6 strands
• End of Grade 6, end of Grade 10 expectations
• Content only focus
• Difficult to read

• Based on NSES and Atlas for Science Literacy
• 3 Content Strands, 1 Skills Strand
• K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12 expectations
• Content and skills
• More accessible language

11
Compare Old to New
Old
New

• Inquiry, Science Technology Society and
  Unifying Themes separate from content
• Listed all of the possible science content
• No indication of sequence to reach end of grade
  expectations
• No, or limited, pedagogical information
• Basis for NHEIAP Assessment

• Nature of Science and Technology ideas included
  in Domains and skills
• Content has been included only when appropriate
  for group.
• Clear pathway for developing content ideas
• Pedagogical information included
• NECAP Science Assessment information included but
  not the only FOCUS

12
Science is a way of knowing

• Our classrooms SHOULD BE FILLED WITH
• Wonder
• Inquiry
• Experience
• Exploration
• Collaboration
• Discussion

13
Science is a way of knowing

• Our classrooms should have LESS
• Unrelated topics, units or themes
• Memorization of facts
• Vocabulary and Definitions
• Lecture

14
Grade Span Expectations

• Have been developed for the following Grade
  Spans
• K-4 (grades K-2 and 3-4)
• 5-8 (grades 5-6 and 7-8)
• 9-12 (grades 9-11 and 11 12)
• all students

15
Grade Span Expectations

• NECAP targets (assessment expectations) are
  clearly indicated in the Grade Span Expectations
  (GSEs)
• Other expectations need to be part of your local
  assessment system

16
K to 4 (Elementary Science)

• It should be about things they can touch, handle
  or explore with senses
• no dinosaurs, rainforests, solar system
• More emphasis on skill development.
• Less emphasis on unrelated topics.
• Not just a spelling or reading opportunity.
• Students should collect and evaluate data.

17
5 to 8 (Middle Level Science)

• Should be about comparing their view of how the
  world works with what we know
• Collaboration
• Comparison
• Evidence
• Experience
• Experimentation
• Students should collect and evaluate data

18
9 to 12 (High School Science)

• In-depth content knowledge
• Collaboration and evidence
• Research and replication
• Critiquing work of others
• Defending points of view
• Does not END at grade 10
• Students should collect, compare, analyze and
  evaluate data.

19
Changes by Science Domain

• Grade Span
• K to 4

20
Science Process Skills K to 4

• Making observations
• Measurement (in metric by grade 4)
• Asking questions
• Making predictions
• What makes a fair test?
• Following simple procedures
• Designing a simple experiment
• Classifying things using observable traits
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

21
Earth Space Science K-4

• Observations of Earth, Sun and Moon
• Seasons (no projective science)
• Changes year to year
• Weather using tools
• Patterns of weather
• Experience with various earth materials
• Rocks and minerals (basics)

22
Gone from Earth Space Science K-4

• No phases of the Moon
• No solar system
• No universe
• No hardness scale of rocks
• No volcanoes (baking soda vinegar ones)
• No earthquakes
• No plate tectonics

23
Life Science Focus K-4

• About senses
• More observation
• Classification using observable traits
• Using classification keys
• Living vs. non-living
• Plant vs. animals
• Comparing life spans or cycles (2 different
  animals or plant and animal, complete
  metamorphosis only no memorizing stages)

24
GONE from Life Science K-4

• No cells or cell organelles
• No human body systems
• No dinosaurs
• No rain forests
• No predator/prey relationships
• No food chains

25
Physical Science Focus K-4

• Push and pull instead of force
• Experience and observation
• Light and sound through observation
• State of matter
• Magnetism

26
GONE from Physical Science K-4

• No simple machines (except when related to force
  and motion OR engineering)
• No atoms
• No chemical equations

27
Changes by Science Domain

• Grade Span
• 5 to 8

28
Science Process Skills 5 to 8

• Making detailed observations
• Making accurate metric measurements
• Making predictions
• Following multi-step directions
• Identifying variables in experiments
• Can Identify a testable hypothesis
• Designing experiments with 1 variable
• Classifying things/ dichotomous key
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

29
Earth Space Science 5-8

• Solar system compare contrast planets
• Rock cycle (basic rock types and formation)
• Observation of Earth from space
• Comparing and sharing data
• Phases of the Moon (observations only)
• Various landforms as evidence of moving Earth
• Atmosphere and weather connections
• Weathering and erosion

30
GONE from Earth Space Science 5-8

• The theory of plate tectonics
• Volcanoes (baking soda and vinegar ones)
• Life cycles of stars
• Geologic time-periods

31
Life Science Focus 5-8

• Cells, tissues, organs, organ systems
• Body systems and comparative anatomy
• Human reproduction and development
• Observing living things
• More habitats and environmental study trophic
  levels including energy flow
• Make and use keys and classification systems
• Compare/contrast asexual and sexual reproduction

32
GONE from Life Science 5-8

• No cell organelles (except maybe nucleus and
  chloroplast)
• NO DNA or RNA
• No food chains
• No photosynthesis (by formula)
• No Punnet squares
• No capture, kill, pin collections of animals
  (even insects)

33
Physical Science focus 5-8

• Speed, force, work (no acceleration)
• Elements, compounds, mixtures
• No sub atomic structures
• Use periodic table patterns of organization
  (not memorization)
• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Electricity (basics)
• Density

34
GONE from Physical Science 5-8

• No acceleration
• No sub atomic structures
• No Bohr Models
• No memorizing Periodic Table
• No simple machines (except as tool for learning
  force and motion, engineering/design or
  calculating work and mechanical advantage).

35
Changes by Science Domain

• Grade Span
• 9 to 11 (basic all students)

36
Science Process Skills 9 to 12

• Extensive work in collaborative groups
• Accuracy in measurements
• Accuracy using complex tools
• Replicating and critiquing works of others
  including bias
• Defending points of view citing evidence and
  eliminating irrelevant or flawed information
• Actual scientific research
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT
  Literacy)

37
Earth Space Science 9-12

• Present at high school
• Climate, weather patterns (local and global)
• Geologic time (various methods not memorizing
  charts)
• Plate Tectonics Big Bang Theory
• Exploration of the Universe
• Nuclear reactions and radioactive decay
• Life cycle of stars (HR Diagram)
• Blue shift red shift of stars and galaxies
• Development of theories and ideas (all domains)

38
Gone from Earth Space Science 9-12

• Hard to say
• what should NOT be here
• since it is often missing
• from the
• high school

39
Life Science Focus 9-12

• Sub-cellular organelles (location/function/cell
  types)
• Molecular components DNA RNA
• Transcription and replication
• Genetics, pedigrees, family trees, genetic
  disorders
• Disease and endocrine system (because of the
  chemical nature of this system)
• Population dynamics
• Compare/contrast
• Development of theories and ideas (all domains)

40
GONE from Life Science 9-12

• No memorizing stages of Mitosis and Meiosis
• No Krebs Cycle memorizing stages
• No capture, kill, pin collections of animals
  (even insects!)
• No memorizing parts of the nitrogen and carbon
  cycles should know they exist.
• Comparative anatomy among animal groups

41
Physical Science focus 9-11

• Acceleration
• Multiple forces
• Atomic structure (no sub-orbitals)
• Chemical bonding
• Periodic table (understanding relationships)
• Research and presentation
• Development of theories and ideas (all domains)

42
NECAP Science Assessment
43
NECAP Science Assessment

• Collaborative effort with Rhode Island and
  Vermont.
• Based on common content found in all three
  states.
• Used Big Ideas of Science and domains of
  science as organizing foundations.

44
NECAP Science Assessment

• On demand assessment
• Given at END of grades 4, 8, and 11
• Always a Springtime assessment
• Pilot May of 2007 (May 14 25)
• No results calculated for students or districts
• Only 2 sessions for Pilot
• 1st Operational Test May 2008
• 3 test sessions

45
NECAP Science Assessment

• Less about what you can remember
• More about what you can do with the information
• With this change in focus, test preparation rests
  on entire grade span (K-4 5-8 9-11)

46
What will be Tested?
-

• Assessment Targets can be found in the NH
  Framework for Science Literacy K-12
• Grade Span Expectations (GSEs) include NECAP
  Assessment Targets for each grade tested.
• Expectations in boxes are NECAP Targets

47
NECAP Science Pilot Test

• Test Window
• May 14 to May 24, 2007

48
Pilot Test General Information

• All students in Grades 4, 8, and 11 will take
  part in the NECAP Science Pilot.
• Pilot Test will have 2 sessions 1 multiple
  choice and constructed response and 1 Inquiry
  Task.
• Each session will last about 90 minutes
• NO student, school or district information will
  be gathered.

49
Pilot Test Session 1

• Each student will get multiple-choice and
  constructed response questions from only ONE
  Science Domain (Earth Space Science, Life Science
  or Physical Science)
• All domains will be mixed across school.
• Test Booklet and Answer Booklet will be separate
  documents (all grades).

50
Pilot Test Session 2 (This will be like
session 3 of the NECAP Science operational test.)

• This session will be an Inquiry Task.
• All materials needed will be provided.
• One Assessment Target with an INQ code will be
  the basis of the task.
• There will be a scenario (story) that gives
  context to the activity.
• (see information on session 3 in operational
  test)

51
NECAP ScienceOperational Test May 2008
52
Sessions 1 2

• First two sessions similar to NHEIAP and NECAP
  assessments
• Multiple choice and constructed response
• Content domains clustered
• All targets will have questions on the
  assessment.
• All Grades Separate Test Booklet and Answer
  Sheet

53
Session 3 Inquiry Task

• Third session will be a performance assessment
  - looking at Inquiry and science process.
• One target with an INQ code will be focus of the
  Inquiry Task.
• Scenario (story) driven.
• Time for work in pairs at beginning of session
  then answer questions on own.

54
Session 3 - Inquiry Task

• Grade 4 ALWAYS hands-on design an experiment
• Grade 8 SOMETIMES hands-on design an
  experiment other times NOT (more like grade 11)
• Grade 11 NEVER a hands-on experiment. Students
  will be given data from field studies or other
  experiments or individual results and research

55
Session 3 - Inquiry Task

• Grade 4 Grade 8
• will have questions developed from columns 1-4
  of the Inquiry Constructs.

Grades 4 8
56
Session 3 - Inquiry Task

• Grade 11
• will focus mostly on Column 4 (Developing and
  Evaluating Explanations) but may have questions
  from any column.

Main Focus
Possible Questions
57
NECAP Science Assessment

• Students will receive a Science Proficiency
  level
• Students will also receive sub scores for
• Earth Space Science
• Life Science
• Physical Science
• Inquiry

58
Science and AYP?

• Currently only part as participation
• May be mandated federally if it is we will
  complystay tuned.

59
More Information?

• About Science Curriculum or
• NECAP Science Assessment

60
More information?

• Department Website www.ed.state.nh.us
• Then select
• ?Programs?S?Science in NH Schools
• Call Lisa Kaim _at_ 271-7450
• Email Lisa lkaim_at_ed.state.nh.us
• Email me jmclaughlin_at_ed.state.nh.us