Board of Education Meeting

November 9, 2010

Teresa Prendergast, Ed.D.

Linda Norton

Eileen Vota

Elementary Science Lab Program

Committee Members

Teachers

Grade 2 Lori Nicolini, Stella Guiry

Grade 3 Christine Mustacchio, Marissa Pollicino

Grade 4 Lauren LiCalzi, Lorraine Mayo, Valerie Gilday

Grade 5 Lauren Bowler, Lauren Maguire

Administrators –Teresa Prendergast, Ed.D., Elena Cascio,

Ph.D., Linda Norton, Janet Gonzalez

Timeline

June 2010 committee meets to plan summer curriculum projects, evaluate and streamline the units of study, ensure alignment with NYS standards.

July 2010 clean-out and inventory of both science labs for materials.

August 2010 order materials to support newly designed labs. Unpack and store materials according to grade level lab assignment

August 2010 complete lab manuals

September/October 2010 staff development meetings are scheduled to introduce units of study to teachers on each grade level; SMART Boards installed

September-June 2011-grade level representatives will coordinate materials prior to lab instruction time; staff development meetings scheduled throughout the year

NYS-Math, Science & Technology

Standard 4

Students will understand and apply

scientific concepts, principles, and theories

pertaining to the physical setting and living

environment and recognize the historical

development of ideas in science. Includes

key ideas that encompass process skills,

physical setting and living environment

Science Curriculum

Pre-2010 2010 + future

Science units taught by

classroom teachers and

aligned with NYS

Standards

Lab experience

supplemented NYS

curriculum, taught by one

teacher district wide

Science units taught by classroom teachers and aligned with NYS Standards

Labs still supplement NYS curriculum, now taught in lab by classroom teacher

Labs are timely and better correlated with classroom instruction

Grade level science topics

Can be accessed from the homepage of Stewart and Stratford Schools

Includes performance indicators for each lab

Subject to change to coordinate with classroom curriculum

Science Lab Topics - 2010/2011

Grade 2 Science Lab Topics.pdfGrade 3 Science Lab Topics.pdfGrade 4 Science Lab Topics.pdfGrade 5 Science Lab Topics.pdf

Grade 3 Science Lab Topics

Physical Setting & Performance

Indicator(s)

Living Environment & Performance Indicator(s)

Clouds and Storms: How Clouds Form 2.1c, 3.2b, 3.2c, 4.1d

Living Environment: Living and Nonliving

1.1a, 1.1b, 1.1c, 1.2a

Clouds and Storms: Water Cycle

2.1b, 2.1c, 4.1d, 4.2a

Living Env: 6.2c

Living Environment: Cold vs. Warm Blooded

3.1a, 5.2d

Clouds and Storms: Model Tornado

2.1b, 2.1e

Sound: Sound Vibrations

Physical Settings: 4.2b

Properties of Rocks

3.1b, 3.1f

Living Environment: Parts of a Plant

3.1b

Properties of Soil

2.1d, 3.1b, 3.1e

Living Environment: Capillary Action

3.1b, 5.1a

Changes in Earth: Erosion

2.1d, 2.1e

Forces, Machines, and Work: Motion of a Ball

Physical Settings:

3.1d, 5.1a, 5.1b, 5.1d

Reading and Writing Connections

Reading Connections

For grades 2 and 3, books that relate to science topics may be used for guided reading when appropriate

Expository Writing Connections

Labs incorporate critical thinking and real life applications that will be explained in writing

Students may do extension writing activities that relate to certain science topics

Introduction to the Scientific Method

Problem, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedures, Observations, Conclusions

Evolution of the Science Lab Classrooms

Full clean-out and inventory of supplies and materials in

both science labs. Classrooms painted, floors redone

and SMART Boards installed.

Science Lab Staff Development

Initiatives

Throughout the year, teachers will work in grade level groups to

experience the labs, familiarize themselves with the equipment

and fine-tune for their own classroom needs

Lab Implementation

Lessons taught in

classroom, activation of

prior knowledge,

introduction of vocabulary,

overview of lab-especially

new equipment or

materials, safety review

Communication Efforts

Updates provided to the Board and the community throughout the summer

Parents updated on the evolution of the science labs during the September PTA meetings

Joint Stewart/Stratford PTA meeting in October

Grade level science topics are posted on the elementary school websites

Elementary Science Club has been expanded

Changes to the science lab experience were featured in Newsday and the local newspapers

Administrators from the Nassau Association of District Curriculum Officials will visit our science labs in February 2011to learn about changes made to the program

Grade 2 Living Environment:

Fossils- Making Imprints

PROBLEM: How do you think fossils were formed?

HYPOTHESIS: Impressions left by plants or animals that lived a long

time ago are formed in hardened rocks.

Grade 5 Science Process SkillsStudents apply the science process skill of measurement apply their knowledge of the metric system and data collection while using the scientific method. Students study density, mass and volume.

Grade 5 Living Environment:

Comparing Plant and Animal Cells

PROBLEM: How are plant

and animal cells alike?

How are they different?

HYPOTHESIS:

Differences between

plant and animal cells

can been seen under

magnification.

Next Steps

Principals will monitor classroom visitation schedule and staff

development initiatives

Reconvene the committee in June to assess program changes

Modify lab assignments if needed

Schedule a transition meeting in the spring with Dr. Cascio,

the 6-12 Science Coordinator, and the sixth grade science

teachers to discuss impact of recent changes made to the

curriculum