science curriculum

[ryla]

Our school is looking for an elementary science program/curriculum as we are looking to move away from textbooks. We're in Texas, so obviously we want something to help prepare students for the 5th grade Science TAKS test. Any suggestions?

[teachatthe beach]

AIMS: Math and Science hands On learning program. It's the best and the kids will love it. Try it out. Google it for free sample.

[LeslieC]

I'm from Texas also and our district as implemented Foss Kits. They are awesome. These "kits" are boxes that are based on a TEK, such as landforms. Inside the box is teacher guide, print outs, a how-to video, and every thing you need to carry out the listed experiments for a class of 25. The questions are at a higher level, but the teacher guide, basically a script, gives the q & a's. My students really liked it. This was the first year,they said, that they did so many experiments. Some of the experiments listed in the kits don't necessarily go with TEKS or curriculum in science for that grade, but the kits are wonderful. Hope this helps.

[Joan]

Reviving this thread! We use FOSS kits and they are great, but don't have much content and don't meet our state standards. I LOVE them, but I'm in the minority :) We are considering a textbook series and have narrowed it down to Harcourt and Scott Foresman. Anybody have experience with these?

[kingrichie]

I was a FOSS pilot. I loved it, but a lot of teachers hated it. They felt more comfortable usung a textbook.

[Chef Dave]

I was a FOSS pilot. I loved it, but a lot of teachers hated it. They felt more comfortable usung a textbook.

I worked in Texas and was trained as a FOSS in-service instructor. I also piloted new FOSS kits for my district.

Yes ... many of our teachers hated FOSS and taught science via textbook. I have never understood this. Science education without inquiry learning is essentially reading comprehension with a science theme.

[landreth2007]

I use a textbook but also highly rely on FOSS kits as the textbook does not adequately cover the state standards. The students LOVE the experiments and I feel like they really understand the concepts when they get the opportunity to discover them instead of just reading about them. Besides, it helps me get in the 20% lab time per week that Arkansas requires.

[RibbityRibbit]

The units in the FOSS kits are all 4-6 week units. You could easily use the for the hands on inquiry science that kids need, and supplement whatever is missing with other experiements or readings based on whatever the kids need to know for their test.

[teach1027]

We are in Texas as well and this year we started using C-Scope and it is WONDERFUL. It was developed in texas ,by a science teacher so the program is aligned to the test. It is all hands on no textbooks. See if your principal can research it. Where at in Texas?

[merrynl]

I worked in Texas and was trained as a FOSS in-service instructor. I also piloted new FOSS kits for my district.

Yes ... many of our teachers hated FOSS and taught science via textbook. I have never understood this. Science education without inquiry learning is essentially reading comprehension with a science theme.

It is so nice to see a non-science teacher saying this! Teaching science is far more effective when the kids actually get to do science. The best science classes I've ever seen were courses that didn't have a textbook. The teacher would use a classroom set of books at times, but mostly the class was centered on hands on work.

[Chef Dave]

It is so nice to see a non-science teacher saying this!

When I first started teaching, I was a self-contained elementary teacher. After getting my master's degree in curriculum and instruction, I took a job as a 4th grade teacher in a school located in an affluent suburb.

The building administrator who hired me resigned one week after I was hired. The new administrator decided to organize each grade level into "team teaching" pairs.

Being the only man on my grade level, guess what I got stuck with? Math and science!

My favorite subject was social studies. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to teach two periods of math and two of science.

I was even less thrilled when the other math/science teacher on my grade level shared her thoughts for teaching science. She wanted kids to read the science text and answer the questions. Read the science text and fill out the vocabulary worksheet. Read the science text and complete the chapter review.

Yuck!

I began teaching science using principles of inquiry learning.

I got a couple of lego technic kits and began putting units together. My favorite unit became the wheel and axle lesson for simple and compound machines.

Students were given wheels, axles, and legos ... and were told to design a car that could down a 45 degree angle inclined plane. A prize would be awarded to the group whose car rolled the furthest.

Students were invited to test various designs. Would big wheels work the best or small wheels? Should cars be low to the ground or high? Should they be bottom heavy? Top heavy? Heavier in the front? Heavier in the back?

The activity was a hoot!

Students were appalled when I entered the competition. They were especially unhappy after I applied WD-40 to my axles. My car won the competition but the class disqualified me for using lubricant oil. Use of the oil did generate a lot of interesting discussion.

So although I didn't start out my elementary teaching career as a math/science teacher, I eventually became one by default.

[pleasant83]

It is so nice to see a non-science teacher saying this! Teaching science is far more effective when the kids actually get to do science. The best science classes I've ever seen were courses that didn't have a textbook. The teacher would use a classroom set of books at times, but mostly the class was centered on hands on work.

I just wanted to say hello. I am currently living in Houston, Texas and a fifth grade math and science teacher. However, I was raised in Terre Haute, Indiana and I graduated from Terre Haute South High School in 2001. I know how it is to live in the Terrible Haute!! My husband and I visited there in August and so much has changed but it is still boring to a now city gal!

[jsfowler]

I like GEMS and STC/MS by Carolina

[landreth2007]

We use textbooks but rely heavily on FOSS and Delta kits for lab support.

[hweber]

I have loved the AIMS materials. They are very kid focused and I would love to get them in our district. But we just got new books 3 years ago, before I got there. Rats. What are foss kits?

[coco2]

I would love to use FOSS kits, but at our school, we have to use textbooks. I use Scott Foresman 2006. I use the Directed, Guided, Full Inquiries and Activity Charts, which are pretty good. I don't want the kids to memorize information, but to learn how to "think like a scientist", so we don't do much book work. We do go over the chapters somewhat, to make sure we hit all of the standards. The only worksheets we use are the pages they need to fill out while they are doing the inquiries.

[teacher5]

:D In order to pass the 4th grade state science test in NY, a student has to be able to read, comprehend, analyze, and synthesize information on the first part of the test. There are two parts to the test. Part 1 is a reading comprehension test. There are pictures and diagrams from which pupils must use in order to formulate a multiple choice as well as a short answer response. So you do need to get them used to using a textbook in third and fourth grade. This part is heavily vocabulary based, too. So as much as we don't want them to memorize word lists, some of this has to be done. The second part is a hands on manipulative part. Pupils must visit three different stations: measurement, conductors vs nonconductors of electricity, and potential and kinetic energy) follow directions, observe carefully, and then record responses on a checklist, and/or write a conclusion. Also, they must verify results! In order to prepare for this many districts participate in the Elementary Science Program (ESP). It is a BOCES (Bd. of Cooperative Ed. Services). The headquarters for this is in Spencerport, NY. ESP has hands on kits for each grade level starting in Kdg. The kits are leased or bought by districts. If you lease, you get a really good Teacher's Manual, and all the hardware and consumable material in one big brightly colored yellow box. Easy to store and easy to use. When done, you ship back the box with the hardware and Teacher's Manual. ESP pays for the shipping to and from. They will also send people to train teachers to use the kits. I mean train, and not waste your time. They make you do what the kids do. You really experience it. The kids can't wait to do ESP Science. At the 4th grade level the recommended kits are: Batteries & Bulbs, Mystery Crystals, Crayfish, and Plants. When you need live matter they provide it. If you get it and they die or not enough, they replace it promptly, no charge. They are trying to push FOSS on us. I don't like it compared to ESP. Why are they doing it? It's cheaper! I don't know if places outside can participate in this, but you may want to look into it. They have a website. Not sure of the exact address. But you may want to check it out.

[borislearning]

There is a site that I use that helps to figure out what to teach based on what is related. Its Studio4Learning.tv, They use the Standard Devients Programs to teach subjects, and they have broken it down pretty nice. Hope this helps a little. being online its easy to see what they have and work on it.

B

[teach3rd]

We currently use the Harcourt series. Why? not sure. We are only able to use it for about 1/4 of content. Living in VA with SOLs not many are covered. Make sure that you are able to see your grade level before signing on

[bsomers3]

Is Evolutionary Classification a California State Standard for high school?

I was looking for standards that would coincide with my Evolutionary Classification unit and couldn't find any. If you know of corresponding standards, please let me know the number and letter identification or the actual text of the standard. Thank you for your help?