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WSE Science meeting. Oct. 22, 2014. Next meeting. Science Chairs group email. Not just for official science chair people Give me your name if you’d like to get all of my mail. Bad news first: WCPS 2014 growth. 5 th. 6 th. 7 th. 8 th. Bio. WCPS average 6 th grade, 2014. avg. -0.5.
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WSE Science meeting Oct. 22, 2014
Science Chairs group email • Not just for official science chair people • Give me your name if you’d like to get all of my mail
Bad news first: WCPS 2014 growth 5th 6th 7th 8th Bio
WCPS average 6th grade, 2014 avg. -0.5
WCPS average 7th grade, 2014 avg. -1.0
WSE 7th grade, 2014 avg. +4.2
Magic trick • kids want to know how that works. • Figuring out how things work is science.
Good news • Little kids like science! • Good lessons (math, ELA, Sci, SS) take advantage of this human instinct. • Everyone starts life as a scientist/artist
Middle School • Where we grind the interest out of most kids • “I can’t draw...I’m no good at science.”
Science confidence • Guys have more of it than girls. • Fact: guys get worse grades in science, but take more science classes—have more science careers
How to destroy confidence: • Make ‘em memorize facts
Memorizing is hard work • Need a reason to do this work – a grade isn’t always enough
Easy to get hung up with facts • Base of Blooms pyramid • Easy to write tests for • In the world of Google it’s hard to get kids to see the point of memorizing facts.
Focus on concepts Facts are easily forgotten—concepts stick with you Concept Fact Fact Fact Fact Fact Fact Fact Fact
Example: Water Cycle sublimation condensation evaporation infiltration precitation transporation runoff ground water
Teach Concept 1stTeach Vocabulary 2nd • A new word needs something to attach to. • If at all possible, give students understanding of concept before using the vocabulary. • e.g. A toddler learns the word “chair” only after becoming familiar with the concept of chairs.
Project Based Learning (PBL) • A hassle, but research says it’s worth it • Requires content knowledge from all content areas • Science Fair!!!! • Start soon! (district Science Fair Jan. 17, 2015) • A good project takes weeks to do right.
Science Fair timeline • Google Doc shared with all science contacts • MS Word doc on website
Science Fair categories(detailed doc. on my website) • Biological Science A • Biological Science B • Chemistry • Earth/Environmental Science • Physics and Astronomy • Technology/Engineering
Science Fair cont. • Student must have your approval before experimenting! • Student is responsible for getting their project to District Fair. • No logos • Photos must be credited • Culturing must be done in a safe lab setting—Not at home
Benchmarks • For your benefit • NOT a teacher evaluation tool! • Please do NOT teach the test.
Know your content! • Allows you to ask probing questions
Unpacking document Sometimes tells you what not to bother teaching.
Pacing Guides • Main purpose of the order is to align with benchmarks
Cl-Ev-R and Formative probes • Each school received a set of these seven Page Keeley books. (In your Media Center) • DPI has produced a document that links NC Essential Standards to each probe within these books. • That PDF can be downloaded from your teacher resources page on the WCPS Science site
Smart Scopes • USB microscope you can plug into your computer • Also in your Media Center
WCPS Science webpages WCPS homepage, “Academics” tab, Science my email: andrewforsleff@wcps.org
How long does it take for the Earth to rotate once? • 29 days • 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds • 24 hours • 365 days