March 22, 2017
Science
&
Engineering:
A Curriculum
Update
A Presentation to the School Committee
Connection to District Goals
Begin implementation of the new Science & Technology/
Engineering Standards by:
●
Implementing K-2 professional development programming aligned with the
new MA Science and Technology/Engineering Standards
●
Implementing pilot units of study K-2
●
Convening a Steering Committee to assist in the standards transition
Instructional Core: the interaction between
teachers and students in the presence of
content
TEACHER
STUDENT
CONTENT
to improve student learning...
1. You can raise the level of the content that students are
taught.
2. You can increase the skill and knowledge that teachers
bring to the teaching of that content.
3. And you can increase the level of students’ active learning
of the content.
Richard Elmore, Harvard School of Education
to improve student learning ...
You can raise the level of the content that students are taught.
Richard Elmore, Harvard School of Education
K - 2 Comparison
Grade
Existing Curriculum Topics
New Curriculum Topics
Kindergarten
Sand & Water, Balls & Ramps,
Chicks
Weather; Plants & Animals
(needs); Forces
First Grade
Using Water, Solids, Liquids &
Gases, Organisms
Sun, Moon, & Stars; Plants &
Animals (structure & function);
Sound & Light; Engineering Design
Second Grade
Weather, Light & Heat, Insects
Landforms & Water Bodies; Plants
& Animals (habitats); Properties of
Matter, Engineering Design
3-5 Comparison
Grade
Existing Curriculum Topics
New Curriculum Topics
Third Grade
Earth Within the Solar
System, Soil, Motion &
Simple Machines, Animal
Kingdom
Weather & Climate; Organisms (life
cycles); Forces (magnets); Engineering
Design
Fourth Grade
Rocks & Minerals, Electricity
& Magnetism, Plants
Rocks & Soil (erosion, deposition, fossils);
Mapping; Natural Resources; Plant &
Animal Structures; Energy; Engineering
Design
Fifth Grade
Weather, Chemistry, Human
Body,
Sun-Earth-Moon System; Natural
Resources (water, watersheds, humans);
Ecosystems (flow of matter & energy);
Properties of Matter; Engineering
Middle School
Existing Standards:
● 6th grade - Ecology, Earth Science
● 7th grade - Astronomy, Life Sciences (cells, genetics, human body)
● 8th grade - Physics, Chemistry
New Standards:
● 6th grade - Astronomy (solar system); Earth Science; Energy; Intro to Cells & Body
Systems; Ecosystems; Energy, Mass, & Speed
● 7th grade - Astronomy (seasons, eclipses, moon phases); Cell Structure & Processes,
Genetics; Atoms & Molecules; Interactions of Forces; Evolutionary Relationships;
Weather
● 8th grade - Chemistry; Physics (forces & energy); Climate (human impact);
Biodiversity & Natural Selection
Raise the level of content… with standards
Raise the level of content… with standards
Raise the level of content… with standards
2001/2006 STANDARDS
4th grade standard (2001): Give examples of how the
surface of the Earth changes due to slow processes
such as erosion and weathering, and rapid processes
such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and
earthquakes.
Raise the level of content… with standards
Give examples...
Raise the level of content… with standards
2016 STANDARDS
4th grade standard (2016): Use evidence from a given landscape that includes
simple landforms and rock layers to support a claim about the role of erosion or
deposition in the formation of the landscape over long periods of time.
4th grade standard (2016): Make observations and collect data to provide
evidence that rocks, soils, and sediments are broken into smaller pieces through
mechanical weathering and moved through mechanical weathering and moved
around through erosion.
Raise the level of content… with standards
Use evidence to support a claim…
Make observations and collect
data to provide evidence...
Raise the level of content…
existing curriculum materials and resources
Raise the level of content…
Looking at curriculum materials and resources
Exploring a digital curriculum called...
STEMscopes
Digital
Curriculum
to improve student learning...
You can increase the skill and knowledge that teachers bring to
the teaching of that content.
Richard Elmore, Harvard School of Education
Increase the skill & knowledge of the teachers…
through professional development
Provide teachers with professional development activities that focus on:
➢
science & engineering practices
➢
science & engineering content
➢
and strategies for creating science or engineering classrooms that provide
opportunities for all students to construct an understanding of science and
engineering concepts.
Increase the skill & knowledge of the teachers…
through professional development
Professional Development during 2016-17
➢
Full PD day in August with K-2 to introduce standards, practices, and 5E’s
➢
Two ILAP days each for K, 1, 2 between September 2016 and May 2017
➢
On-going work with Haynes K & 1 during monthly PLC meetings
➢
On-going work with middle school teachers during ILAP sessions and release
time
Increase the skill & knowledge of the teachers…
through professional development
Professional Development during 2016-17
➢
Curriculum work with individual teachers
➢
Opportunities for Steering Committee members and other teachers to attend
conferences related to the new standards
➢
Coaching and modeling lessons for teachers
➢
Summer opportunities such as workshops and curriculum writing
opportunities
to improve student learning...
You can increase the level of students’ active learning of the
content.
Richard Elmore, Harvard School of Education
Increase the level of active learning of the
student...
Provide opportunities for students to construct their understanding of science &
engineering concepts by:
➢
Using the BSCS 5E model of teaching
➢
Providing opportunities to explore and ask questions
➢
Make learning applicable and real
Increase the skill &
knowledge of the
teachers…
Learning the 5E model
of instruction
Increase the skill &
knowledge of the
teachers…
Practicing the 5E model
of instruction
Science & Engineering Steering Committee
Purpose:
Jennie Brannen
Heather Duckett
Ed Eich
Holly Estes
Jen Fullam
Daniel Garrigan Byerly
Lauren Grella
Michael Huelin
Dorothy Kramer
Renata Pomponi
Tom Rawson
➢
To contribute to the process of transitioning to
the new Massachusetts Science &
Technology/ Engineering Framework, April
2016
➢
Unpacked the new standards, wrote essential
questions for many grades, review new
curriculum program
➢
Strengthening the relationships between
elementary and middle school teachers
➢
Committee members taking leadership roles
Supports… wonderful resources in & around
Sudbury
Thank you for our SERF grants & the PTO funding from several schools!
➢
Three teachers participating in climate change research in the Andorran
Pyrenees - July 2017, SERF & PTO funded
➢
Redesign of MS engineering curriculum & physical space - 2017, SERF funded
➢
Eastern Spadefoot citizen science project in 6th grade science classroom - with
assistance of Mass Audubon - Spring 2017, SERF funded
➢
Development of STEM program at Haynes - 2017, SERF funded
Supports… wonderful resources in & around
Sudbury
Thank you to our teachers, parents, and community members!
➢
Developing a relationship with Mass Audubon to assist in potential citizen
science projects at the elementary and middle schools
➢
Sudbury volunteers helping to support the content knowledge of our teachers
as we transition to the new standards
➢
Teachers offering creative ways for kids to explore, design, and create.
➢
Tapping into the extensive knowledge and experience of Sudbury teachers,
particularly on the Science & Engineering Steering Committee
What’s happening in the classroom?
Engineering: Ms. McWeeney, first graders, and the
opportunity to explore materials and creativity
Citizen Science: Mr. Eich, sixth graders, and a bunch of Eastern
Spadefoot tadpoles with the assistance of Mass Audubon
Drumlin Farm
From Saguaro Cactus to Our Backyard
●
A story about moving the curriculum from textbook to local environment
●
Endangered species research is a capstone project in 6th grade
●
Endangered species studied were from distant countries and continents
●
Shifting the focus to local species, inspired by a student and the locally
endangered Blanding’s Turtle
From Saguaro Cactus to Our Backyard
●
Connecting with the community, Renata Pomponi, SPS parent & director of
Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm
●
Citizen Science & Toads - bringing the Eastern Spadefoot into the classroom,
6th & 7th grade classes
●
Raising toads, data collection, analysis
●
ELA connection: Night of The Spadefoot Toads
●
Generous funding from SERF
Building Castles
Challenge: Build a castle for a prince or
princess.
Materials: Wooden blocks
Literacy Connections: Oral storytelling
Create a story around your castle. Identify
problems and find solutions.
Cardboard Constructions
Challenge: Create a structure
or object using the cardboard
rings.
Flower
Materials: Paper towel tubes,
glue
Hedgehog
Snowplow
Learning to Collaborate
Challenge:
Build a bridge.
Materials:
Popsicle sticks
Plastic cubes
Joining forces
to build bigger.
Working together
means more
possibilities!
STEM Journals
Journals: Recording discoveries,
designs, and questions after
completing a bin.
Morning Meeting: Sharing creations,
discoveries, and questions
Moving Ahead… Supports & Challenges
SUPPORTS
➢
PD days and ILAPs focused on grades 3- 5, STEMscopes
➢
Continue work with K-2
➢
Continue work with middle school science & engineering teachers
➢
Continued work with local organizations and community members
Moving Ahead… Supports & Challenges
CHALLENGES
➢
Need more time with teachers for curriculum work
➢
Consistency in hours of science teaching across district as recommended by MA
DESE:
Grades K-2
2 hours/week
Grades 3-5
3 hours/week
Grades 6-8
4.5 hours/week