Science News 4 You
BOCES 4 Science Newsletter - January Edition
🍃 Direct from the BOCES 4 Science Director
Happy New Year from BOCES 4 Science!
As we wrap up an exciting fall season, we want to thank all the educators who joined us for workshops and coaching sessions. This fall, we’ve supported teachers across elementary, middle, and high school with professional learning on topics such as unit training, 3D assessment development, investigations trainings and literacy in secondary science.
In this newsletter, you’ll find details about our winter offerings—we encourage teachers to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible as we continue to fully implement NYSSLS across all grades.
We’re also releasing the 2026–2027 order form. The full catalog is in its final design stages and will be formally released soon.
Additionally, NYSED has proposed an amendment to include climate education. A link to the NYSED website, including instructions for public comment, is provided below. To support districts, BOCES 4 Science will share a draft crosswalk aligning climate education with BOCES 4 Science curriculum, kits, and NYSSLS Performance Expectations across all grade levels. This resource will evolve as NYSED guidance becomes available, but we hope it sparks meaningful conversations about climate education.
Thank you for your continued partnership!
Steven Montemarano
BOCES 4 Science Director
📗 2026–2027 BOCES 4 Science Catalog Ordering Information
The complete 2026–2027 Catalog is in the final stages of design. In the meantime, you’ll find the Kit Lease Order Form linked below, which includes pricing for kit suites, individual kits and student science journals.
If you have additional needs—such as Investigation materials—before the full catalog is released, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time.
Click on the icon below to be directed to the BOCES 4 Science website with the 2026–27 order forms and instructions.
Check out the wide variety of NYSSLS-aligned professional learning available from BOCES 4 Science. You can discover best practices for implementing the rigorous units, learn how to help students with the NYS Investigations and dive into many additional science concepts.
Offerings are frequently updated, so be sure to check the BOCES 4 Science Professional Learning page at www.boces4science.org/PL. Don't see what you are looking for? Reach out to BOCES 4 Science Assistant Director Lisa Zeznick at lzeznick@boces4science.org.
Curriculum Unit Workshops
The BOCES 4 Science Curriculum Unit Workshops provide an in-depth look at a particular unit, along with NYSSLS-aligned instructional strategies, content-specific information, formative and summative assessments and more. Teachers will walk away prepared to begin teaching the relevant NYSSLS-aligned curriculum unit, armed with helpful tips on how best to manage materials effectively and how to provide instruction in the most efficient and engaging ways throughout the unit.
One CTLE credit is earned for every hour of training attended. Curriculum unit workshops are provided at no cost to those districts who lease the corresponding BOCES 4 Science unit.
2026 Online Unit Workshops
These workshops are offered online via ZOOM, and the instructor will send out the ZOOM link shortly before each session. One CTLE credit is earned for every hour of training attended. Curriculum unit workshops are provided at no cost to those districts who lease the corresponding BOCES 4 Science unit.
Grade K
Worm Scouts Feb. 23, March 2, March 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Grade 1
A Bunny's Life Jan. 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sending Messages with Light and Sound Jan. 29, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Sky Patterns April 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Grade 2
Save the Bees! Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Grade 3
Where Are the Wolves? Jan. 8, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Invisible Forces Jan. 16, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Generations of Butterflies March 5, 12, 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Grade 4
Riding the Waves of Information Jan. 22, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Powering Thru the Fair Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
A Walk in the Park Feb. 3, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Grade 5
Got Water? Jan. 7, 14, 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Deer, Deer Everywhere! Feb. 24, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Grade MS
Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation Feb. 5, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
2026 In-Person Unit Workshops
Grade 3
Invisible Forces Jan. 23, 2026, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., BOCES 4 Science, 771 Elmgrove Road, Rochester Tech Park, Bldg. 2, Rochester, NY
Grade 4
Powering Thru the Fair Feb. 10, 2026, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Manor Intermediate School, 147 East St., Honeoye Falls, NY
Grade 5
Earth and Space Explorers March 5, 2026, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., North Street School, 400 West North Street, Geneva, NY
🔎 Become an Investigation Expert with BOCES 4 Science
Looking to build stronger investigation lessons or labs? BOCES 4 Science facilitators are ready to help you prepare your students for successful completion of the NYS Investigations. This one-day session walks participants through the process of writing investigation-style lessons or labs. You will be guided through the writing process, then provided work time to create your own lesson or lab.
Registration Link: Investigation-Style Lesson/Lab Writing for Secondary Teachers
Date and time: March 4, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Rochester Technology Park, 771 Elmgrove Rd., Bldg #2, Rochester, NY 14624
Want to get an up-close look at the NYSED Science Investigations?
BOCES 4 Science instructional specialists are prepared to take these investigations from mystery to clarity. Through a two-day, in-person workshop, you will learn about expectations, best practices for implementation and even get to try out activities. Group discussions about alignment with standards and fitting these labs into your curriculum will also take place.
Registration Link: Regents Life Science: Biology Investigations Workshop
Date and time: Feb. 3-4, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Rochester Technology Park, 771 Elmgrove Rd., Bldg #2, Rochester, NY 14624
Registration Link: Regents Earth and Space Science Investigations Workshops
Date and time: Feb. 11-12, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Rochester Technology Park, 771 Elmgrove Rd., Building 2, Rochester, NY 14624
Registration Link: Regents Physical Science: Chemistry Investigations Workshops
Date and time: June 17-18, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: Greece Athena High School - 800 Long Pond Road, Rochester NY 14612
Discovering New Dimensions of Assessments 📄
Sharpen your three-dimensional assessment writing skills with BOCES 4 Science!
Through a two-day workshop, grades 6-12 science teachers will be guided through a process for creating three-dimensional assessments. Leave with practical experience to help you craft your own assessments and evaluate those written by others. Sign up with your department for the session below and have a collaborative learning experience!
Registration Link: Three Dimensional Assessment Writing for Secondary Teachers
Date and time: Feb. 25-26, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Rochester Technology Park, 771 Elmgrove Rd., Building 2, Rochester, NY 14624
BOCES 4 Science Featured in NYSSBA’s On Board Magazine 🌟
BOCES 4 Science was highlighted in the October edition of the New York State School Board Association (NYSSBA)’s On Board magazine. The article showcased how four BOCES, Genesee Valley, Monroe One, Monroe 2-Orleans, and Wayne-Finger Lakes, are collaborating to strengthen science education across New York State.
An emphasis was given to the commitment to hands-on, inquiry-based learning with BOCES 4 Science developed kits that align with the NYS Science Learning Standards. This recognition reflects the ongoing efforts to help students move beyond simply learning about science to actively "figuring out science" in the classroom.
Community Connections 🌎
If you are using the BOCES 4 Science Curriculum Units, feel free to look through our resources for in-person field trips, virtual field trips, presenters, and other opportunities to connect your science learning to the world around you. These community connections are sorted by grade level and science focus areas, so that you can find opportunities that best fit your classroom. Access this document at the link below!
Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs): Why They Matter 🔬
Students must have deep experiences in all the practices to fully develop scientific thinking and problem-solving skills.
It’s important to note that some practices—such as Planning and Carrying Out Investigations—are more challenging to assess on traditional paper-and-pencil exams like the Regents Exams.
Below, you’ll find the breakdown of SEPs from the recent Life Science: Biology and Earth and Space Science Regents Exams administered in June 2025.
As high school teachers transition to the new Regents Exams aligned with NYSSLS, a strong focus on SEPs may provide the greatest impact. In other words, emphasizing and explicitly teaching these can help transform traditionally content-focused courses into experiences where students learn to think and act like scientists and engineers.
Action Step: One effective approach is to develop explicit instruction around a few key practices in an upcoming unit. These practices span all of PK–12.
Climate Education⛅
At BOCES 4 Science, we are developing a draft crosswalk that aligns our curriculum and resource kits with NYSSLS and the proposed climate education requirements. We anticipate updates as more information becomes available.
Once the draft crosswalk is complete, we will share it along with an updated version of this newsletter.
Proposed Amendment of Section 100.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to Require Instruction in Climate Education