WCPSS Elementary Science Updates

As we move into the season of spring, we hope you will take a moment to notice the changes occurring all over our Earth. Green grass, flowers blooming, warmer temperatures...it's all SCIENCE! Science is everywhere! Please enjoy our March 2018 Elementary Science Updates. As always, you will find information, useful resources, and ideas to support your science curriculum and instruction.

Are you looking for resources to enhance your instruction? Did you know that the NC Department of Public Instruction has created a Teacher Resource Pack for every standard in the K-5 Curriculum?

Each Teacher Resource Pack provides content information, writing prompts, essential questions, and a ton of resources. While most resources are well aligned to standards, we have noticed that some of the resources are elaboration of the standard. Below are the 5th Grade Teacher Resource Packs for you to enjoy!

• 5.P.1 Force and Motion
• 5.P.2 Matter: Properties & Change
• 5.P.3 Energy Conservation & Transfer
• 5.E.1 Earth Systems, Structures, & Processes
• 5.L.1 Structures and Functions of Living Organisms
• 5.L.2 Ecosystems
• 5.L.3 Evolution and Genetics

We recently read a blog post by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen. She mentioned that she was at a science conference and heard several conversations between teachers who were frustrated that science time was so limited at their school. She decided to put together a video to directly address why making time for science is important for everyone. Consider viewing and having conversations about the video to discuss ways to find more time for science. #scienceliteracy

The Specialist PLT at Yates Mill Elementary School have focused on integrating science with their content areas this school year. They are critical thinkers!

As a PLT, they looked at school wide data and noticed that there was a need for improvement in K-5 science. Then they studied the science standards, and found that the FORCE & MOTION strand was a common thread in all grade levels. The specialist worked collaboratively to study the force and motion science standards in every grade level, and found creative ways to easily integrate their own content standards. They designed integrated force and motion learning tasks for every grade level. At a recent Early Release the YMES Specialist, led PD that communicated their integrated strategies with administration and staff.

Students loved learning and making connections and so did the teachers! Kudos to the Yates Mill Elementary Specialist PLT! Way to integrate!

Science Standards + Music Standards + Art Standards + PE Standards = Successful, Meaningful Learning at Yates Elementary School

The world we live in is a very connected place and science is everywhere! Science is in our careers, transportation, the daily weather, and is alive and moving within our human bodies. Just as our world is integrated and connected, our instruction should be as well.

Integrating science with other content areas can help students make real world connections, and help teachers creatively and effectively address learning standards across content areas.

The Elementary Science Team has placed a focus on integrating science with other content areas as we develop our new UbD units. In each unit, teachers can find an Integration Resource Guide. The Integration Resource Guide is a tool that highlights learning tasks that are integrated with science standards and with other content standards. Below you will find links to a few examples of the Integration Resource Guides (one per each domain). Even if you are not a third or fourth grade teacher, you can use the Integration Resource Guide as a model or inspiration for planning integrated learning tasks.

• Plants on Earth Integration Resource Guide (3.L.2)
• Earth's Land and Water Features (3.E.2)
• Matter: Structure, Properties, and Change (3.P.2)
• Food, Vitamins, Minerals, and Exercise (4.L.2) *From our first 4th Gr UbD unit.

Integrating content maximizes time within the school day, motivates students, and increases student achievement level. NSTA states that "In the reality of the classroom, an approach that motivates students and aids the teacher in meeting standards must be considered. If you find yourself among those hesitant to integrate science and other content areas—take our advice and try it. Sometimes, it takes a nudge to see the forest amid the trees."

“For organizational convenience, schools traditionally separate curricular areas such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies. This separation permits us to concentrate on particular skill areas of the curriculum. But as we utilize this knowledge in life situations, we find that we need to incorporate and integrate all of these subject areas into accomplishing our goals.”

~G. A. Davis & J. D. Keller,

Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall

DIG IN!

Nourishing Community: How Community Gardens and Urban Ag Support a Healthy Wake County Join Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) and partner Marbles Kids Museum for Dig In! to explore how urban agriculture, community gardens, and edible gardens in schools and child care settings grow a healthier Wake County. Learn how and commit to how you will contribute to healthier communities in Wake County through edible gardens and urban ag. Gain inspiration from our Pecha Kucha style stories to kick off the day, participate in workshops, network with others, learn from educational booths, and hear from keynoter Katie Stagliano, founder of Katie’s Krops, about how each of us makes a difference in nourishing our community. Willow Springs Elementary teacher Megan Lewis whose Grow Zone garden has been thriving for 10 years at her school, is taking place Sat., March 10 as part of the 9th Annual Dig In! in downtown Raleigh. Click here to sign up!

Yates Mill Park

Are you looking for a local field trip aligned to standards? Why not look in your own backyard. Yates Mill Park offers a wide variety of programs, discovery boxes, tours, and mote to enrich and enhance student learning in the classroom. Click here for more information and to dig deeper into educator guide. Page seven communicates how the field trip experiences are aligned to the NC Essential Standards for Science, and Social Studies too!

Please feel free to reach out to us!

Jennifer Fine, Elementary Science Senior Administrator (jfine@wcpss.net)

Walter Harris, Elementary Science Coordinating Teacher (wharris@wcpss.net

Website: wcpss.net
Location: Wake County Public School System, NC, USA
Phone: 919-533-7152
Facebook: facebook.com/wcpss
Twitter: @WCPSSElemScien