SCIENCE
I.Time Allotments (per week)
Grade K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
30 100 100 100 160 160 200 250 250
II.General
A.Guidelines
1.Science instruction is mandatory at all levels. Every teacher should have a copy of the Science Student Outcomes, Grades K-8 published by The Department of Education, Diocese of San Jose, 2000.
2.The 2005 Science Framework for California Public Schools should serve as a resource on which all science programs are based.
3.It is recommended that the same science program be used in grades K-5 or K-6. Additionally, grades 6-8 or grade 7-8 need to adopt the same series.
4.Hands-on experiences with scientific phenomena (laboratory experiments done by students, as well as field studies) should be an integral part of the instructional program.
5.The skills and student outcomes at each level should be discussed at faculty and level meetings in order to provide articulation about the science program.
6.The three basic scientific fields of study---physical, earth, and life sciences---are addressed each year in K-5 and the connections among them are developed. In grade six the focus is earth science, in grade seven the focus is life science, and in grade eight the focus is physical science.
7.In order to promote inquiry, scientific method should be taught and developed at each grade level. Refer to "Scientific Method: Investigations and Experimentation" which is found at the end of each grade level in the Science Student Outcomes, Grades K-8
8.Connections should be made between science and the real world in order to show its implications on society.
9.Science should be presented in connection with students' own experiences and interests.
10.Instructional strategies and materials should allow several levels of access so that all students can experience both challenge and success.
11.Printed materials should be presented in an interesting and engaging narrative style. Textbooks should not be the sole source of the curriculum. Use of a variety of resources is integral to student understanding.
12.Student use of technology should be an essential part of the science program.
13.Assessment should be aligned with the instructional program in both content and format; student performance and investigation should play the same central role in assessment that they do in instruction. ITBS scores should be used to inform instruction.
14.Safety precautions during lab experiments must be observed. These should include:
a.Fire extinguishers
b.Safety glasses
c.Eye wash station
Additional information on safety may be found in the textbook.
B.Recommended Programs (New materials available after November 2006)
a. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
- Glencoe Science Focus on Series
Tim Mullner
(972) 562-9495
lison Ashcraft
b. Harcourt School Publishers
- California Science
Mark Christian
(925) 249-1286 (office)
(925) 353-0762 (cell)
(925) 249-1287 (fax)
aula Pine
c. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
- Holt California science: Earth, Life, and Physical Science
Paula Pine
Mark Christian
(925) 249-1286 (office)
(925) 353-0762 (cell)
(925) 249-1287 (fax)
d. Houghton Mifflin
- Houghton Mifflin California Science
Paula Pine
Dave McDevitt
(877) 526-2008
- MacMillan/McGraw-Hill
- MacMillan/McGraw-Hill California Science
Tim Mullner
(972) 562-9495
halayne Ainely
- McDougal Littell
- McDougal Littell California Middle School Science
Paula Pine
Gail Vaughn
(408) 528-9632
- Pearson Prentice Hall
- Prentice Hall California Science Explorer: Focus on Earth, Life, and Physical Science
William Quinn
(916) 961-8763
- Pearson Scott Foresman
- Scott Foresman California Science
William Quinn
(916) 961-8763
1.Glencoe Science Voyages, 6-8
Glencoe
P.O. Box 543
Blacklick, OH 43004
(800) 882-6710
(614) 860-1877 Fax
Jeremy Pinson
2.Harcourt Science, K-5
Harcourt Brace
6277 Sea Harbor Drive
Orlando, FL 32887
(800) 228-4658
(800) 269-5232 Fax
Terri Festa
(408) 671-3417
(831) 438-3857
3.Holt Science and Technology, Earth, Life and Physical Science,
6-8
Holt, Rinehart, Winston
6277 Sea Harbor Drive
Orlando, FL 32887
(800) 228-4658
(800) 269-5232 Fax
Robin Duncan
(866) 455-4514
4.Discovery Works, K-5
Houghton-Mifflin
13400 Midway Road
Dallas, TX 75244
(800) 733-2828
(800) 733-2098 Fax
Dave McDevitt
(877) 526-2008
5.McGraw-Hill Science, K-6
McGraw-Hill
P.O. Box 543
Blacklick, OH 43004
(800) 882-6710
(614) 860-1877 Fax
Steven Smith
(510) 522-3587
6.Science Explorer, 6-8
Prentice Hall
P.O. Box 2500
Lebanon, IN 46052
(800) 848-9500
(877) 260-2530 Fax
Matt Vickers
(408) 448-3848
C.Resources
1.Science Framework for California Public Schools, 2004
Available through:California Department of Education
Bureau of Publications, Sales Unit
P. O. Box 271
Sacramento, CA 95812-02711430 N Street, Suite 3207
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
2.The California Science Content Standards in the Classroom
Available through:Santa Clara County Office of Education
1290 Ridder Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95131-2398
(408) 453-6500
Recommended Literature for Math and Science:
D.Organizations
1.California Science Teachers Association
CSTA
6000 J. Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6041
2.National Science Teachers Association
NSTA
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA. 22201-3000
(703) 243-7100
6/30/066/22/2007 – Science Guidelines164