K-6 SCIENCE in NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

K-12 SCIENCE in NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Richard Therrien K-12 Science Supervisor

See for ALL materials: Grade resource pages have:

Goals/objectives/vision/mission/concept maps, connections to Common Core.

Science grade level expectations/standards

Practice assessments/open ended rubrics, Embedded tasks

-REQUIRED CT standards, 4 units each year K-6, state standards in place till 2016

CMT Test in Science! 5th grade covers K-5 curriculum, 8th grade 6-8: for ALL students (ELL & SpecEd)in place to 2016. Counts as 10% of K-8 School Performance Index.

CAPT Test in Science, end of 10th AND for retesters. Counts as 25% of School Perfomance Index.

-New Haven Time Guidelines: For ALL students! (including intervention students)

K-4 hands on science at least twice a week, 50 minX2 = 100 min/weekout of 1800 total

5-6 hands on science at least 2-4 times a week, 130 min/week

7-8 science every day with certified science teachers, curriculum, set pacing.

-NHPS Science Resource Center sends 3 kits a year K-5, 12-16 lessons per kit.

Some kits will need to be shared, and we rent/share with other towns. Rotation is different for each school. Sep 13-Nov 29, Dec 20-Mar 18, Apr 17-June 15 and the schedule is firm!.

Kind: Weather, Wood/Properties, Trees

1st: Measurement, Sun/Shadows, Organisms

2nd: Solids/Liquids, Soil, Butterfly

3rd: Rocks, Chemical Tests, Plants ** Plus Soggy Paper embedded task

4th: Motion, Land/Water, Electric Circuits ** Plus Circuits embedded task

5th: Sound, Light/Color (dec), Senses, Sun/Earth/Moon (Jan/Feb) ** Elem CMT Test, Plus CatchIt embedded task

6th: Ecosystems, Watersheds, Weather, Machines ** Plus DigIn embedded task

All kits have: goals, objectives, inquiry, non fiction reading, writing, measurement practice that can tie into math/reading/writing. Bilingual vocab and resources available as well.

7-12, science every day... 7 units per year, with significant tasks. All students take PhyChem, Bio, Chem and most should do Physics.

-Inquiry skills! (50% of tests!)

Science Fair: each school decides, city wide fair is May 15-17, school fairs by April break.

-Key expectations.

Kids need experiences! Research shows long term learning takes place if experiences (labs) come BEFORE reading/vocab.

Elem science builds future success! Research shows the more engaging elementary science experiences, the more success in ALL subjects, and success in college and STEM careers.

Inquiry:50% of CMT/CAPT!, The CT model is for students to design and conduct experiments “fair tests” , and critique each other’s work.

TALK: students learn science concepts and skills by discussing and talking!! THEN writing, and practice assessments.

Fidelity and integration: Stick to science concepts in the CT standards/expectations, and integrate important reading (literacy common core), writing, math (measurement and data analysis) skills.

Careers: speak positively about science. Use to investigate science careers.

Contact Richard Therrien , 946-7933 for curriculum, Cindy Viera 946-2818 for kits, Math/magnet coaches can also be a good resource to help.

NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCIENCE CONTENT OUTLINE

(as well as inquiry standards)

(Note, K-6 content order subject to change and is dependent on kit supply and school specific rotation)

*ET = CT Embedded Task, NHPS District Unit Tasks and Quarterly Assessments Also Required Grades 7-12, New Haven City Wide Science Fair May 12,13,14

New Haven Science Fair TIMELINE2013-12

Bold denotes New Haven Science event see

9/15/12 - 3/8/13 Teachers Request Mentors (online or fax form)

10/30/12 Deadline for Registering Schools for CT State Science Fair (online)

12/1/12 CT State Science Fair HS Project Registration Deadline

12/22/11 - 1/1/13 New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Holiday Break, No School

11/14/12 – 3/28/13Family Science Nights sponsored by Science Fair Committee

2/16/13 - 2/24/13 NHPS Winter Break, No School

2/15/13 CT State Science Fair Registration (MS), Abstracts (HS) Final Deadline

12/1/12 - 3/28/13 Submit Project Board Request Form

2/4/13School Science Project ParticipationForm due;

School Science Fair dates set

3/4/13-3/28/13 CT State Testing

3/15/13 Scientific Review Committee (SRC) Forms Deadline (if required)

3/5/13-3/23/13 Colleges and Universities Spring Breaks (some mentors may not be available)

3/12/13-3/17/13 CT State Science Fair

4/4/123 Deadline to resubmit projects to SRC

4/12/13 Deadline for School Science Fairs

4/12/13 Science Fair Project Registration Forms Due

4/13/13 - 4/21/13 NHPS Spring Break, No School

4/30/13 School project allocation finalized

5/4/12 Bus Schedules Finalized for Fair

5/14/13 Project Set-Up at Yale Commons 7 am - 4 pm

5/14/13 Project Preliminary Judging 5 pm - 8 pm [Judges only]

5/15/13 New Haven Science Fair: All students present 9 am - 12:30 pm

[No public viewing]

5/15/13 Projects display open to public: 1 – 6 pm

5/16/13 Public display; Projects picked up 8 am - 9pm

5/16/13 Awards ceremony Woolsey Hall

6:30 pm Grades PreK-5 Awards; 7:30 pm Grades 6-12 Awards

GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR COORDINATORS see

Each school in the New Haven School system makes its own decisions and arrangements for choosing the projects it will send to the New Haven Science Fair. The school leadership team should decide in the fall what the expected level of participation is for each grade and teacher, and how the school will decide which projects to send to the New Haven Science Fair. Some schools choose to have a school-wide science fair; others will have the classroom teacher, either grade level, or science teacher, pick projects to submit to the Fair. One staff member should serve as coordinator or liaison with the Science Fair committee.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

• The New Haven Science Fair is designed to reinforce inquiry skills and experimentation skills that students learn in their regular science lessons. It also allows students to integrate skills of literacy, writing, communication, math analysis, social issues, and group work. It supplements many areas of the curriculum, but does not replace it.
• The New Haven Science Fair is also designed to excite students about the application of these learning skills, to interest students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and also to consider STEM when making future education and career choices.
• Although there are prizes and awards, the benefit of the Science Fair comes from doing a project, working with teachers, mentors, fellow students, and judges. Competition is not the primary goal.
• The school may choose to have students in a particular grade or course do a science fair project as an assignment, or as an extension activity.
• Some schools may choose to have all students do a project, or to have just interested or selected students participate. Whatever you decide, complete and submit the School Science Fair Participation Form.

IF your school chooses to have a school-wide science fair it is important to:

• Let the Science Fair Steering Committee know the date as soon as possible so they can offer assistance. Identify an educator or parent early in the year that can help organize the fair.
• Follow the New Haven Science Fair guidelines for groups, categories, and project boards. Remember that some projects require Scientific Review Committee approval.
• Apply for mentors and request project boards in a timely manner. Family Science Nights are a good way to kickoff teacher/parent/school interest.
• Use the New Haven Science Fair project evaluation sheets and manual with all teachers, mentors, and judges.
• Stick to the deadlines. Project registration forms must be submitted by April 13, 2012. School fairs should be completed by April 13th. Some schools hold fairs as early as December or January.
• Be clear about judging expectations and guidelines to students, teachers and parents.
• Select volunteer judges carefully. Using parents to judge is not usually a good idea. Train judges using the forms and Handbook. If you have difficulty finding volunteer judges or need help with training, the New Haven Science Fair Steering Committee is available to assist. Make sure students have an opportunity to talk with judges and get feedback -- this is how they learn.
• Students may revise and edit their projects after the school fair, and should use feedback to improve their projects before they go to the New Haven Science Fair.

Science Fair Allocations

There are a limited number of spots (250) in the New Haven Science Fair. Allocations are made based on school participation and population. Each school should expect to send no more than 8-10 projects to the New Haven Science Fair. A good guideline is 2-3 projects per grade level (maximum).