While the students had off on Monday October 7, WPS teachers participated in professional development to keep them up-to-date on new research on emerging technology tools for the classroom, new curricular resources, and more. Science teachers in elementary, middle, and high school gathered with curriculum resource specialists to learn best practices for upcoming science units.
And it doesn't stop there! The district is also making sure the teachers receive cutting edge professional development all year long. For instance, three science teachers were chosen to participate in the coveted Franklin Institute's Master Educator Program. We also have teachers going to the New Jersey Science Convention at the end of this month. Further, the Office of Curriculum and Instruction offers quite a few science teaching workshops throughout the year.
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As you can see Willingboro has started the new school year off with some awesome learning adventures and it doesn't stop there! Our science program includes activities for all children to achieve understanding and application in all science content for their grade level. My team and I have chosen a variety of content that is developmentally appropriate, interesting, and relevant to students lives. We have included Award-winning resources for use in the science classroom and specially crafted the curriculum to include experiences that deep in science learning like of the out door lab you saw earlier.
Our curriculum is based off the New Jersey student learning standards and provides coherence from kindergarten through grade 12. You saw an example of this earlier the 6th grade students were conducting a lab they were looking at the surface features of biotic and abiotic elements. This disciplinary core idea spans all the way to high school where we saw 11th graders looking at biotic and abiotic features at a microscopic level. The same rings true for all things science grade K through 12. In addition to providing the rigor for student learning, the district is also making sure the teachers receive adequate opportunities for growth. We are providing cutting edge professional development for teachers. 3 science teachers were chosen to participate in the coveted of Franklin Institutes master educator program. We have a few teachers going to the New Jersey science convention at the end of this month. We also have outside content specific specialist working with the teachers year round. Even I offer quite a few Science teaching workshops throughout the year. Willingboro public schools is working diligently to close the achievement gap in science . We want to make sure our kids are provided with everything they need to not only be successful in their academic career but to strive to be the best they can be throughout their lives. Welcome to the 19’-20’ school Year! There are amazing things happening in science classes this year! Keep reading to find out how you child will be interacting with all things science this year! There are several things that are evident in a standards-based teaching and learning environment: Instruction is "hands-on" with students using materials to experience active science.
Students are encouraged to ask questions about the world around them and practice science skills.
Students have frequent and consistent opportunities to participate in active science learning.
Teachers plan instruction that builds on what students know and think to increase students' scientific understanding.
What can I do to support good science education?
Please congratulate these students for their success at the annual STEM Conference! Below is the list of students who won Best Overall STEM for the 2018-2019 school year.
3rd Grade- Maia Hernandez, Engineering Buildings for Earthquakes 4th Grade- Samir Walker, Can Soda Cool Faster By Using Salt? Intermediate- Alana Sanchez, The Future of Plants Middle- Sulvan Joseph, Sully's Water Filter High- Nasya Douglas, Pro to GMO "Surprising to some, a science fair project is one of the best learning experiences a student can undertake. And, if it is taken seriously, it can be an excellent way to earn significant prizes, qualify for scholarships, and distinguish a college application." In a great article entitled The Value of a Science Fair Project on the Science Buddies website, the important role a "Science Fair" event is detailed. Take a look and see why WPS continues to raise the bar of excellence in science education. Please join me in acknowledging all our students that rose to the occasion and submitted some stellar STEM projects!! Congratulations to a job well done!! Stay tuned for the results of the District STEM Conference which takes place on June 17th at the Willingboro Public Library. Do you panic when your child comes home from school asking for help with his or her STEM Conference project? Do you ever wonder how you can help your child learn science? You are not alone. Many parents—especially those who didn't pursue careers in science—may be apprehensive, sometimes even fearful, about this endeavor. We commend you for your desire to help guide and support your children in their education, specifically in the field of science. Science is a way of understanding the world, a perspective, and a pattern of thinking that begins in the very early years. That is why parent involvement is so important in a child's science education. Families who explore together nurture great young scientists! Studies show that the family experiences that students bring to school are some of the biggest predictors of success (Hazen and Trefil, 1991). Here are some additional tips for success: See science everywhere. Parents can take opportunities to k "What would happen if …?" questions or present brainteasers to encourage children to be inquisitive and seek out answers. Children need to know that science isn't just a subject, but it is a way of understanding the world around us. Lead family discussions on science-related topics. Dinnertime might be an ideal time for your family to have discussions about news stories that are science based, like space shuttle missions, severe weather conditions, or new medical breakthroughs. Over time, children will develop a better understanding of science and how it affects many facets of our lives. Movies and TV shows with science-related storylines are also great topics for discussion. For example: After watching Jurassic Park, you might want to discuss with your children the significance of the name of the movie or how human involvement in natural processes can cause drastic consequences. Do science together. Children, especially elementary-age children, learn better by investigating and experimenting. Simple investigations done together in the home can bolster what your child is learning in the classroom. Check with your child's teacher on what your child is currently learning in class and what activities you can explore at home. There are also many books on the market and numerous websites that present ideas for investigations. For example: Using a penny and a water dropper, ask your child to guess how many drops of water will fit on top of it. Ask your child to count the drops as he or she drops them on the penny. Why doesn't the water spill off after a few drops? Water molecules across the surface are attracted to each other. The attraction is strong enough to allow the water to rise above the penny without spilling. At some point, the molecules of water can no longer hold together and spill off the penny. Obtain science resources. Follow up science discussions, home experiments, or classroom lessons with books, magazines, CDs, and other resources. Science themes will be reinforced through further exploration, and over time your family will have plenty of resources on which to draw. Explore nonformal education sites. In an informal learning situation—the kind of learning that happens outside the traditional confines of the classroom, at science centers, museums, zoos, and aquariums—children are encouraged to experiment on their own and ask questions about what they are experiencing. Become active in your children's formal education by getting to know the teacher and the curriculum. Participate in your child's school science program by locating scientists and others to be guest speakers, or accompany your child on a field trip to a science-related place. And last but not least...Show excitement for science. Children tend to be interested in the same things as other family members and excitement is contagious! Young children are “super curious,” said Matt Krehbiel, director of science for Achieve, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students graduate from high school ready to start college or to pursue a career. “We want them to be able to harness that curiosity to help them make sense of the world around them.” That is one of the reasons WPS decided to update the science resources for Prek-12th grade.
FOSS( Full Option Science System) a new adoption this year, for grades 1-5, has open our elementary students’ eyes to the wonderment of science. This resource allows students to have a more hands-on approach to learning. One of the things that FOSS stresses in elementary science is “Active Investigation”. Active investigation are practices that keep active investigation vigorous and productive. Active investigation contains: Context: questioning and planning. Active investigation requires focus. The context of an inquiry can be established with a focus question or challenge from the teacher or in some cases, from students. This might start with a teacher demonstration or presentation. Then students are challenged to plan an investigation. This clarification of context and purpose results in a more productive investigation. Activity: doing and observing. In the practice of science, scientists put things together and take things apart, observe systems and interactions, and conduct experiments. This is the core of science—active, firsthand experience with objects, organisms, materials, and systems in the natural and designed worlds. In the FOSS Program, students engage in the same processes as scientists. Students often conduct investigations in collaborative groups of four, with each student taking a role and contributing to the effort. The active investigations in FOSS are cohesive and build on each other and the readings to lead students to a comprehensive understanding of concepts. Through the investigations, students gather meaningful data. Data management: recording and organizing. Data accrue from observation, both direct (through the senses) and indirect (mediated by instrumentation). During and after work with materials, students record data in their notebooks. Data recording is the first of several kinds of student writing. Students then organize data so that the data will be easier to think about. Analysis: discussing and writing explanations. The most important part of an active investigation is extracting its meaning. This constructive process involves logic, discourse, and existing knowledge. Students share their explanations for phenomena, using evidence generated during the investigation to support their ideas. They conclude the active investigation by writing a summary in their science notebooks of their learning as well as questions raised during the activity. Alright enough about inner workings of the resource….How do the students like it? They love it!! There have be rave reviews from many students. Take a look at some students as they participate in active investigation with meal worms in Ms. Marcucci’s Science class STEM Conference 2019 Theme… The Future Earth Why is an event like a Science Fair or STEM Conference important to students? A school wide event like a STEM Conference allows students to present their science project to the community, including district stakeholders and other students. Studies have shown that "Science Fair" types of events motivate student participation toward science. It also contributes to their social development. Not to mention, that it can broaden a student’s horizon to someday pursue a career in the sciences. Overall, an event like the STEM Conference adds an exciting twist to Science that can encourage a student to learn about the world around them.
Students received a take home STEM Conference Resource packet. This packet contains all the details need to construct a successful project. Each School will have it's own STEM Conference and exemplary projects will be asked to join the District STEM Conference. Take a look at the STEM Conference dates below...
There are several science websites out there that can help students understand difficult topics, prepare for exams, and ultimately serve parents as a virtual teacher’s aid. The best part: Many of the better ones are absolutely free.
Room 241 put together a fantastic list of several popular websites that can get students hooked on science. Take a look... HowStuffWorks A companion to the books and TV shows, HowStuffWorks is more for the teen or young adult, so some supervision will be needed to direct the younger student to the right information. The site uses illustrations, charts, and graphs to explain the detailed workings of everything from light bulbs to weather phenomena, space craft to submarines, nuclear fission to how ice cubes melt. Parents and teachers will find this a useful resource for explaining the way various items are created and function in the world. The Exploratorium This website is an extension of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, which provides hands-on experiences that teach children scientific concepts. The website brings some of these activities to students via their computers. Biology, physiology, earth science, engineering, and astronomy are some of the areas of focus. Look for the Explore areas that offer resources to help create lesson plans that incorporate the interactive displays. Science Toys Remember making your own crystal radio or a clock from a potato way back when? Science Toys has collected the best of these old-school science projects for the current generation. Students can make things ranging from a steamboat to a solar-powered marshmallow roaster. The projects are best for the middle or high school student, but younger students could also enjoy the projects with adult supervision. What we love most: the projects try to make use of what might be found around the house, although a few may require a trip to the hardware store. Bill Nye the Science Guy (My personal favorite!!) This site—which has a fantastic design, by the way—primarily reinforces material that Bill Nye presents on his TV show. His style and humor entertains and educates the student, while really getting the points of each lesson across.. Consider it a great resource to support classroom lectures and projects. Science News for Kids This website educates students on science-related topics in the news. News items—such as the decline of the population of honeybees and how forensic science is used to solve crimes—are explained with kids in mind. The site is more appropriate for middle and high school students, but again, younger students can benefit from it with some adult interpretation. Remember, nothing can replace a child's natural curiosity for the real world. If that moment should arise, take the time and smell the roses. You may learn something sciencey!! Happy Learning! |
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