All-Things Science!

 

 All- Things Science! 

Interactive Slide-Deck 

A comprehensive slide deck has been created for teachers.  This slide deck provides amazing resources around ordering/ purchasing science materials, science integration, grading science, STEM field studies, research on Why Science, and more.  Consider bookmarking this resource for future reference.

Shopping list: this list is intended to guide OPs in making purchases that are requested by teachers. Your building should come up with an internal process and timeline for teachers to request purchases.  More information on science materials, please see pages 11-13 of the Elementary Science update slide deck linked below.  

Elementary Science Update - Link 

Shopping list- Link 

 

Prairies and Pollinators STEM Field Study

Prairies and Pollinators 

Glacial Heritage 

Prairies and Pollinators is the Second Grade STEM Field study that all NTPS students will participate in as part of their core Science instruction.  This STEM Field Study is an equitable, integrated, career-connected, locally relevant, field based learning opportunity that aligns to the NGSS phenomena based and three-dimensional learning. 

In second grade one of the Next Generation Science expectations is for students to understand how plants rely on animals for pollination orto move their seeds around. While engaging in this STEM Field Study students will gain a first hand experience with plant and animal relationships.  

All NTPS STEM Field Studies have cross curricular connections that are integrated into the pre and post classroom lessons and have Science grading connections embedded through these lessons.  The Math, SEL, SS, and ELA cross curricular connections can be used for additional data points for grading as needed.  

Materials to support instruction and the day in the field have been developed and are linked below.

STEM Field Study Teacher Guide- Link 

NTPS Prairie and Pollinators STEM alignment- Link

Student Field Journal- Link 

Prairie Plant ID cards- Link 

STEMscopes scope and sequence

Second Grade  Scope and Sequence 

The scope and sequence for Second Grade is an interactive planning resource that follows the 5 E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), provides NGSS standards support, SEP grading support videos, UDL and cross curricular connections.

NOTE: This scope and sequence is still under construction, some resources are still being developed.

Scope and sequence link 

Integration of Subject Matter: Including Science is Key!

 How does leading with Science build strong subject bases in other content areas? Check out STEM Teaching Tool #62; What does subject matter integration look like in elementary instruction? Including science is KEY!   Interesting information: "a typical elementary school class spends about 20 minutes a day on science instruction, compared to 60 minutes on mathematics and almost 90 minutes on language arts. Integration can ensure that all students have opportunities to learn science, as they are likely to experience regular learning in math or language arts." Consider this:  Is this equitable for ALL students?

If this is your first experience with the STEM teaching tools, there are a few things that you might want to know.

1) STEM teaching tools are developed by teachers and researchers and topics have been identified based on what is of interest to teachers.

2) Within each tool you will find links to additional resources, research materials, and current practices.

In addition, a link to additional STEM tools that pertain to the topic you selected is provided within each tool.   

Looking for more information on time for science and Social Studies?  Check out this video "Speaking up for Science and Social Studies" with Nell Duke. Professor at the University of Michigan.  This 29:08 min. video provides many key points for integrating ELA (and math) into Science and Social Studies.  Nell Duke: Nell K. Duke, Ed.D., is a professor in literacy, language, and culture and the combined program in education and psychology at the University of Michigan and a member of the International Literacy Association Literacy Research Panel.

STEM Teaching Tool #62- Link 

Speaking up for Science and Social Studies- Link 

Communicating in Scientific Ways

 Looking for great sentences starters for encouraging students to engaging in argument from evidence (SEP7) AND obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information (SEP8)?   This two page document is a great resource for helping students communicate and ways to figure things out.  

Suggestions for use:

1) Print out a set for groups, while students are evaluating peers, encourage them to use the sentence starters in "How we communicate" as questions, notices, and wonders.

2) As students move through a scope or kit, encourage them to use the symbol as a note taking strategy.  Is there something they have a questions about, or do they need to remember to give evidence and do not want to forget?  

3) As the instructor, use the sentence starters as a way to model good questions, or wonders.  "Are you saying _________"  or "That idea makes sense to me because....."  

Do you have a suggestion for ways that this resource can be used, feel free to leave a comment below.  

Communication in Science- Link 

Scientific Discourse

 

What is Scientific Discourse?  How can you promote science discourse and why is it important?  

One of the main goals of science learning is to help students make sense of scientific phenomena and ideas.  Rich discourse offers students ways to express their ideas, reasoning and thinking, but what does that look like in an elementary classroom?   For more information on scientific discourse check out the:

STEMscopes Scientific Discourse poster- Link 
and the Building Blocks of Science white paper: Promoting Discourse in Science Class- Link 

2021 and beyond Grading Matrix

Second Grade Grading Resources: 

The Grading Matrix is a quick, one page document that has all of your grading resources in one place.  On this document you will find:                   

      

•  Second Grade scope and sequence
• Grading Curriculum alignment
• SEP Rubric
• Link to the data collection documents and the gradebook
• Report card inserts 

Grading Matrix- Link