Science Second
6 Things you need to know and can share with others.
1. Shifts in Science Instruction: Connect Ideas Across Disciplines
Our new science standards provide an important opportunity to improve not only science education but also student achievement. Louisiana's new vision for science learning focuses on a deeper understanding of content as well as application of content so that students have the knowledge and skills needed to be success in the future.
For students to develop a coherent and scientifically-based view of the world, they must make connections across the domains of science (life science, physical science, earth and space science, environmental science, and engineering, technology, and applications of science). The crosscutting concepts have applications across all domains.
Observed patterns in nature guide organization and classification and prompt questions about relationships and causes underlying them.
Events have causes, sometimes simple, sometimes multifaceted. Deciphering causal relationships, and the mechanisms by which they are mediated, is a major activity of science and engineering.
3. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
In considering phenomena, it is critical to recognize what is relevant at different size, time, and energy scales, and to recognize proportional relationships between different quantities as scales change.
A system is an organized group of related objects or components; models can be used for understanding and predicting the behavior of systems.
Tracking energy and matter flows, into, out of, and within systems helps one understand their system’s behavior.
The way an object is shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functions.
For both designed and natural systems, conditions that affect stability and factors that control rates of change are critical elements to consider and understand.
Learn more about the Shifts in Science.
2. The Most Magnificent Thing Giveaway
I have 5 books to giveaway. All educators (teachers and leaders) who complete the form are eligible. All eligible participants will have their names put into the random picker. Good Luck!
Link: https://goo.gl/forms/Xj1f8DvK25d85tJH2
Deadline: Midnight, Monday, April 12.
3. Learning Opportunities with Sci-Port!
- Sci-Port is conducting its Watershed to the Red Environmental Education program through the end of the academic year 2018-19. We will be kicking off with a teacher workshop Saturday, May 5. The programming is most appropriate for 3rd - 6th grade. Please see flyer and agenda. Teachers will receive a $50 stipend for their time since the workshop is on a Saturday. Contact Dr. Heather Kleiner at hkleiner@sciport.org for more information.
- Sci-Port is also offering a summer enrichment program called, “Science of Space”. Please see the flyer for more information. Contact Dr. Heather Kleiner at hkleiner@sciport.org for more information.
4. LDOE's Educator Review Committees for Science
Interest Surveys for 2018 Science Committees
Rangefinding Committees:
Meeting Date: May 21 - 25
Survey Closes: April 13
Meeting Date: June 18 - 22
Survey Closes: April 20
Meeting Date: June 25 - 29
Survey Closes: April 20
Data Review Committee:
Meeting Date: Sept. 13-14
Survey Closes: June 29
Meeting Date: Sept. 17-18
Survey Closes: June 29
Meeting Date: Sept. 19-20
Survey Closes: June 29
Meeting Date: July 31 - Aug. 2
Survey Closes: May 4
Item Content and Bias Review Committee
Meeting Date: June 12
Survey Closes: April 13
Meeting Date: June 13
Survey Closes: April 13
Meeting Date: June 14
Survey Closes: April 13
Meeting Date: June 15
Survey Closes: April 13
5. Caddo Soars at Science Fair!
The Region I Science and Engineering Fair Awards Ceremony was held Saturday, March 3. Students from Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, and Webster Parishes competed in the regional fair. We are excited to announce (click here) that Caddo Parish students represented our district well! Caddo had over 80 students who placed first, second, or third in their categories. Caddo closed out the high school and elementary division Sweepstakes Award! Furthermore, Caddo Middle Magnet place first and Youree Drive Middle School placed second in the middle school division. Eight out of nine Sweepstakes Award division winners went to Caddo schools! What an amazing accomplishment for our young scientists and engineers!
The Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair (LSEF) was held March 19th-21st in Baton Rouge. This event is highly competitive. Young scientists and engineers from 6th-12th grades competed in this prestigious competition. Furthermore, these students participated in school and regional fairs to have the opportunity to compete on a state level. Not only did Caddo perform well at the LSEF, two Caddo students, Ashini Modi (CMM) and Matthew B. Willis (CMHS), were awarded the top honor of overall winners of their division for the entire state!
We are pleased to share (click here) all of the students who placed at LSEF as well as first place category winners, overall division winners, and school sweepstakes award winners at the Region I Fair.
Congratulations to all Caddo students who participated in science fair on the school, regional, and state level. A big thank you to all teachers and administrators for working hard and encouraging our students to explore STEM!
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are Caddo!
6. Caddo's State Assessment Schedule for Science and OTT for Science
April 13: 8th Science Field Test (CBT)*
April 20: 5th and 7th Science Field Test (CBT)*
April 23-27: Biology EOC (CBT)
April 27: 6th Science Field Test (CBT)*
May 4: 3rd and 4th Science Field Test (PBT)
Online Tools Training (OTT): provides students and teachers opportunities to become familiar with the tools available in the online testing platform. Click on the picture to the left to visit the DRC Link.
Bonus: DON'T FORGET YOUR COMPLIMENTARY LSTA MEMBERSHIP
Good News!
In an effort to support teachers of science this year during the implementation of the revised LSSS, LSTA is extending a complimentary membership to ALL Louisiana teachers of science, administrators, and informal educators until October 24, 2018.
All you need to do is complete and send in a membership form!! Contact your regional representative or download a form from our LSTA web site!
And more good news for current members. While the LSTA Board is celebrating with the 1000 + Louisiana science teachers who attended the NSTA Area Conference in New Orleans, the board acknowledges the high cost of a national event. As a result, the Board has approved extending membership expiration dates from November of 2017 to November 2018.
Check Out the Caddo Science Newsletter Archives!
Check out the archive of the Caddo Science Newsletters.
Important K-6 Science Dates
March 22: Exploring the Science Standards Using BreakOut EDU for (K-5) and (6-12)
April 28: RARC: Competition #3
April 20: 5th and 7th Science Field Test (CBT)*
April 27: 6th Science Field Test (CBT)*
May 4- Science Field Test for Grades 3-4 (paper-based)
K. Renae Pullen
Email: krpullen@caddoschools.org
Website: http://www.caddoscience.com/
Phone: 3186036370
Twitter: @krenaep