Science Circuit
Because Science Matters: August 2016
Completing the Circuit
New Science Modules
- Butterflies on Demand is a new optional learning experience available through the Science Materials Center. Ask your Teacher Leader or Curriculum Specialist for more information.
- Aquatic Habitats and Plants has a revised teachers edition which provides more details about the investigations.
Fifth Grade:
- Mixing It Up has updated lessons and includes a new PBL with an engineering challenge.
Professional Development
- Enables students to move from hands on to minds on.
- Helps students grow as scientists and writers by scaffolding their learning to explain not only the process of their investigations, but what they learned.
Other Training Opportunity
- Fifth Grade Mixing it Up: Revised module in which students use the physical properties of matter and the engineering design process to solve a real world problem. This training will be offered in August. Please sign up in Eduphoria.
TEKS Streamlining Update
Tigtag and Tigtag Jr.
New for this year! Tigtag Jr. is an added resource accessible through the Tigtag website. This resource is geared toward K-2 audiences.
We are always looking for more direct connections to the curriculum, so let us know if you find new videos that fit with specific lessons.
Science Module Delivery and Pickup
All science modules will be picked up the week of October 10th. Refer to your Campus Module Rotation for specifics.
Soil
- Schools without a science lab should have a plan for soil storage. Check with your campus administrator or science teacher leader about the plan.
- The quality of soil delivered to your campus is based upon inventory counts by your teacher leader to ensure access to adequate materials for student learning.
- Campuses without a soil count will be sent a full order of soil.
Critter News
All critters will be delivered on Wednesdays.
Teachers need to complete a Critter Return Request form at the end of their life science unit. This link can be found on the curriculum website. The Science Materials Center will send out a cooler and ice packs to return critters via intercampus mail. To ensure critter survival, they should only be returned Mondays through Thursdays. Do not to release critters or send them home with students.
* Fish will be picked up from campuses on September 29th. Second Grade Teachers should place them in a central location for pick-up.
Science Assessments
- Third grade District Science Assessments are revised and can be found in module TEs.
- We are currently revising assessments for 4th and 5th grades. The 2015-16 assessments are currently in the module TEs and will be replaced with revised assessments by the second nine weeks.
- Based on feedback from teachers, the blue performance task tubs for 4th grade Properties Matter will arrive earlier in order to accomodate those teachers who are ready to begin that portion of the assessment. The tubs will arrive through intercampus mail by September 19th.
Child Nutrition Services Collaboration
Last year we launched a partnership between Child Nutrition Services and Elementary Science Teachers. Goals for this partnership are:
- Collaborate with cafeteria managers and team leaders to identify food materials needed for core module instruction.
- Invite campus cafeteria managers or Kristin Andrews from Child Nutrition Services to classrooms to observe how these materials are supporting classroom instruction.
- Display student learning made possible through this partnership in the cafeteria.
Science Snippet
Coming Your Way
- To check in with you while we are on campus
- To deliver assorted science equipment
- To check on 5th grade STAAR Connection materials
- To conduct a safety check of your science lab or science areas
Elementary Science Department
Laura Hunt - Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist
Julia McComas - Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist
Email: laura.hunt@leanderisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/leanderisd.org/elemcurr/
Location: 204 West South Street, Leander, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 570-0271
Twitter: @LISElemscience