Science. Overview. Student Summary. Science Program Profile

Transcription

1 Overview Science The purpose of the PreK-12 science program is to provide science experiences that fully prepare students for active citizenship, college, and careers. Through inquiry-based learning experiences, students develop scientific literacy and proficiency which enables them to make clear and meaningful connections between science, their lives, and society. Scientific literacy is developed through opportunities to inquire and make discoveries, identify relationships through observation and experimentation, describe and measure with precision, make inferences, and formulate conclusions. Scientific literacy also entails applying one s understanding to make informed decisions, generate solutions, and develop a deeper understanding of the crosscutting concepts that extend across all science disciplines. At all levels, the Fairfax County Public Schools Science Program of Studies is aligned with the Virginia Science Standards of Learning ( and integrates best practices for inquiry-based learning. Science curricula in grades pre-kindergarten (pre-k)-6 include kits which supply the science materials for students hands-on investigations. The units focus on key science concepts in life science, physical science, and earth & space science. The curricula in grades 7 and 8 integrate the use of a wide range of technology. Concepts investigated include ecosystem dynamics, life processes, heredity and diversity, chemistry, energy and its transformations, and forces & motion. Specific courses in biology, chemistry, physics and geosystems, as well as a wide variety of elective science courses, are available in high school to prepare students for college and careers. The budget for the four core content areas (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) is included in the level budgets and can be found on pages 23-25, and at: Student Summary All students in Fairfax County Public Schools are enrolled in science. All students, pre-k through 8th grade, have a yearlong experience in science. All students in middle school can enroll in honors science classes if they desire to explore science concepts with more depth and complexity. Students are expected to take a minimum of three high school science courses from three different disciplines in order to graduate. High school students need to earn one verified science credit to meet the requirements for the standard diploma. Students desiring an advanced studies diploma must earn two verified credits by successfully completing four science credits from three different science disciplines. High school students can also take honors science courses; certain 1 of 11

2 mathematics courses are a prerequisite for enrollment in honors chemistry and honors physics. Current enrollment statistics can be found at Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs in biology, chemistry, physics and/or environmental science are available in all high schools. Approved Materials The elementary science program uses inquiry-based, hands-on, instructional materials. These materials have been developed by FCPS teachers and curriculum specialists, and include the curriculum and all the hands-on materials. Tradebooks are also available in the classroom to support the science content being investigated. Video resources are offered through Learn360. Units for the school year are: Kindergarten Sprouting Small Scientists, Part One and Part Two Grade 1 Soaring Into Science, Part One and Part Two Grade 2-- Matter and Magnets; Wondering about Weather; and Monarchs, Milkweed & Mexico Grade 3 Ladybugs; Earth's Cycles; The Scoop on Soil; and Making Work Easier Grade 4 Virginia Ecosystems; Weather and Beyond; Magnetism and Electricity; and Science...Just Do It; Grade 5 Landforms; Oceans; Energy of Light and Sound; and Fields of Science Grade 6- Astronomy; Patterns of Weather; Investigating Chemistry--What do you know about H2O? and Energy and Its Uses More information on the elementary science program can be found at: The middle school science program utilizes a wide variety of hands-on, inquiry-based investigations developed to integrate science content, concepts, and science and engineering processes. The 7th grade Life Science program, "Investigations in Environmental Science," consists of three units: Understanding our Environment, Investigating Living Things, and Investigating Heredity and Diversity. The 8th grade Physical Science course, "Investigating Matter and Energy" also consists of three units: Investigating Matter and Its Changes, Investigating Energy and Its Transformations, and Investigating Forces and Motion. Specific resources for differentiation through reinforcement and extension are provided through the academic year for both courses. For more information on the middle school science program go to The High School Science offerings include courses in biology, chemistry, physics and geosystems as well as higher level courses in each of the four disciplines. The standard course 2 of 11

3 geosystems as well as higher level courses in each of the four disciplines. The standard course offering for 9th grade is biology and chemistry is the standard course for 10th graders. Students must have passed Algebra I in order to take chemistry. Other science offerings include courses in Human Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Astronomy, and Oceanography. For more information on the high school science program go to: Possible sequences in the high school program can be found at Basal science textbooks were approved for the high school science courses in 2004 and sixth grade and middle school science classes in Textbooks for the elective science courses were approved for purchase in Each school was also providedin 2014 with a set of leveled readers to reinforce science concepts taught in both 4th and 5th grade. Video resources are available through Learn360and other media resources. Textbooks that have been approved are: Grade 6 6th grade classrooms Prentice Hall, (2004) Science Explorer Grade 6 (Virginia Edition)UpperSaddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. 6th grade GT Centers Hsu, T., (2003) CPO Science: Foundations of Physical Science with Earth and Space Science.Peabody, MA: Delta Education, Inc. 6th grade classrooms: One teacher and one student copy for resource McGraw Hill, Glencoe and National Geographic (2005) Middle School Modules: Motions, Forces, and Energy; The Air Around You; Astronomy; The Nature of Matter; and Water, Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill. Grade 7 Life Science McDougall Littel. (2006) Life Science. Evanston, IL: Houghton Mifflin Company. Grade 8 Physical Science Borgford, C., Champagne, A., Cuevas, M., et al. (2005) Holt Science and Technology: Physical Science. Austin, TX: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston. Biology Courses Biology-Standard Miller, K., & Levine, J. (2004) Biology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Johnson, G., & Raven, P. (2004) Biology. Orlando: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Biggs, A., Kapicka, C., Lundgren, L, et al. (2004) Biology: The dynamics of life. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. 3 of 11

4 Campbell, N., Williamson, B., & Heydon, R. (2004) Biology: Exploring life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Biology I Honors Miller, K., & Levine, J. (2004) Biology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Campbell, N., Williamson, B., & Heydon, R. (2004) Biology: Exploring life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. AP/IB Biology Reece, J. et al (2011) Campbell Biology. San Francisco: Pearson Education. Urry, L., et al 2014) Campbell Biology in Focus AP. San Francisco: Pearson Education. Human Anatomy and Physiology Martini and Bartholomew. (2013) Essentials of Anatomy and physiology. San Francisco: Pearson Education. Chemistry Courses Chemistry 1 Dingrando, L., Tallman, K., Hainen, N., & Wistrom, C. (2005) Chemistry: Matter and change.new York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. Chemical Technology (Chem Tech) Dingrando, L., Tallman, K., Hainen, N., & Wistrom, C. (2005) Chemistry: Matter and change.new York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. Wilbraham, A., Staley, D., Matta, M., and Waterman, E. (2005) Chemistry. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Chemistry Honors and IB Chemistry I Dingrando, L., Tallman, K., Hainen, N., & Wistrom, C. (2005) Chemistry: Matter and change.new York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. Brown, T., LeMay, H., Bursten, B., & Burdge, J. (2003) Chemistry: The central science. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. IB Chemistry and AP Chemistry Brown, T., LeMay, H., Bursten, B., & Burdge, J. (2012) Chemistry: The central science. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Earth Science Courses Geosystems Thompson G., Turk, J. (2005) Earth science and the environment.belmont, California: Brooks/Cole. Spaulding, & Namowitz (2005) Earth science. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell. 4 of 11

5 Hall-Wallace, et al. (2003) GIS investigations for the earth science: Exploring the dynamic earth, Exploring water resources, Exploring tropical cyclones, Exploring ocean environment. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Astronomy Seeds, M. and Backman (2011) Foundations of astronomy. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. AP Environmental Science and IB Environmental Systems Friedland and Relyea (2012) Einvironmental Science for AP. New York City: Bedford, Freeman & Worth Oceanography Thuraman, & Trujillo (2011) Essentials of oceanography. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Physics Courses Active Physics Eisenkraft, A. (2010) Active physics: A Project-Based Inquiry Approach. Armonk, NY: It s About Time. Leonard, W., Dufresne, R., Gerace, W.,& Mestre, J. (2002) Minds-on physics. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt. Physics 1 Hewitt, P. (2002) Conceptual physics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Zitzewitz, P., Elliott, T., Haase, D., et al. (2005) Physics: Principles and problems. New York: McGraw Hill/Glencoe. Leonard, W., Dufresne, R., Gerace, W.,& Mestre, J. (2002) Minds-on physics. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt. Honors Physics and IB Physics I Cutnell, J., & Johnson, K. (2004) Physics. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Hecht, E. (2003) Physics (Algebra/Trig). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Zitzewitz, P., Elliott, T., Haase, D., et al. (2005) Physics: Principles and problems. New York: McGraw Hill/Glencoe. Leonard, W., Dufresne, R., Gerace, W.,& Mestre, J. (2002) Minds-on physics. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt. IB Physics and AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 Knight, R., (2015) College Physics: A Strategic Approach AP. San Francisco: Pearson 5 of 11

6 AP Physics C Knight. (20124) Physics for scientists and engineers: A Strategice Approach with Modern Physics. San Francisco: Pearson Technology is integrated into the science program across all levels. Software that is approved for use: Elementary Program: WeatherbugAchieve (achieve.weatherbug.com) and EasySense Q5 probeware Middle School Program: ESRI Arcview, ArcGIS Explorer, ArcGIS Online, Vernier Logger Pro, and FieldScope High School Program: All science courses: ESRI Arcview and Vernier Logger Pro Geosystems: Starry Night, Layered Earth, L View Pro, Idrisi Physics: Interactive Physics ^top Assessments VDOE Assessment Program includes Standards of Learning assessments for Science: Grade 5 (Grades 4-5 content), Grade 8 (Grades 6, 7, & 8 content) and End-of-Course tests in Biology, Chemistry and Geosystems (earth science content). Students with special needs participate in the alternative testing program of VAAP and VSEP. Test results can be accessed at: Individual school test results can be found on the profile information for each school. Select the school by going to You can then access the school profile and the test results. Advanced Placement Tests: AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics 1 6 of 11

7 AP Physics 2 AP Physics C: Mechanics AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism International Baccalaureate Tests: IB Biology SL and IB Biology HL IB Chemistry SL and IB Chemistry HL IB Physics SL and IB Physics HL IB Environmental Science and Societies SL Current Focus The instructional materials and curricula in the science program are developed using research on inquiry-based learning and effective pedagogy. To meet the needs of all learners, and to promote high levels of understanding and achievement in science, the following are identified as priorities for the coming year: 1. Provide tailored professional development and support to elementary schools around planning for instruction and assessment. 2. Provide middle school teachers with targeted support that will allow them to equip all students with the learning strategies and skills to productively engage in high level discourse that promotes equity, provides access to rigorous academic learning, and supports the development of Portrait-of-a-Graduate competencies. 3. Provide a yearlong, project-based, Environmental Stewardship course to 16 Life Science teachers for the purpose of building their capacity to facilitate students environmental stewardship through engineering design and action. 4. Provide professional development for high school teachers to enhance tier 1 instruction using higher level tasks, resources to promote critical and creative thinking, and academic conversations. 5. Collaborate with the specialist and resource teachers in the Wolrd Languages office to align Language Through Content with the elementary science lessons. 6. Investigate measures of effectiveness for the cohort model of high school professional development. Effectiveness needs to be defined but could include teacher beliefs, classroom pratices, and student achievemnet. 7. Investigate the effects of past participation in selected Active Physics courses on participants' success in subsequent science courses. 7 of 11

8 Sources that guided these decisions can be found at Goals for the school year: 1. By June, 2016, 70% of FCPS FCPS schools will have implemented some type of environmental stewardship project on their campus. 2. By June, 2016, 90% of the middle school science teachers will have received professional development to build their pedagogical knowledge and skills in the use of strategies and scaffolds to facilitate students collaborative discourse around higher-level questions which require conceptual understanding and critical thinking. 3. By June, 2016, at least 75% of the participants in the project-based Environmental Stewardship course will implemented the use of activities and resources for stewardship action projects with their students. 4. By June 2016, at least 80% of the high school science teachers will have participated in learning cohorts focused on higher level tasks, critical and creative thinking, academic conversations or using scientific tools. 5. By June, 2016, 25% of the elementary schools will have participated in tailored professional development focusing on planning for instruction and assessment in science. 6. By June, 2016, a preliminary method to measure the effectiveness of a selected Active Physics cohort will be developed. Future Focus Under the Strategic Plan and the Portrait of a Graduate, FCPS is committed to environmental stewardship. Science will continue to provide opportunities that connect the science content to environmental stewardship. To support this, a continued focus during the school year will be to provide training and support to Life Science teachers in how to successfully lead a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) with their students. Continued partnerships with the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) as well as George Mason University (GMU) to provide naturalists and interpreters has allowed the middle school program to provide MWEEs to thousands of Life Science students each year. In addition, a three-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will allow FCPS to offer a year long course to Life Science teachers in how to facilitate students environmental stewardship projects. he science office will also continue to support schools in Get2Green, a program that enables schools to be involved in recycling, energy conservation, edible gardens, and wildlife habitats. Because the focus on language arts and mathematics is so strong in elementary schools, finding the time for science in the elementary school day is a challenge. Gaps in students background knowledge and language deficiencies exacerbate this issue of time. To meet this challenge, professional development for elementary teachers will focus on strategic planning for pre-teaching language and content knowledge needed to participate in the science lessons as written. Part of the planning process will also focus on identifying scaffolds to best support our struggling learners. 8 of 11

9 In middle school science, the focus will be targeted support of teachers that will allow them to equip all students with the learning strategies and skills to productively engage in high level discourse that promotes equity, provides access to rigorous academic learning, and supports the development of Portrait-of-a-Graduate competencies. This will be accomplished through the use of specific discourse strategies and scaffolds that have been shown to result in improved academic achievement for all students (including diverse populations) with high-level questions in the common science curriculum and performance-based assessments. During the school year the focus in high school science continues to be sustained professional development for all teachers using the cohort model. Additionally a method to measure the effects this work is having on teacher beliefs, classroom practices, and student achievement will be developed. The relationship between teacher participation in the Active Physics Active cohort and student success in later years will be explored. Also, the program will support two teams working on better understanding the needs of english language learners in biology through Project ASCENT in partnership with the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation. Data Narrative During the school year, science met its Environmental Stewardship goal. In addition, the goal of preparing Life Science teachers in leading successful MWEEs was met through in-service sessions and one-on-one support. Over the past five years, over 30,000 Life Science students have participated in a MWEE. At least 90% of the middle school Life Science teachers attended a professional development program in the use of discourse strategies to facilitate students high-level discourse. Subsequently, each science department submitted an implementation plan for the use of discourse at each grade level. Get2Green was successful in supporting the implementation of school yard stewardship projects. We have almost reached out capacity of supporting schools through the Get2Green program, and will not be able to support all of the schools without additional resources. During the academic year, Middle School Science teachers attended a variety of professional development programs designed to support the use of strategies and scaffolds for high-level student discourse. The school year was the first year of the Active Physics cohort. Although we didn't meet our goal of 50%, we did have teachers from 10 high schools and 3 alternative participate in the Active Physics cohort and/or the chemistry cohort. We were not as successful with the elementary goals. We did embed resources to support academic discourse and scientific writing in 75% of the elementary science units. We will finish this work during the school year. We also were not successful in getting 80% of the lead science teachers to participate in the professional development that supports English Language Learners. The work will continue during the school year. The focus on building capacity in teachers to provide rich experiences for students in science continues. This includes providing professional development and resources that support higher level tasks, critical and creative thinking, conceptual understanding, academic conversations, and literacy in science as well as providing support for environmental stewardship projects. 9 of 11

10 Locations Aldrin Elementary Annandale Terrace Elementary Armstrong Elementary Baileys Elementary Beech Tree Elementary Belle View Elementary Belvedere Elementary Bonnie Brae Elementary Braddock Elementary Bren Mar Park Elementary Brookfield Elementary Bucknell Elementary Bull Run Elementary Burke School Bush Hill Elementary Camelot Center Camelot Elementary Cameron Elementary Cameron Elementary ALC Canterbury Woods Elementary Cardinal Forest Elementary Centre Ridge Elementary Centreville Elementary Cherry Run Elementary Chesterbrook Elementary Churchill Road Elementary Clearview Elementary Clermont Elementary Clifton Elementary Colin Powell Elementary Columbia Elementary Colvin Run Elementary Coppermine Elem Site Crestwood Elementary Crossfield Elementary Cub Run Elementary Cunningham Park Elementary Daniels Run Elementary Deer Park Elementary Dogwood Elementary Dranesville Elementary Eagle View Elementary Fairfax Villa Elementary Fairhill Elementary Fairview Elementary Flint Hill Elementary Floris Elementary Forest Edge Elementary Forestdale Elementary Forestville Elementary Fort Belvoir Elementary Fort Hunt Elementary Fox Mill Elementary Franconia Elementary Franklin Sherman Elementary Freedom Hill Elementary Garfield Elementary Glen Forest Elementary Graham Road Elementary Great Falls Elementary Greenbriar East Elementary Greenbriar West Elementary Groveton Elementary Gunston Elementary Halley Elementary Haycock Elementary Hayfield Elementary Herndon Elementary Hollin Meadows Elementary Hunt Valley Elementary Hunters Woods Elementary Hutchison Elementary ELEMENTARY MIDDLE HIGH OTHER Hybla Valley Elementary Island Creek Elementary Keene Mill Elementary Kent Gardens Elementary Kings Glen Elementary Kings Park Elementary Lake Anne Elementary Lane Elementary Laurel Hill ES Laurel Ridge Elementary Lees Corner Elementary Lemon Road Elementary Little Run Elementary London Towne Elementary Lorton Station Elementary Louise Archer Elementary Lutie Lewis Coates ES Lynbrook Elementary Mantua Elementary Marshall Road Elementary McNair Elementary Mosby Woods Elementary Mount Eagle Elementary Mount Vernon Woods Elementary Mountain View AIM Navy Elementary Newington Forest Elementary North Springfield Elementary Oak Hill Elementary Oak View Elementary Oakton Elementary Olde Creek Elementary Orange Hunt Elementary Parklawn Elementary Pine Spring Elementary Poplar Tree Elementary Providence Elementary Ravensworth Elementary Riverside Elementary Rolling Valley Elementary Rose Hill Elementary Sangster Elementary Saratoga Elementary Shrevewood Elementary Silverbrook Elementary Sleepy Hollow Elementary Spring Hill Elementary Springfield Estates Elementary Stenwood Elementary Stratford Landing Elementary Sunrise Valley Elementary Terra Centre Elementary Terra Centre Elementary ALC Terraset Elementary Timber Lane Elementary Union Mill Elementary Vienna Elementary Virginia Run Elementary Wakefield Forest Elementary Waples Mill Elementary Washington Mill Elementary Waynewood Elementary West Springfield Elementary Westbriar Elementary Westgate Elementary Westlawn Elementary Weyanoke Elementary White Oaks Elementary Willow Springs Elementary Wolftrap Elementary Woodburn Elementary Woodlawn Elementary Woodley Hills Elementary Carson Middle Cooper Middle Elizabeth Blackwell Franklin Middle Frost Middle Glasgow Middle Hayfield Secondary Herndon Middle Holmes Middle Hughes Middle Irving Middle Key Center Key Middle Kilmer Center Kilmer Middle Lake Braddock Secondary Lanier Middle Liberty Middle Longfellow Middle Luther Jackson Middle Poe Middle Robinson Secondary Rocky Run Middle Sandburg Middle Stone Middle Thoreau Middle Twain Middle Whitman Middle Adult Detention Center Annandale High Boys Probation House Bryant AIM Bryant ALC Bryant Alt High Cedar Lane Center CEI 7 Corners CEI Cedar Lane CEI Devonshire Centreville High Chantilly High Compass Day School Crossroads Residential School Davis Career Center East County Juvenile Court Edison High Fairfax High Falls Bridge Falls Church High Gunston Alternative School Hayfield Secondary Herndon High Hickory Grove School Higher Horizons Horizons Day School Jefferson Science & Tech High Juvenile Detention Center Lake Braddock Secondary Langley High Lee High Leland House Less Secure Shelter Home Madison High Marshall High McLean High Mount Vernon High Mountain View ALC Mountain View Alt High Mt Vernon Center Northwest Mental Health Center Oakton High Pimmit Hills Alt High Pulley Career Center Quander Road Center Robinson Secondary Sager School Sojourn House South County High South Lakes High Stuart High Sunrise House Sunrise House II Transition Support Resource Vista Day School West Potomac High West Springfield High Westfield High Woodson Center Woodson High 10 of 11

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