Elementary Science in Red Clay

2014-2015

Edward McGrath (Eddie)

Edward.mcgrath@redclay.k12.de.us

Office phone: (302) 552-3768

Office location: Red Clay School District1502 Spruce Avenue #221

Wilmington, DE 19805

Science Supervisor

From the Red Clay intranet, accessing science resources:

On-line Resources

Click here

On-line Resources

Now click here (Science)

On-line Resources

Click the first tab for elementary science

http://rc-elemscience.wikispaces.com

The Red Clay Elementary Science wiki:

Each school has one person designated as the Science Curriculum Council member. The Science Curriculum Council meets five times per year to discuss issues around science curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development.

The Science Curriculum Council member will assist with arranging for science training and delivery of materials.

Science Curriculum Council

The Delaware Science Coalition is a partnership among the Delaware Department of Education, Delaware school districts/charter schools, and representatives of the Delaware business community.

The goal of the Delaware Science Coalition is to improve the teaching and learning of science in Delaware schools.

Red Clay is a member of the Delaware Science Coalition

Each elementary grade teaches three science units “kits” per year. Teachers receive one day of training per unit. See handout for schedule of trainings.

Upon completion of the training, teachers will receive the materials for each unit. Materials are delivered according to a schedule (see handout) and collected by the Delaware Science Coalition.

If materials are missing from your kit, arrive broken or defective, or a kit does not arrive at all, please contact your Science Curriculum Council member or Eddie McGrath.

Science Curriculum

Several of the life science units include delivery of living materials (e.g. guppies, aquatic plants). The kit will come with a card to arrange for delivery at a specific time. Teachers are responsible for ordering their own materials. This can be done by

- mailing the card with pertinent information

- calling the toll free number on the card or

- (recommended) ordering the materials on-line

Note about living materials

Each science unit has an associated assessment. The training session includes training on giving the assessment.

State assessment in science is given at the end of 5th grade, once in middle school, once in high school. The current science assessment in Delaware is DCAS. This is an on-line assessment.

A science DCAS review guide can be found on the science wiki.

Science Assessment

In September 2013, Delaware adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as the official state science standards.

The NGSS lists the standards for science as Performance Expectations: Each performance expectation combines the three dimensions of the science standards:

Next Generation Science Standards

Science and Engineering Practices: States what students are expected to do. Engaging in the practices of science helps students understand how scientific knowledge develops.

Cross-cutting Concepts: These are “big ideas” in science that occur in all grades and in all science disciplines. Crosscutting concepts can help students better understand core ideas in science and engineering.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: These frame specific core content of what students should be expected to know as a result of science instruction.

Dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards

Science Professional Development in Red Clay and in Delaware will focus on exploring the Next Generation Science Standards, particularly the Science and Engineering Practices, and how they support the Common Core Standards in ELA and mathematics.

Please do not hesitate to contact Eddie McGrath with questions or concerns about teaching science.

LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

Finally