http://calstate.fullerton.edu/spotlight/2011fall/STEM-grants.asp http://www.nwic.edu/news/nwic-port-gamble-science-lab-open-celebration
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Dear Parents:
We are changing the old 1998 California Science Standards to the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as mandated by the California Department of Education. The Glendale Unified Board of Education has approved the integrated model for our NGSS implementation. What this means is that no longer will 6th grade focus on Earth Science, 7th grade on Life Science, and 8th grade on Physical Science, but all grades will incorporate all disciplines into the students' learning. Truthfully, this is much more reasonable, as "real" science requires a knowledge of all disciplines--one cannot understand how genetics works, without an understanding of the chemical bonds involved in DNA as well as how the electrical forces (physics) of the molecule affect its behavior. As such, the way we go about the science learning will be very different from previous years. Instead of giving out all the needed information and then performing a lab that confirms this information, a unit will start with a phenomenon and the students will work their way through an understanding of the science involved. The shift will be from a rather teacher-oriented classroom to a student-led classroom. I am truly excited for the kids to do science much closer to the way scientists wrestle with a problem, design possible solutions, and then test those solutions. My scheduled science help is Friday before school from 7am-7:53am and every day at lunch. The students are also free to seek help after school from the other science teachers. All science teachers are available to help all students with either 7th or 8th grade science questions. There is a list of classrooms and available times for each teacher on my bulletin board. Please encourage your child to come for help, if needed. |