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Toyota Grant Project:Toyota Grant Project:Science and LiteracyScience and Literacy

Toyota Grant Project:Toyota Grant Project:Science and LiteracyScience and Literacy

Susan Dougherty-Fitzpatrick, Susan Dougherty-Fitzpatrick, Croswell-Lexington Community Croswell-Lexington Community SchoolsSchools

Andrea Nunn, Andrea Nunn, Croswell-Lexington Community SchoolsCroswell-Lexington Community Schools

Rebecca Josephson-Gorinac, Rebecca Josephson-Gorinac, Sanilac Intermediate School DistrictSanilac Intermediate School District

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Overview of the Grants

• 2005 Toyota Tapestry Grant = $9,400

• Funds were used to purchase informational text materials that aligned with the ABC in Science countywide curriculum project

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Major Grant Goals• Improve understanding of science

informational text in grades K-3

• Provide professional development for K-3rd grade teachers (including special needs teachers and reading specialists) in research-based literacy strategies

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“Each and every one of you may be the only ‘scientist’ many of your

students ever come to know. Whatever grade you teach, as a

teacher and role model, you are a key player in shaping the next

generation of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who

will be responsible for the future innovations of this country.”

Jo Anne Vasquez, Science and Children

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ABC in Science Curriculum Overview• ABC in Science is an elementary kit-

based program that is aligned with the state standards

• Teachers in grades K-6 each receive 3-5 science kits per year that are stocked and delivered by Sanilac ISD/Sanilac County Science and Math Center

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Kindergarten

First Grade Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth-Sixth Grade

Autumn: It’s Apple and Pumpkin

Time!

Atmosphere and Weather

Creature Features: Life Cycle

of Butterflies

Beautiful Plants

The Great Lakes: Our Bountiful

Freshwater Supply!

Wood LotEcosystems

Animals Magnet Mania

Wetland Animals

Wild About the

Weather!

Our Dynamic

Earth: Oh, How it

Changes!

What’s the Matter?

Life Cycles in Nature

Measurement, Forces and

Simple Machines

Boats that Float!

Sound and Light

Earth, Moon and Sun

Detective Moolock’s Search For

Energy!

Understanding the

Atmosphere

Exploring Our Earth

Using Trash:

Reduce, Reuse,

Recycle

Motions, Forces and

Simple Machines

Michigan Ecosystems: The Web of

Life

Simple Machines

Magnets and Motors

K-6 ABC in Science Unit Scope and Sequence

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Selection of Informational Text Materials

• Contacted vendors for grade and content appropriate sample books

• Met in K-3 grade level teams for two half-days during the summer (grant funds provided a stipend for participants)

• Used the Nonfiction Conventions Checklist and Your Guide to Leveled Texts to make appropriate selections

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Nonfiction Conventions ChecklistUse the following criteria to rate the quality of each nonfiction science book you feel would be a high-quality resource for your grade level.

Convention Purpose The book contains

this feature: Yes/No

Comments from

Grade Level Team

Comments from Review Team

Labels Helps the reader identify a picture or photograph and/or its parts.

Photographs Helps the reader understand exactly what something looks like.

Captions Helps the reader better understand a picture or photograph.

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Grade Level

Developmental Level

Guided Reading Level

DRA Level

K Emergent A, B, C 1, 2, 3, 4

K-1 Emergent/Early D, E 5, 6, 7, 8

1 Early F, G, H, I 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

2 Early/Fluent J, K, L, M 18, 20, 24, 28

3 Fluent N, O, P 30, 34, 38

4 Fluent Q, R 40

5 Fluent S, T, U 44, 50

6 Fluent V, W, X, Y, Z 44, 50+

Your Guide to Leveled Texts

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Assessing the Project

• Pre/Post Tests• Electronic data collection by grade• Student questionnaires• Parent questionnaires• Other data – MLPP, MEAP, CCC Lab

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Why Nonfiction?

• Encourages planning, sustaining, and revising work over an extended period of time

• Helps children become active learners who apply their learning

• Generates a high level of enthusiasm and engagement

• Replicates the process of decision making and acting on those decisions

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• Allows students to organize information• Allows students to pursue a special interest• Provides opportunities to search for answers

to questions• Provides opportunities to develop expertise• Provides opportunities to learn and use

reading strategies specific to nonfiction• Engages children in research and

experimentation

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• Allows students to write clearly and concisely in interesting ways

• Expands vocabulary• Lends itself to persuasive writing• Provides opportunities to practice public

speaking• Exposes children to a wide range of

interesting topics and allows them to hear many different thoughts and perspectives.

Stephanie Harvey, Nonfiction Matters, 1998

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Development of Mini-Units at Each Grade

Level

• Kindergarten – Life Cycles• First Grade – Worms; Fossils• Second Grade – Light• Third Grade – Simple Machines

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Professional Development

• January 26 – Countywide First Grade Teachers attended session to learn about MSTA books and resources; Cros-Lex First Grade also learned about the Toyota Grant resources

• January 31 – Cros-Lex K-3 Teachers participated in training with new Toyota resources

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Teacher Professional Development

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Nonfiction Strategies

• Overview of First Grade Unit - Wormin’ Around: A Worm’s Work– Strategies:

• RAFT• Headband Game• It’s Amazing

– Foldable:• Flip Book

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Nonfiction Strategies

• Overview of Third Grade Unit - Simply, Simple Machines– Strategies:

• Frayer Model• Question Game

– Foldables:• Venn Diagram• Six Simple Machine Flip Book

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Resources •Refer to bibliography of nonfiction teacher resources handout in your packet

“Why is nonfiction almost a guaranteed success?

The key to teaching with nonfiction is passion, for children are passionate inquirers and nonfiction fuels their curiosity and their demand for knowledge and understanding of the world.”

(Stephanie Harvey, Nonfiction Matters, 1998)

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Questions?

Thank You!