Science Curriculum ReviewScience Curriculum ReviewApril 27, 2010April 27, 2010

Committee MembersCommittee MembersDr. Margot Bram

Dr. Barbara Breitman

Ms. Kim Buchinsky

Ms. Jen Dilks

Dr. Mark Elfont

Ms. Sue Friedman

Ms. Barbara Gastfriend

Dr. Peter Grande

Ms. Gerry Guiliano

Mr. Chris Hamburg

Dr. Jeanette Hausman

Dr. Marilyn Lake-DellAngelo

Mr. Kevin Maginn

Ms. Robin McNemar

Ms. Pat Pasquine

Ms. Susan Powidski

Ms. Maryann Romano

Ms. Susan Kelley

Mr. Michael Peters

Dr. Maryjane Richmond

Ms. Britt Saitta

Ms. Nancy Swerdlow

Mr. Anthony Tamaccio

Ms. Erin Thoryk

Mr. Kevin Swillo

Format of the CommitteeFormat of the Committee

Site VisitsSite VisitsNeeds AssessmentsNeeds Assessments

Parent SurveyParent SurveyTeacher SurveyTeacher SurveyStudent SurveyStudent SurveyCurriculum AnalysisCurriculum Analysis

Research Research

Site Visit OverviewSite Visit Overview

Unionville-Chadds Ford, Lower Merion, Unionville-Chadds Ford, Lower Merion, & Upper Merion& Upper Merion

SchedulingScheduling ProcessProcess Groupings and TrackingGroupings and Tracking TechnologyTechnology PSSAPSSA Curriculum and MaterialsCurriculum and Materials FacilitiesFacilities

Survey OverviewSurvey Overview

Inquiry –based programInquiry –based program Improvement in lab facilitiesImprovement in lab facilities Better technologyBetter technology More 21More 21stst century skills century skills Instill life-long love of science and inspire Instill life-long love of science and inspire

interest in science research competitionsinterest in science research competitions Parents expressed a positive opinion of our Parents expressed a positive opinion of our

science teachersscience teachers Time for preparation of inquiry-based lab Time for preparation of inquiry-based lab

activitiesactivities

Curriculum AnalysisCurriculum Analysis

Our current curriculum meets & exceeds Our current curriculum meets & exceeds the state standardsthe state standards

We need to arrange the sequence of We need to arrange the sequence of topics to better align with the state anchors topics to better align with the state anchors to better prepare our students for the to better prepare our students for the PSSAPSSA

ResearchResearch

Reviewed current goals and missionReviewed current goals and missionStudied national recommendations from Studied national recommendations from

NSTANSTANoted research findings from experts in Noted research findings from experts in

their fieldtheir fieldReviewed curriculum of similar schoolsReviewed curriculum of similar schools

Goal of Our Science ProgramGoal of Our Science Program

To prepare scientifically literate students To prepare scientifically literate students with the 21with the 21stst century skills necessary to be century skills necessary to be ready to compete and engage intelligently ready to compete and engage intelligently in this ever-changing world.in this ever-changing world.

Video - Video - Did you knowDid you know

To Achieve This Goal Our To Achieve This Goal Our Program… Program…

Must be dynamic rather than staticMust be dynamic rather than staticTeach students to be life-long learnersTeach students to be life-long learnersFoster inquiry and critical thinking skillsFoster inquiry and critical thinking skillsRelate science to everyday experiencesRelate science to everyday experiences

Elements Critical to Achieving Our Elements Critical to Achieving Our Goal Goal

CurriculumCurriculumTechnologyTechnologyEquipmentEquipmentFacilitiesFacilitiesStaff DevelopmentStaff Development

CurriculumCurriculum

Align to and exceed the state standardsAlign to and exceed the state standardsAchieve greater understanding of the big Achieve greater understanding of the big

ideas of science for all studentsideas of science for all studentsArticulation within and between gradesArticulation within and between gradesEffective use of the Internet and other Effective use of the Internet and other

technologiestechnologiesContinue to prepare our students for the Continue to prepare our students for the

demands of college and life after Lower demands of college and life after Lower MorelandMoreland

TechnologyTechnology

Increase use of computers and technology Increase use of computers and technology in science classesin science classes

Effective use of interfacing equipment for Effective use of interfacing equipment for experiments experiments

Effective use of on-line textbooks and Effective use of on-line textbooks and virtual investigationsvirtual investigations

Incorporate emerging technologiesIncorporate emerging technologies

Equipment/FacilitiesEquipment/Facilities

Renovation to the Murray Avenue LabsRenovation to the Murray Avenue LabsAdditional Lab at the High SchoolAdditional Lab at the High School Interfacing equipment for Murray AvenueInterfacing equipment for Murray AvenueDedicated science lab room(s) at Pine Dedicated science lab room(s) at Pine

RoadRoadUpdated STC kits for Pine RoadUpdated STC kits for Pine Road

Staff DevelopmentStaff Development

Curriculum writingCurriculum writingChanges in instructional practices as we Changes in instructional practices as we

focus on big ideas and essential questionsfocus on big ideas and essential questionsNew technologies, curriculum, and New technologies, curriculum, and

materialsmaterials

Program RecommendationsProgram Recommendations Pine Road (K-5) Pine Road (K-5)

• Current content supports state standards Current content supports state standards but materials are datedbut materials are dated

• Purchase upgrade toolkits for all STC kits Purchase upgrade toolkits for all STC kits (K-5) & Harcourt texts (4-5)(K-5) & Harcourt texts (4-5)

• Purchase assessment packagesPurchase assessment packages• Purchase of Human Bodies Works Kit for Purchase of Human Bodies Works Kit for

grade 3grade 3

Program RecommendationsProgram Recommendations Murray Avenue (6-8) Murray Avenue (6-8)

• Adoption of Holt ScienceAdoption of Holt Science• Units are organized by big ideas and essential Units are organized by big ideas and essential

questions to align with the state standardsquestions to align with the state standards• On-line texts with virtual labsOn-line texts with virtual labs• Audio book for ipodAudio book for ipod• Differentiated activitiesDifferentiated activities• Assessments include PSSA type questionsAssessments include PSSA type questions

• STC Kits STC Kits

Program RecommendationsProgram Recommendations Murray Avenue (6-8) - continued Murray Avenue (6-8) - continued

• Upgraded 6Upgraded 6thth grade Microscopes grade Microscopes • Digital microscope for the 6Digital microscope for the 6thth grade grade• ““Vernier” Sensors and Probe ware Vernier” Sensors and Probe ware • 3 carts of 24 net books 3 carts of 24 net books

• One cart for each gradeOne cart for each grade

Program RecommendationsProgram Recommendations Grade 6 Grade 6

Holt: Microorganism, Fungi, and PlantsHolt: Microorganism, Fungi, and PlantsSTC: Micro worlds (refurbished supplies STC: Micro worlds (refurbished supplies

currently being used by 6currently being used by 6thth grade) grade)Holt: Cells and HeredityHolt: Cells and HeredityHolt: Sound and LightHolt: Sound and LightSTC: EcosystemsSTC: Ecosystems

Program RecommendationsProgram RecommendationsGrade 7Grade 7

Holt: Intro to ScienceHolt: Intro to ScienceHolt: Environmental Sci.Holt: Environmental Sci.Holt: Intro to MatterHolt: Intro to MatterHolt: Interactions in MatterHolt: Interactions in MatterSTC: MatterSTC: MatterHolt: Weather and ClimateHolt: Weather and ClimateSTC: Catastrophic EventsSTC: Catastrophic EventsHolt: Water on EarthHolt: Water on Earth

Program RecommendationsProgram RecommendationsGrade 8Grade 8

Holt: Forces, Motion, and EnergyHolt: Forces, Motion, and EnergySTC: Energy, Machines, and MotionSTC: Energy, Machines, and MotionHolt: Electricity and MagnetismHolt: Electricity and MagnetismSTC: Electrical Energy and Circuit DesignSTC: Electrical Energy and Circuit DesignHolt: AstronomyHolt: AstronomyHolt: Inside the Restless EarthHolt: Inside the Restless EarthHolt: Earth’s Changing SurfaceHolt: Earth’s Changing Surface

Program RecommendationsProgram Recommendations High School (9-12) High School (9-12)

Maintain current curriculum sequenceMaintain current curriculum sequenceFreshman Chemistry & PhysicsFreshman Chemistry & PhysicsBiologyBiologyChemistryChemistryPhysicsPhysics

Continued revision of Biology to incorporate Continued revision of Biology to incorporate Ecology standardsEcology standards

Add semester electivesAdd semester electives

Two-Year AdoptionTwo-Year Adoption

2010-20112010-2011Freshman Chemistry & PhysicsFreshman Chemistry & PhysicsBiologyBiologyForensicsForensics

2012-20132012-2013ChemistryChemistryPhysicsPhysicsA.P. & ElectivesA.P. & Electives

Freshman Freshman Chemistry & PhysicsChemistry & Physics

Conceptual Physical ScienceConceptual Physical Science

by Hewitt by Hewitt © 2010© 2010 for all levels for all levels On-line interactive text & virtual labsOn-line interactive text & virtual labs Effective use of technology Effective use of technology Excellent visual representations and explanation of Excellent visual representations and explanation of

conceptsconcepts Best fit with our curriculumBest fit with our curriculum Video demonstrations at Video demonstrations at www.physics.comwww.physics.com

Biology (Grade 10)Biology (Grade 10) BiologyBiology by Miller & Levine by Miller & Levine © 2010© 2010 for Honors & College for Honors & College

Prep BiologyPrep Biology Biology FoundationsBiology Foundations by Miller & Levine by Miller & Levine

© 2010© 2010 for Biology for Biology On-line interactive text and virtual labsOn-line interactive text and virtual labs Units organized by big ideasUnits organized by big ideas Untamed Science–Internet componentUntamed Science–Internet component

were each chapter begins with a mystery were each chapter begins with a mystery

with the style of Myth Busters with the style of Myth Busters Aligned well with PSSAAligned well with PSSA

ForensicsForensics(Elective)(Elective)

Forensic Science: An Introduction 2Forensic Science: An Introduction 2ndnd EditionEdition by Saferstein by Saferstein © 2011© 2011On-line interactive textOn-line interactive textVirtual interactive crime scene analysisVirtual interactive crime scene analysisTexted designed for a High School courseTexted designed for a High School courseEach Chapter begins with a real-life caseEach Chapter begins with a real-life caseEngaging case studiesEngaging case studiesExcellent resource for students during their Excellent resource for students during their

lab investigationslab investigations

Budget ImplicationsBudget Implications

Pine Road $45,231Pine Road $45,231Murray Avenue $71,800 Murray Avenue $71,800 High School $47,178High School $47,178

Total $164,210Total $164,210

Thank you!Thank you!

Special thanks to our Science Lead Special thanks to our Science Lead Teachers: Teachers: Dr. Jeanette Hausman, Mrs.Dr. Jeanette Hausman, Mrs. Susan Kelley and Mr. Chris HamburgSusan Kelley and Mr. Chris Hamburg for for their Leadership and to our Board their Leadership and to our Board Members: Members: Dr. Barbara Breitman and Dr. Dr. Barbara Breitman and Dr. Mark Elfont Mark Elfont for their ongoing support andfor their ongoing support and commitmentcommitment and to the entire committee and to the entire committee for their time and contributions.for their time and contributions.

-Dr. Maryjane Richmond-Dr. Maryjane Richmond