Science Curriculum and Instruction Resources

Science Standards of Learning: An Overview of ResourcesEric M. Rhoades, Science CoordinatorBarbara P. Young, Science Specialist

Hello, my name is Eric Rhoades, the science coordinator with the Virginia Department of Education.

I would like to provide an overview of the resources the department of education has to offer as you implement the Science Standards of Learning. 1

#It is important for you to become familiar with the Virginia Department of Educations Website. When you click on the instruction link on the left hand side of the webpage, it will allow you to then select the area of instruction on the right side. You may then click on science and it will take you to the Web page you see here. The page will connect you to professional development opportunities as well as instruction and assessment resources to support the implementation of the science standards.

First click on the Science K-12 link under Standards of Learning.2

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/science/review.shtmlThe Science SOL documents may be found in one location.

Science Standards

Science SOL Curriculum Frameworks are listed by grade level

Blueprints

Additional Resources

#Once you click on the Science K-12 link, you will see the science standards documents that have been created to support the implementation of the standards.

The standards, curriculum framework, SOL test blueprints, as well of other resources for instruction and assessment are available here. We will begin with the Curriculum Framework. 3Science SOL Curriculum FrameworkThe Science Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework amplifies the Science Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools and defines the content knowledge, skills, and understandings that are measured by the Standards of Learning tests. The Science Curriculum Framework provides additional guidance to school divisions and their teachers as they develop an instructional program appropriate for their students. It assists teachers as they plan their lessons by identifying essential understandings and defining the essential content knowledge, skills, and processes students need to master. This supplemental framework delineates in greater specificity the minimum content that all teachers should teach and all students should learn.

#The Science Curriculum Framework defines the content knowledge, skills, and understandings that are measured by the Standards of Learning tests. The framework is a tool that assists teachers as they plan their lessons by identifying essential understandings and defining the essential content knowledge, skills, and processes students need to master. 4Anatomy of the Science SOL Curriculum FrameworkUnderstanding the Standard (K-5)This section includes background information for the teacher. It contains content that may extend the teachers knowledge of the standard beyond the current grade level. This section may also contain suggestions and resources that will help teachers plan instruction focusing on the standard.

Essential Understandings (middle and high school)This section delineates the key concepts, ideas and scientific relationships that all students should grasp to demonstrate an understanding of the Standards of Learning.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Processes (K-12)Each standard is expanded in the Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Processes column. What each student should know and be able to do in each standard is outlined. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list nor a list that limits what is taught in the classroom. It is meant to be the key knowledge and skills that define the standard.

#It is important to understand the anatomy of the Curriculum Framework. The elementary and secondary frameworks have some different terminology, but were designed in a similar manner.

Both in the Understanding the Standard section and Essential Understandings section, you can find information about the concepts, ideas, and scientific relationships related to a particular standard. In the Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Processes section, a listing of what students should know and be able to do is outlined. 5Anatomy of the Science SOL Curriculum Framework

#Here is an example from fifth grade that provides the who the standard, understanding the standard section, and essential knowledge, skills, and processes section relate.6

Anatomy of the Science SOL Curriculum Framework

#Here is an example from fifth grade that provides the who the standard, essential understandings section, and essential knowledge, skills, and processes section relate.

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The overview offers the teacher an explanation of the standard as well as where it is connected to previous grade levels or subjects.Anatomy of the Science SOL Curriculum Framework

#The curriculum framework also offers an overview of each standard. This overview offers the teacher an explanation of the standard as well as its connections to other grade levels or subjects.8Anatomy of the Science SOL Curriculum Framework

Description of the strand contentGrade level progressionK-6 Strand Description

#The K-6 standards are organized in eight content strands. For the Kindergarten through grade six, the curriculum framework offers a strand description. The content in each strand is progressive in nature, building the content from Kindergarten to 6th grade. The content in K-6 builds the foundation of scientific knowledge for students as they progress through the middle and high School science content.

9Provides teachers with sample lesson plans aligned with the Curriculum Framework.Lesson plans representative of the Science SOL.Lessons are available in a drop-down menu by grade band and strand.

Science SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence

Coming August 2012

#In August 2012, the Science Enhanced Scope and Sequence will be completed and posted on the Science Instruction Web page. The Enhanced Scope and Sequence provides teachers with sample lesson plans aligned with the Curriculum Framework. This is an example of a lesson from the Biology Enhanced Scope and Sequence.

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The Crosswalk offers a detailed explanation between the 2010 and 2003 Science Standards of Learning.

#Another resource available to you is the Science Standards of Learning Crosswalk Between the 2010 and 2003 Standards. It offers a detailed explanation between the 2010 and 2003 science standards. 11Science SOL Crosswalk between 2010 and 2003 Standards

New content is identifiedItems moved to the Curriculum FrameworkMinor changes indicated

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VDOE Science SOL Assessment

#Assessment resources are also available. The SOL test blueprints offer information about how the test is organized.13Science SOL Test Blueprints

VDOE Science SOL Assessment

#The 2010 Earth Science blueprint has been revised to include different reporting categories such as Earth and Space Systems and Earth Resources and Human Interactions. The blueprint offers the standards that are included in each reporting category and the number of items for each reporting category.14

Periodic Table of the ElementsVDOE Science SOL Assessment

#Chemistry students will use a revised Periodic Table of Elements this year. The revised Periodic table does not include as much information as the previous version of the periodic table. It would be helpful for you to use this version during instruction.

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VDOE Science SOL AssessmentPractice GuidesPractice Items

#SOL test practice items are available. These practice items provide examples of the new content and increased rigor represented by the revised standards and illustrate the new technology enhanced item types for the science tests. 16Technology Enhanced Items (TEIs)VDOE Science SOL AssessmentTechnology Enhanced Item TypesDrag and DropHot SpotGraphsFill-in-the-BlankTechnology-enhanced items (TEI) provide a platform for increased rigor represented by the 2010 Standards of Learning (SOL). Technology-enhanced items allow students to indicate their responses in a format other than multiple-choice.

#Technology-enhanced items (TEI) provide a platform for increased rigor represented by the 2010Science Standards of Learning (SOL). Technology-enhanced items allow students to indicate their responses in a format other than multiple-choice. The TEIs types are drag and drop, hot spot, graphs, and fill-in-the-blank. The item shown is a drag and drop item.

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SOL Resources and Professional Development

#If you return to the science instruction page, you can connect to both instructional resources and professional development opportunities.In preparation for the implementation of the 2010 Science Standards of Learning, institutes we offered in October 2010. The link identified in the bottom of the page offers the resources that were used during the institutes.18In October 2010, four Science SOL institutes were provided throughout Virginia.

The materials from those institutes are provided on the VDOE website athttp://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/science/professional_development/index.shtml.

SOL Resources and Professional Development2010 Science SOL Institute Resources

#A presentation describing the between the 2010 and 2003 science standards is offered as well as vertical alignment documents for each of the strands of science. This aligns these standards kindergarten through physics.Also, a presentation focused on scientific inquiry and another on the nature of science is provided along with the supporting materials.192012 Science SOL Institutes

SOL Resources and Professional Development

#The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to offerScience Standards of LearningInstitutes to be held in July and August, 2012, at four regional locations around the Commonwealth. The four Institutes are designed to provide an advanced level of support for school division curriculum and instructional leaders as they begin their first year of implementation of the 2010 Science Standards of Learning.The Institutes will focus on deepening participants' understanding and application of the rigorous practices and critical reasoning skills embedded in each science standard. The Institutes will provide participants with examples of how effective science instruction may be enhanced for students in each grade range and how teachers can improve student achievement in content areas of greatest challenge.

The institute materials will be posted on the Department of Educations Web site following the institutes. For more information, please visit the Departments Web site.20Model Cross-curricular Unit

SOL Resources and Professional Development

#Virginia Animals and their Habitatsis a second-grade cross-curricular unit that integrates the content areas of science, language arts, mathematics, and history and social science; and addresses 40 grade-two VirginiaStandards of Learning. Students will develop an understanding of Virginia animals and their habitats through active research, investigation and data collection, mathematical analysis, and communication.The unit utilizes inquiry, student teamwork, project-based learning, student journals, and fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources.

21Deer Life Cycles Resource

SOL Resources and Professional Development

#The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has created a resource for elementary teachers as they are teaching life cycles. This resource was targeted at a change in the Curriculum Framework that highlighted the white-tailed deer life cycle. This Web site offers lessons and other instructional materials for teachers use with students.22Lessons from the Bay

SOL Resources and Professional Development

#Lessons from the Bay is a Web site of instructional resources for elementary and middle school teachers. It included a process model that offers suggested steps and graphic organizers for planning indoor and outdoor activities designed to give students hands-on experience in the process of scientific inquiry.A series of 16 lessons about various aspects of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, each including background information, a materials list, classroom activities and procedures, handouts, related standards, and resources for the student and teacher.Lessons from the Bay also offers a project action guide and glossary of wetland terms. 23Science Practices (Coming Soon)

SOL Resources and Professional Development

#Another resource that will be coming soon will be the scope and sequence of practices for science investigation. These are the skills identified in the .1 science standards and they offer a vertical progression of skill such as observation from Kindergarten through Physics. 24Mathematics and Science Partnership Grants

#I appreciate the time your time and hope you will visit the science instruction Web page for more information. 25Eric M. Rhoades, Science CoordinatorEric.Rhoades@doe.virginia.gov

Barbara P. Young, Science SpecialistBarbara.Young@doe.virginia.gov

#If you have questions, please contact me, Eric Rhoades or my colleague Barbara Young.

Thank you26