1. Science Curriculum Review April 27, 2010

2. Committee Members Dr. 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

3. Format of the Committee Site Visits Site Visits Needs Assessments Needs Assessments Parent Survey Parent Survey Teacher Survey Teacher Survey Student Survey Student Survey Curriculum Analysis Curriculum Analysis Research Research

4. Site Visit Overview Unionville-Chadds Ford, Lower Merion, Unionville-Chadds Ford, Lower Merion, & Upper Merion Scheduling Scheduling Process Process Groupings and Tracking Groupings and Tracking Technology Technology PSSA PSSA Curriculum and Materials Curriculum and Materials Facilities Facilities

5. Survey Overview Inquiry –based program Inquiry –based program Improvement in lab facilities Improvement in lab facilities Better technology Better technology More 21 st century skills More 21 st century skills Instill life-long love of science and inspire interest in science research competitions Instill life-long love of science and inspire interest in science research competitions Parents expressed a positive opinion of our science teachers Parents expressed a positive opinion of our science teachers Time for preparation of inquiry-based lab activities Time for preparation of inquiry-based lab activities

6. Curriculum Analysis Our current curriculum meets & exceeds the state standards Our current curriculum meets & exceeds the state standards We need to arrange the sequence of topics to better align with the state anchors to better prepare our students for the PSSA We need to arrange the sequence of topics to better align with the state anchors to better prepare our students for the PSSA

7. Research Reviewed current goals and mission Reviewed current goals and mission Studied national recommendations from NSTA Studied national recommendations from NSTA Noted research findings from experts in their field Noted research findings from experts in their field Reviewed curriculum of similar schools Reviewed curriculum of similar schools

8. Goal of Our Science Program To prepare scientifically literate students with the 21 st century skills necessary to be ready to compete and engage intelligently in this ever-changing world. To prepare scientifically literate students with the 21 st century skills necessary to be ready to compete and engage intelligently in this ever-changing world. Video - Did you know Video - Did you knowDid you knowDid you know

9. To Achieve This Goal Our Program… Must be dynamic rather than static Must be dynamic rather than static Teach students to be life-long learners Teach students to be life-long learners Foster inquiry and critical thinking skills Foster inquiry and critical thinking skills Relate science to everyday experiences Relate science to everyday experiences

10. Elements Critical to Achieving Our Goal Curriculum Curriculum Technology Technology Equipment Equipment Facilities Facilities Staff Development Staff Development

11. Curriculum Align to and exceed the state standards Align to and exceed the state standards Achieve greater understanding of the big ideas of science for all students Achieve greater understanding of the big ideas of science for all students Articulation within and between grades Articulation within and between grades Effective use of the Internet and other technologies Effective use of the Internet and other technologies Continue to prepare our students for the demands of college and life after Lower Moreland Continue to prepare our students for the demands of college and life after Lower Moreland

12. Technology Increase use of computers and technology in science classes Increase use of computers and technology in science classes Effective use of interfacing equipment for experiments Effective use of interfacing equipment for experiments Effective use of on-line textbooks and virtual investigations Effective use of on-line textbooks and virtual investigations Incorporate emerging technologies Incorporate emerging technologies

13. Equipment/Facilities Renovation to the Murray Avenue Labs Renovation to the Murray Avenue Labs Additional Lab at the High School Additional Lab at the High School Interfacing equipment for Murray Avenue Interfacing equipment for Murray Avenue Dedicated science lab room(s) at Pine Road Dedicated science lab room(s) at Pine Road Updated STC kits for Pine Road Updated STC kits for Pine Road

14. Staff Development Curriculum writing Curriculum writing Changes in instructional practices as we focus on big ideas and essential questions Changes in instructional practices as we focus on big ideas and essential questions New technologies, curriculum, and materials New technologies, curriculum, and materials

15. Program Recommendations Pine Road (K-5) Current content supports state standards but materials are dated Current content supports state standards but materials are dated Purchase upgrade toolkits for all STC kits (K-5) & Harcourt texts (4-5) Purchase upgrade toolkits for all STC kits (K-5) & Harcourt texts (4-5) Purchase assessment packages Purchase assessment packages Purchase of Human Bodies Works Kit for grade 3 Purchase of Human Bodies Works Kit for grade 3

16. Program Recommendations Murray Avenue (6-8) Adoption of Holt Science Adoption of Holt Science Units are organized by big ideas and essential questions to align with the state standards Units are organized by big ideas and essential questions to align with the state standards On-line texts with virtual labs On-line texts with virtual labs Audio book for ipod Audio book for ipod Differentiated activities Differentiated activities Assessments include PSSA type questions Assessments include PSSA type questions STC Kits STC Kits

17. Program Recommendations Murray Avenue (6-8) - continued Upgraded 6 th grade Microscopes Upgraded 6 th grade Microscopes Digital microscope for the 6 th grade Digital microscope for the 6 th 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 grade One cart for each grade

18. Program Recommendations Grade 6 Holt: Microorganism, Fungi, and Plants Holt: Microorganism, Fungi, and Plants STC: Micro worlds (refurbished supplies currently being used by 6 th grade) STC: Micro worlds (refurbished supplies currently being used by 6 th grade) Holt: Cells and Heredity Holt: Cells and Heredity Holt: Sound and Light Holt: Sound and Light STC: Ecosystems STC: Ecosystems

19. Program Recommendations Grade 7 Holt: Intro to Science Holt: Intro to Science Holt: Environmental Sci. Holt: Environmental Sci. Holt: Intro to Matter Holt: Intro to Matter Holt: Interactions in Matter Holt: Interactions in Matter STC: Matter STC: Matter Holt: Weather and Climate Holt: Weather and Climate STC: Catastrophic Events STC: Catastrophic Events Holt: Water on Earth Holt: Water on Earth

20. Program Recommendations Grade 8 Holt: Forces, Motion, and Energy Holt: Forces, Motion, and Energy STC: Energy, Machines, and Motion STC: Energy, Machines, and Motion Holt: Electricity and Magnetism Holt: Electricity and Magnetism STC: Electrical Energy and Circuit Design STC: Electrical Energy and Circuit Design Holt: Astronomy Holt: Astronomy Holt: Inside the Restless Earth Holt: Inside the Restless Earth Holt: Earth’s Changing Surface Holt: Earth’s Changing Surface

21. Program Recommendations High School (9-12) Maintain current curriculum sequence Maintain current curriculum sequence Freshman Chemistry & Physics Freshman Chemistry & Physics Biology Biology Chemistry Chemistry Physics Physics Continued revision of Biology to incorporate Ecology standards Continued revision of Biology to incorporate Ecology standards Add semester electives Add semester electives

22. Two-Year Adoption 2010-2011 2010-2011 Freshman Chemistry & Physics Freshman Chemistry & Physics Biology Biology Forensics Forensics 2012-2013 2012-2013 Chemistry Chemistry Physics Physics A.P. & Electives A.P. & Electives

23. Freshman Chemistry & Physics Conceptual Physical Science Conceptual Physical Science by Hewitt © 2010 for all levels by Hewitt © 2010 for all levels On-line interactive text & virtual labs On-line interactive text & virtual labs Effective use of technology Effective use of technology Excellent visual representations and explanation of concepts Excellent visual representations and explanation of concepts Best fit with our curriculum Best fit with our curriculum Video demonstrations at www.physics.com Video demonstrations at www.physics.comwww.physics.com

24. Biology (Grade 10) Biology by Miller & Levine © 2010 for Honors & College Prep Biology Biology by Miller & Levine © 2010 for Honors & College Prep Biology Biology Foundations by Miller & Levine Biology Foundations by Miller & Levine © 2010 for Biology On-line interactive text and virtual labs On-line interactive text and virtual labs Units organized by big ideas Units organized by big ideas Untamed Science–Internet component Untamed 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 PSSA Aligned well with PSSA

25. Forensics (Elective) Forensic Science: An Introduction 2 nd Edition by Saferstein © 2011 Forensic Science: An Introduction 2 nd Edition by Saferstein © 2011 On-line interactive text On-line interactive text Virtual interactive crime scene analysis Virtual interactive crime scene analysis Texted designed for a High School course Texted designed for a High School course Each Chapter begins with a real-life case Each Chapter begins with a real-life case Engaging case studies Engaging case studies Excellent resource for students during their lab investigations Excellent resource for students during their lab investigations

26. Budget Implications Pine Road $45,231 Pine Road $45,231 Murray Avenue $71,800 Murray Avenue $71,800 High School $47,178 High School $47,178 Total $164,210 Total $164,210

27. Thank you! Special thanks to our Science Lead Teachers: Dr. Jeanette Hausman, Mrs. Susan Kelley and Mr. Chris Hamburg for their Leadership and to our Board Members: Dr. Barbara Breitman and Dr. Mark Elfont for their ongoing support and commitment and to the entire committee for their time and contributions. -Dr. Maryjane Richmond -Dr. Maryjane Richmond