K-5 Science Minutes
Sept. 15, 2008
Kristine BarrettŐs Room 1:00
Attended:
Kristine
Barrett
Dallas
Meneley
Dan
Brown
Sharon
Wilson
Kassi
Dunlap
Tricia
Rohleder
Kathy
Horan
Absent:
Mary
Hildebrand
Goals:
The
science committee will be looking at new materials this year to be purchased
next year and implemented during 2009-10. A new goal was written and forwarded
to the school enhancement chair.
Discussion
involved the challenges of hands-on teaching while covering all strands of the
curriculum versus just using a textbook.
The
companies that the committee would like to pilot include:
Houghton
Mifflin
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
Harcourt
Science
Scott
Foresman Science
Committee
members visited websites to peruse materials available.
*
K-1
= Quirkles http://www.quirkles.com/
*
Houghton
Mifflin http://www.eduplace.com/science/hmsc/
*
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
http://www.mhschool.com/science/2008/student/na/te/index.html
*
Harcourt
Science
http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/harcourt_science.html
*
Scott
Foresman Science
http://www.sfscience.com/
Websites with lots of links to science
tools for elementary
a.
http://www.ncsu.edu/imse/4/elementaryEd.htm
b.
http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/portal/Staff/Libraries/K5ScienceResources/tabid/323/Default.aspx
c.
http://www.k5geosource.org/
After discussion about kindergarten and first grade
needs, the committee decided to ask for K-5 sample materials from each company
to review and compare, keeping an open mind about science materials that are
developmentally appropriate.
The NWEA website was checked for science MAP scores to
compute growth. After searching for the cut scores, the sores were recorded and
reviewed. The Spring scores are up compared to the Fall but not according to
the norms for Spring. A two or three point gain is made from Fall to Spring
overall. Tracking the same class would be beneficial.
Denise came in and fielded questions from the committee
about the piloting process and test scores. Materials will be ordered from each
of the four companies listed above for grades K through 5 for review.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00.
Kathy Horan, recorder