Elementary Science Kits

District 4J

This year (2004-2005) is the eighth year of the "K-5 Science Consortium." The project continues to be a partnership between elementary schools, district services, and EWEB. This year the consortium involves 273 teachers in 28 elementary schools committed to teaching science using hands-on science kits. Most teachers use three kits during the school year, one each of life, physical, and earth science. A teacher uses a kit for one term, sends it back to the restocking center where it is restocked and sent on to another teacher to use. In addition, the live materials needed for several of the life science kits including guppies, snails, aquatic plants, pill bugs, and worms are cultured at a central location and delivered to the teachers as needed. According to the feedback we receive from students, teachers, principals, and parents, the project is an overwhelming success.

Why is this project important?

This project is important for the success of hands-on science instruction in 4J elementary schools. The K-5 kit curriculum was selected so students receive learning opportunities for the third and fifth grade state science benchmarks. The importance of the science consortium has increased as the scientific inquiry work sample requirement for 4th and 5th graders enters its second year. This year 4th and 5th graders must complete work samples to show their ability to "Design an Investigation" and "Collect and Present Data." Each science kit provides teachers with both the materials and the direction they need to help students complete this requirement.

In addition, the 4J school district continues to experience a large number of retirements each year. As new elementary teachers join the district the science kits provide a ready-to-go program that is articulated within buildings and aligned to state benchmarks. Most of these teachers graduated from teacher education programs that promoted the use of hands-on science. The kits, which provide materials and a high quality curriculum, empower these new teachers to realize their vision of good science teaching.

Who and how many will be served?

• 28 Elementary Schools
• 273 Teachers, kindergarten-5th grade
• 6,825 Students (K-5, estimated @25 students/class)
How will you evaluate the success of this project?
The project coordinator uses a variety of data sources to evaluate the success of the project:
• Feedback from teachers using the kits via e-mail and a "Kit Comment Sheet" that accompanies every kit
• Feedback forms from kit inservices
• Feedback from building principals
• Student scores on the state wide 5th grade multiple choice test
• Student "Inquiry" work samples

Does this proposal build upon existing programs at your school?

All of the elementary schools involved in the Science Consortium are implementing a comprehensive hands-on science program. Building money was used to purchase the kits originally; building money also provides the majority of the funding for the restocking materials. In addition, all schools are developing a plan for providing students with learning opportunities for the 3rd and 5th grade science benchmarks. As the requirement for scientific inquiry work samples is phased in over 3 years (2003-2005) the science kits provide both the conceptual focus and instructional materials for meeting this need. Scientific inquiry workshops offered by the district science coordinator, Angie Ruzicka, are focused on the science kits.

How will the funds be spent?

Salary/Benefits for kit re-stockers; supplies; milage to deliver live organisms to schools.