Science
Wayne RESA science consultants are here to help schools best serve their students. Please contact us for support in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning.
Resource Highlights
Professional Development
The Master Science Teacher Fellowship is an opportunity to become part of a community of science educators who learn, lead, and grow together. We at Wayne County RESA know that teaching is a complex endeavor and we aim to create a county wide network of skilled educators and mentors that will move science education throughout the 21st century. Click here to learn more.
The Wayne Regional STEM Network envisions a region where every student is engaged in robust and authentic STEM experiences and has the opportunity to enter the regional STEM economy.
Additional Resources
Curriculum
All aspects of K - 12 science programs must be aligned with the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations and the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Expectations should be implemented within and across grade levels to meet or exceed the standards and expectations. It is anticipated that the Michigan Department of Education will soon be adopting a new set of the standards, "The Michigan Science Standards," which will be based on the Next Generation Science Standards.
- (PDF) Curriculum Coherence Document
- Developed at Wayne RESA, the purpose of the document is to help you save time as you navigate through the curriculum process.
- Atlas Rubicon
- Wayne RESA is now making available complete grade level courses using Atlas Rubicon, a curriculum management tool. The courses are aligned to the present Michigan Science Grade Level Content Expectations. They have been developed through consortia led by Oakland Schools and the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators.
- (PDF) NGSS Overview for Principals
- (PDF) Michigan Merit Curriculum
NGSS
On Tuesday November 10, 2015 the Michigan Board of Education voted to adopt the Michigan Science Standards by a vote of seven to one. Michigan, one of the original lead states, is the 17th state to have adopted the Performance Expectations from the Next Generation Science Standards. The Michigan Science Standards are the performance expectations from the Next Generation Science Standards.
- Implementing the Michigan Science Standards
- Michigan Science Standards are the Performance Expectations
- How to Read the Standards
- Understand the Standards Before you Commit
- NGSX @WAYNE RESA: Next Generation Science Exemplar
- Is There a Process that will help me Unpack the new Michigan Science Standards
- Graduation Requirements
- A Framework for K-12 Education
- Online Blended Learning Courese on GNSS with Dr. Greg Johnson
- Impact of the Michigan Science Standard on Assessment
- The Michigan Science Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards Require Tools for Ambitious Science Teaching
- Free Posters on the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
- Free Copy of the NGSS
- Free NGSS App
- In the GNSS Classroom with Teacher Kristin Mayer Video Series
- NGSS Videos on the Teaching Channel
- NGSS Professional Development Workshops From Create for STEM
- NGSS Social Media
- Bozeman Science and the NGSS
- Implementing the NGSS: Hallmarks of a Fully Realized School System
- Achieve and the Teaching Channel Released new Classroom Video Demonstrating Transitions to NGSS
Implementing the Michigan Science Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Resources
What is all this NGSS stuff anyway? If you are new to NGSS, or like many of us, still trying to wrap your head around all the changes, you may find this padlet useful. It contains a great number of resources organized by these categories:
How is NGSS different?
What is Phenomenon?
What are Driving Questions?
What are Academic Conversations? (argumentation)
What is modeling?
How can administrators support teachers?
Free K-12 NGSS Aligned Curriculum
Are you looking for Free K-12 NGSS aligned curriculum? This padlet has links to curricular materials and other resources. Please do not assume that all these materials are 3 dimensional. Please use the 3 rubrics included in this padlet to evaluate these resources.
Do you need help in designing your science curriculum, to meet the changes in the Michigan Science Standards? If so, you may want to use the new Curriculum Coherence Document, developed at Wayne RESA. The purpose of the document is to help you save time as you navigate through the curriculum process. Download (PDF) Curriculum Coherence Document.
The documents below will support your science curriculum team as you plan your transition to our new standards:
- (DOC) NGSS Transition Plan
- (DOC) District Implementation Planning Guide
- (XLS) WRESA Strategic Science Plan
- (PDF) Blank Timeline for district/building use
For support with assessment, go to the NGSS Assessment Page.
Michigan Science Standards are the Performance Expectations
The complete Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are available for download.
The best way to understand our new standards is to read the book, "A Framework for K-12 Science Education". To download a free copy of the K-12 Framework.
How to Read the Standards
Understand the Standards Before you Commit
MDE is actually encouraging everyone to slow down and understand the MI Science Standards before writing assessments and making course sequence changes, etc. Below is an example of what your transition plan might look like.
Stages not marked by years because they build on each other. For more information please see the NGSS Transition Plan.
I would encourage everyone to really understand NGSS K-12 before you purchase new materials, create assessments, write lessons, etc. For example, at the MS and HS level, Performance Expectations (PE's) can be arranged in many different ways. The way you arrange them may not be the same way that others have arranged them. Thus, resources such as textbooks, kit-based science programs, units and lessons may not align to your organization of the PE's. That means that you will have to either change your organization of the PE's at a later date or create everything yourself.
For example, this is a Sample NGSX Chemistry Course - This is only one possibility of what an NGSX aligned science course might look like. In fact, you may not even want to call it chemistry. Please use this as a spring board for discussion and creativity. Notice that the collection of PE's may not align to a particular textbook or other resource. If you commit yourself at this point, it may be difficult for you to find assessments and resource materials that align with the course you have created. Another way to go about this is to spend more time making sure every teacher understands the shifts and vision of NGSS and then try to pilot materials (lessons, units, kit-based science programs, etc.) that align to NGSS.
I would really encourage your team to thoroughly understand NGSS before any drastic changes are made. From my own experience, understanding all these changes is quite a shift. You may want all your team to go through some of the professional learning that we provide at RESA such as NGSX (Please see information below regarding NGSX).
NGSX @WAYNE RESA: Next Generation Science Exemplar
Professional Learning Opportunity, Nationally Developed, Locally Implemented
Have you signed up for one of our NGSX cohorts? To understand how this professional learning will support your implementation of the new science standards watch this video.
Learn more about the storyline tools along with some sample storylines and associated lesson plans.
Is There a Process that will help me Unpack the new Michigan Science Standards
You may want to first unpack the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI's).
- Access the disciplinary core ideas in your grade-level or course and click on "Search the Standards".
- Select "Standards By Topic" (this is how Michigan is organizing the standards).
- Scroll down and select your grade span. Next, click on the science topics you are interested in and you will see all your performance expectations (PE's) listed.
- Each PE is composed of all 3 dimensions. The dimensions associated with the PE are displayed in boxes below the PE. The orange box in the middle is the Disciplinary Core Idea. When you click on this DCI it will take you to the explanation of this target found in the book A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. This explanation is what the DCI is based on. View an Example of Unpacking Performance Expectations
- Please also take into consideration the Science and Engineering Practices and the Crosscutting Concepts. To get a complete picture of the Science and Engineering Practices please read the book A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. You may also want to read the appendices. Please see the information below that describes how to access the appendices.
Graduation Requirements
In August 2014 the state modified the wording of the science requirement for graduation. What used to say :
"1 credit in biology, 1 credit in chemistry OR physics, and 1 additional science class"
now reads:
"at least 3 credits in science that are aligned with the subject area content expectations developed by the department (State Department of Education) and approved by the state board under this section".
The interpretation is that students who graduate should master ALL of the state science standards, which are now the Michigan Science Standards (MSS) and are the Performance Expectations (PE's) from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
For a more detailed explanation, please see MDE's document, (PDF) Michigan Merit Curriculum High School Graduation Requirements
How does CTE fit in?
The (PDF) document states that, for science, there is some flexibility with these 3 credits. From the document:
SCIENCE GRADUATION REQUIRMENT – 3 Credits
• Proficiency in State Content Standards for Science (3 credits); or
• Beginning with the Class of 2015: Proficiency in some State Content Standards for Science (2 credits) and completion of a Department approved formal Career and Technical Education (CTE) program (1 credit).
Thus, a student may fulfill the requirement for the 3rd Science credit by completing a formal CTE program or curriculum.
If the 3rd Science credit is exchanged for a formal CTE program or curriculum then science content does not need to be integrated. However, districts are responsible for ensuring that students have an opportunity to learn the content as outlined in the Michigan Science Standards since these will be tested on the 11th grade Michigan Merit Exam.
Important, if the CTE course is not completed successfully then the student is not only out the CTE credits, but they will still be short a 3rd credit of science.
How do I find the Performance Expectations that I'm required to teach?
To search for your performance expectations in your grade-level or course visit NGSS website. Then follow the procedure described in the update above, "Aligning Curriculum for Next Year".
We have some districts that are already looking into this. For example, the course sequence below distributes Earth Science Performance Expectations throughout several courses:
Physics (Astronomy)
Chemistry Earth Systems (Geology, Weather and Climate)
Biology Earth Systems (Environmental, History of Earth)
Optional Advanced Science Courses (AP, IB, H, Dual Enrollment)
Concern:
If chemistry and biology teachers are expected to incorporate Earth and Space Science into their courses, these teachers will need to be well versed in the treatment of those topics to provide the depth necessary for meeting the high school expectations.
Problem:
I am not aware of many resources available that are aligned to NGSS to support this Course Pathway. That being said, I am checking around to see what might be out there. For now, you might want to check out the resource below:
Explore other course sequencing options at Model Course Mapping in Middle and High School for the Next Generation Science Standards.
(DOC) Sample NGSX Chemistry Course - This is only one possibility of what an NGSX aligned science course might look like. Please use this as a spring board for discussion and creativity.
A Framework for K-12 Education
"A Framework for K-12 Science Education" is available online for free. It describes the major practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas that all students should be familiar with by the end of high school, and it provides an outline of how these practices, concepts, and ideas should be developed across the grade levels. The Framework is grounded in the most current research on science and science learning and was the first critical step in the development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
"A Framework for K-12 Science Education," in a process managed by Achieve, 26 states lead the development of the Next Generation Science Standards.
Download the K-12 Framework.
Online Blended Learning Courese on GNSS with Dr. Greg Johnson
To participate in a NGSS online blended learning course, led by Greg Johnson, view Wayne RESA NGSS website.
Impact of the Michigan Science Standard on Assessment
Learn more about the Michigan Science Standards and Assessment.
The Michigan Science Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards Require Tools for Ambitious Science Teaching
View the Ambitious Science Teaching Website. Great teaching can be learned. This website provides tools and resources that support ambitious science instruction at the middle school and high school levels. Ambitious teaching deliberately aims to get students of all racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds to understand science ideas, participate in the discourses of the discipline, and solve authentic problems. They describe 4 core instructional strategies that support this kind of teaching. These “high-leverage” practices make up the Science Learning Framework, and have been selected based on extensive research of how young people learn science, on authentic forms of science activity, and how teachers learn to appropriate new practices. MIExcel (MDE's efforts to define the blueprint for district turnaround) recommends the vision of ambitious science.
Free Posters on the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
Thanks to the Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD Mathematics and Science Center, we have FREE downloadable posters for elementary students/teachers and middle school and high school students/teachers, that they developed.
View the poster showing the Elementary Science and Engineering Principles.
View the poster showing the Middle School and High School Science and Engineering Practices.
Thanks again to the EUP Mathematics and Science Center for sharing their work with us.
Free Copy of the NGSS
To download a free copy of the NGSS, or to order a printed copy of the NGSS.
Free NGSS App
You can download the free Next Generation Science Standards App. Download the iPad App. Download the iPhone App.
In the GNSS Classroom with Teacher Kristin Mayer Video Series
These 8 videos introduce science teachers to important strategies based on the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This collection of videos highlights the major shifts in science instruction, explore the new role of the teacher, and demonstrate new instructional strategies in the high school classroom. The project was led by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) with funding from Disney, and the video and lesson development was led by CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University, in partnership with Concord Consortium, and The University of Michigan. View the video series.
NGSS Videos on the Teaching Channel
Four NGSS videos are now available through the Teaching Channel. Achieve and Teaching Channel collaborated to produce videos that present an overview of key innovation in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and a deeper dive into each of the NGSS' three dimentions. View the videos .
NGSS Professional Development Workshops From Create for STEM
Getting to Know the Next Generation of Science Standards is a set of training materials being developed by partners from CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University and Michigan NGSS External Review Team members for use by trainers providing professional development about the Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) to teachers. The training materials are in-depth and incorporate instructional components including activities to support the teachers' interaction with the content. As indicated below, some workshops are complete and availabe for use, some in development, and some currently undergoing review by members of the Michigan NGSS External Review Team. The next step will be to pilot the materials. Down the road, these materials will be housed as part of a common website with rich video material and resources. View the resources.
NGSS Social Media
Follow the conversation on the Next Generation Science Standards on Twitter. Just use #NGSS.
Follow along with NGSS resources on Pinterest, provided by GLOBE.
Bozeman Science and the NGSS
Have you heard of Bozeman Science? Paul Anderson maintains the Bozeman resources. Paul has been teaching high school science for the last nineteen years. He has been teaching science on YouTube for the last three years. Paul spent the first seven years teaching all of the science classes at a small rural school in northern Montana. Paul is currently a science teacher and technology specialist at Bozeman High School. This video series covers the concepts contained within the K-12 Science Framework. It contains 8 practices, 7 crosscutting concepts, and 44 disciplinary core ideas. View the series on YouTube.
Implementing the NGSS: Hallmarks of a Fully Realized School System
DePaul University convened a working group to provide a set of recommendations to districts and schools around the upcoming transition to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The working group included 19 members from universities (both science and education experts), schools systems (both within and outside of CPS, including teachers, principals, network administrators, and central office administrators) and non formal educational institutions. The essential question that was addressed by the group was how we can ensure that all students receive a high quality, rigorous education in science that will prepare them to be informed citizens and demonstrate to them the personal and societal value of science and engineering. In the report the group described the hallmarks or elements of an educational system that is fully aligned with the NGSS, focusing on three clusters of actions: curriculum and instruction, assessment, and system capacity. The group presented this picture to serve as a vision for districts, schools, and classrooms as administrators and teachers begin their conversations about how to implement these "fewer, clearer and higher" standards. Following these hallmarks, the group outlined some suggestions for closing the gap between the current reality and the vision for K-12 science education. Download the policy brief.
Achieve and the Teaching Channel Released new Classroom Video Demonstrating Transitions to NGSS
The featured classroom examples illustrate how some educators are transitioning instruction to help students meet the goals of the NGSS. The snapshots demonstrate how specific teachers are beginning to transition to the standards and offer guidance to educators currently considering how to best engage students in three-dimensional learning.
- Video 1: Energy & Matter Across Science Disciplines
- Video 2: Making Claims from Evidence
- Video 3: First Steps Towards Transitioning to the NGSS
- Video 4: Working as a Team
- Model Course Mapping in Middle and High School for the Next Generation Science Standards
- Sample NGSX Chemistry Course - This is only one possibility of what an NGSX aligned science course might look like. Please use this as a spring board for discussion and creativity.
Instruction
Resources for Checkout
GPS
GPS Availability
The Wayne County Mathematics and Science Center will lend out up to 8 GPS handhelds to Wayne County classrooms. Priority is given to classrooms that are part of the GLOBE Program. If you would like to borrow these GPS handhelds, please contact David Bydlowski at: bydlowd@resa.net
Garmin GPS Handhelds
Visit their website If you would like to learn more about the Garmin GPS handhelds that are part of the Wayne County Mathematics and Science Center at Wayne RESA
GPS Manual
If you need to become more familiar with the GPS, please click on the link to download the manual for the Garmin eTrek Venture.
STARLAB
View students in Wayne County using the StarLab. You will also be able to view teachers being trained in the use of the Starlab by Rod Bisher, from a training that took place on August 15, 2012 for Wayne County teachers.
StarLab
The Wayne County Math and Science Center owns two StarLabs, indoor planetariums. They are for the use of Wayne County teachers. In order to borrow the StarLab, you must be trained. Training for StarLab are conducted as needed. If you would like more information about StarLab trainings, please contact Latisha Porter.
Aunt Nan's Missing Star
Here is a short story about light pollution written by Bob Riddle. He wrote it a few years ago as part of an achievement award for Girl Scouts.
There Once Was A Sky Filled With Stars
Here is a wonderfully illustrated and narrated story about the effects of light pollution on what we are unable to see in the night skies as a result. More importantly it shows how light polluted night skies have an effect on living things - especially those that are night types. (8 minutes)
StarLab Registration Form
If you would like to reserve the StarLab for use at your school, please download the registration form and return it to Latisha Porter.
Student Services Form
When you use the Starlab, it is your responsibility to complete a student services form . This is important because it lets us know how many students have shared in the use of the Starlab. Please download the student services form and return it to Latisha Porter.
Return Instructions Form
The Starlab can be used for one week at a time, unless other arrangements have been made. It should be picked up on Monday and returned on Friday. Please download the Starlab Return Instructions Form to view information on returning the Starlab and contact information. If you have questions, please contact Latisha Porter.
MSU Sky Calendars
- (PDF) Winter 2016 Newsletter
- (PDF) March 2016
- (PDF) April 2016
StarLab Website
The StarLab website provides all of the information that you will need about the StarLab.
Instructional Videos on Using the Starlab
The South Carolina State Museum made a series of training videos on using the Starlab. The focus of the videos was to provide information on their Starlab, but also to help those who have a Starlab and need help in using it. All of the videos are located on YouTube. Each video lasts 3 - 9 minutes.
- Overview and Unfolding the Starlab
- The Starlab Fan and Inflating the Starlab
- The Standard Starlab Projector
- Starlab Cylinders and "The Yellow Box"
- Inside the Starlab and Safety Outside the Starlab
- Entering the Starlab and Deflating the Dome and Packing Up
Please click HERE to watch the entire process of setting up the Starlab, presenting a "show" and tearing it down, in a 25 second video
Classic Starlab Cylinder Manuals
The Wayne County Math and Science Center has 15 different cylinders that you can use with your students. There is a user manual for each cylinder, that provides information on using that specific cylinder. Please click on the name of each cylinder, to download the manual: Starfield ; Constellations ; Celestial Coordinates ; Deep Sky Objects ; Solar System and Galaxy ; Earth ; Plate Tectonics ; Ocean Currents ; Weather ; Greek Mythology ; Ancient Egyptian Culture ; Native American Mythology ; Chinese Legends ; African Mythology ; Biological Cell
Activities and Lesson Manuals for Use in Starlab
Starlab Set-Up, Operation and Maintenance Manuals
Each of the following manuals are valuable in setting up the Starlab, using the projector, folding and unfolding the dome, and general maintenance. Please select the manual the correlates to the projector that you are using. Please click HERE for the Standard Projector and Starlab. Please click HERE for the LED Projector and Starlab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on the above link to get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Starlab, including: "How many people fit inside?"; "What kind of room do I need for the Starlab?"; "How long does it take to set up and take down?"; "How do I get inside of it and do I have to crawl?";"How heavy is it?"; and "Is it handicapped accessible?"
StarDogs Astronomy
Rod Bisher is the owner of StarDogs Astronomy. Rod has trained teachers in the use of StarLab in Wayne County and is an approved presenter through the Wayne County Math and Science Center at Wayne RESA. For more information, contact Rod at: Office: 517-803-2349; Cell: 517-490-6246; email: stardogsastronomy@gmail.com; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/www.stardogs.info
Super Science Investigators
Dr. Jeffery Driscoll is the owner of Super Science Investigators (SSI). He has been entertaining Michigan schools by providing a day of science fun including state of the art, digital portable planetariums using StarLab and Digitalis Digital Planetarium systems for several years. His organization also provides students the opportunity to view the sun using professional grade solar telescopes. SSI also provides community wide deep space observation including the planets, galaxies, open clusters, nebulae and other night time gems using professional grade telescopes. He spent nearly 10 years as a NASA outreach coordinator as part of the Saturn Observation Campaign. He is an approved presenter through Wayne RESA. You can contact him for a day of discovery at ssi@superscienceinvestigators.com or visit the Super Science Investigator website. You can also view his Twitter.
Elementary Engineering Resources
If you are teacher in Wayne County, you have access to resources that you can use in your classroom, free of charge.
In order to qualify for free use of these materials, you need to attend a training session. Once you have been trained, you will have access to the resources. For more information, please contact Latisha Porter, Richard Bacolor or Greg Johnson
If you are not a Wayne County teacher, but have been trained, you may contact your local Michigan Mathematics and Science Center Consultant. In Livinigston/Washtenaw please contact Andrea Pisani. In Oakland, please contact Mike Gallagher. In Macomb, please contact Mike Klein.
FAMILY ENGINEERING
(DOC) Sample Program
(PPT) Sample Flyer
(PDF) Family Engineering Resource Guide
(DOC) Family Engineering Kit Registration Form
If you would like to reserve the Family Engineering Kit for use at your school, please download the registration form and return it to Latisha Porter.
Student Services Form
When you use the Family Engineering Kit it is your responsibility to complete a student services form. This is important because it lets us know how many students have shared in the use of the Family Engineering Kit. Please download the student services form and return it to Linda Olinik at olinikl@resa.net
Tips on Using the Family Engineering Kit
(PPT) Tips on Doing the Hand Challenge
(PPT) Tips on Doing the Brain Saver Challenge
ENGINEERING IS ELEMENTARY
Engineering is Elementary (EIE) Registration Form
If you would like to reserve the Engineering is Elementary Kit(s) (EIE) for use at your school, please download the registration form and return it to Greg Johnson at johnsog@resa.net.
Student Services Form
When you use the Engineering is Elementary Kit(s) (EIE) it is your responsibility to complete a student services form. This is important because it lets us know how many students have shared in the use of the Engineering is Elementary Kit(s). Please download the student services form and return it to Greg Johnson at johnsog@resa.net.
Engineering is Elementary Workshop #6036 - October 26, 2017 - (URL) EiE Kit Reservation Form
Additional EIE Resources:
Assessment
Effective educators measure the progress of their instruction frequently through a combined use of formative, interim, and summative assessments.
- Assessment Timeline
- Major Shifts in Science Assessment
- Science Assessment Examples and Resources
- Michigan Science Assessments and High Stakes Accountability
- Three Dimensional Science Assessment Resources
- NGSS Evidence Statements
- Science Assessment Item Collaborative
- SAT, M-STEP Science Assessment and School Accountability
- NGSS Sample Assessment
- NAEP
- Panel Recommends New Breed of Assessments for Science and Learning
Assessment Timeline
The M-STEP Science is a 3-Dimensional science assessment that is currently aligned to our new Michigan Science Standards (MSS). The MSS are the performance expectations (PE's) from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Please see timeline below.
- The M-Step for 5, 8, and 11th grade is currently aligned to our new Michigan Science Standards.
- The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and state law require that we give a state science exam once in each grade band: elementary, middle, and high school. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) continues those same requirements.
- MDE will continue to give the SAT and the M-STEP Science and Social Studies for 11th Grade
-
The timeline for the New Michigan Science Standard assessment is:
-
Spring 2018 - New MSS aligned item clusters, Grades 5, 8, 11. This test will be a little shorter than future tests. (accountability based on participation)
-
Spring 2019 - New MSS aligned item clusters, Grades 5, 8, 11. (accountability based on participation)
-
Spring 2020 - Fully operational MSS assessment (Start High Stakes accountability) (Grades 5, 8, 11)
-
Major Shifts in Science Assessment
Science Assessment Examples and Resources
An (URL) NGSS Assessment Padlet has been created that provides assessment examples by grade span and also provides links to many assessment resources.
Michigan Science Assessments and High Stakes Accountability
Tentative Assessment Plan (subject to change)
- Spring 2018 Assessment -- Pilot 2 and 3 dimensional science items aligned to the new standards. Accountability based on student participation rates.
- 2019 -- Pilot 2 and 3 dimensional science items aligned to the new standards. Accountability based on student participation rates.
- 2020 -- Full implementation of the three-dimensional testing of the Michigan Science Standards.
Three Dimensional Science Assessment Resources
- (URL) The Next Generation Science Assessment project. If you would like to try out the middle school assessment tasks that have been developed so far, please go to http://ngss-assessment.portal.concord.org/ and http://concord.org/projects/ngss-assessments.
- West Ed has developed the Item Cluster Prototypes for 5th grade and high school. For example, the HS PDF document is available at http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/HS Item Cluster Prototype_FINAL.pdf.
- NSTA has some resources as well. Check out https://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NGSS/webseminar34.aspx and http://www.nextgenscience.org/classroom-sample-assessment-tasks
NGSS Evidence Statements
(Executive Summary) (Introduction and Overview) (Grades K-5) (Grades 6-8) (Grades 9-12)
NGSS Evidence Statements provide educators with additional detail on what students should know and be able to do. These Evidence Statements are statements of observable and measureable components that, if met, will satisfy NGSS performance expectations.
Science Assessment Item Collaborative
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) brought together a group of interested states to create the Science Assessment Item Collaborative (SAIC). The purpose of this phase of work for the SAIC was to develop resources to support states in designing assessments aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). As you know, our newly adopted Michigan Science Standards are the Performance Expectations (PE's) from NGSS.
In partnership with WestEd, the SAIC developed these resources:
- (URL) An Assessment Framework
- (URL) Item Specifications Guidelines
- (PDF) Item Cluster Prototypes for high school
- (PDF) Item Cluster Prototypes (the Grade 5 item cluster prototype is publicly available)
Additional resources will be made available in the future and can be found at (URL) http://www.csai-online.org/spotlight/science-assessment-item-collaborative
SAT, M-STEP Science Assessment and School Accountability
- Students who take the SAT will get a science score (this will not be used for school accountability)
- Students will also take the science M-STEP (this will be used for school accountability)
- The SAT science score can be used as part of the student's university application process
- Again, the SAT science score will not be used as part of a school's accountability
- Again, the Science M-STEP will be used as part of a school's accountability
How will the M-STEP science be factored into a school's focus or priority school status?
According to the Flexibility Waiver (p.101), Science M-Step scores will still be included within the school's accountability. This is also used in the identification and Top-to-Bottom Ranking for Priority schools ranking (not focus school ranking). The difference is that there were 5 subjects, now there are 4 because Writing and ELA are being combined.
Science is not counting toward Focus School Status any more. And, even though it does play into the Priority School status, it would be at a much reduced rate because this is based on the number of tests taken for each building. For example, if there is a building with just 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that have 100 students in each grade, there would be 300 math tests, 300 ELA tests, 100 science tests, and 100 social studies tests taken. So, science now counts 1/8 (100 science tests out of 800 tests given) of the overall ranking for priority school status.
In conclusion, science does NOT count toward focus school status. However, It does play in proportionally (as described above in the status of priority schools) based on the number of tests taken in a building. So for elementary and middle there are typically more ELA and Math tests taken than Science. In high school, the proportion should be about the same. Additionally, the Spring 2015 test scores are not affecting Focus or Priority school. The Spring 2016 tests will affect them.
Please go to (URL) www.michigan.gov/baa if you would like Assessment Transition updates as weekly communications are posted there.
Here is some of the information from the BAA website:
Legislation was passed requiring the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to develop a new summative assessment for use in Spring 2015. Unlike the previous MEAP assessments, the new assessment will be aligned to Michigan standards, administered in the spring, and measure current year versus past year student knowledge. English language arts and mathematics will be assessed in grades 3-8 and 11. Science will be assessed in grades 4, 7, and 11; and social studies in grades 5, 8, and 11.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Linda Howley, Test Development Manager Office of Standards and Assessment Division of Accountability Services Michigan Department of Education (517) 241-2525.
Accountability email address and telephone number:
Your one stop shop for all topics and resources relating to district and school accountability in Michigan! The Michigan Department of Education's District and School Accountability initiatives are handled by: Office of Evaluation, Strategic Research and Accountability (OESRA)
Office Phone: (877) 560-8378
Office Email: (EMAIL) MDE-Accountability@michigan.gov
NGSS Sample Assessment
Achieve has released a new resource, the (URL) Classroom Sample Assessment Tasks. These sample tasks provide examples of how content from both the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Mathematics can be assessed together in classrooms. Each task focuses on a specific context or storyline and includes multiple components that work together to partially or fully assess a bundle of chosen standards (i.e., group of related standards from the CCSS and the NGSS). The purpose of these sample tasks is to provide some examples of how to meaningfully integrate the NGSS and CCSS in authentic ways in the context of classroom assessment. To aid educators in their own task development, the front matter of the sample classroom assessment tasks provides information about the tasks’ development process so additional tasks can be created to assess a bundle of both math and science standards.
The State Science Education Standards Comparison Tool is available on the (URL) NGSS website.
NAEP
(URL) NAEP Sample Science Questions
(URL) NAEP Example of Interactive Computer Assessment
(URL) Smarter Balanced Assessment
NAEP Data Analysis
According to this NAEP data, guess what factor is the greatest predictor of science success? Those students that are more economically fortunate have a greater likelihood of success in science. But if we look closer at this data, there are several outliers that tell a different story.
- Take a look at Kentucky and Oregon, they have a similar percentage of free or reduced price lunch students, but very different results; Oregon is one of the worst performing states, and Kentucky is one of the highest. Why?
- One reason may be the difference in the amount of time teachers spend teaching science. In Oregon, they average 1.5 hrs./week compared to 3.8 hrs./week. So where is Michigan?
- Comparing Michigan and Nevada, the lunch count should predict similar results, but they are separated by 9 points. Notice the amount of time they spend teaching science in each of these states, about a 1 hr. difference.
- If Michigan elementary classrooms were to increase instruction to 4 hours / week (and the same pattern were to hold true) we should have the highest NAEP scores in the country.
(PDF) What Is the Impact of Decline in Science Instructional Time in Elementary School?, Rolf K. Blank, Ph.D. Paper prepared for the Noyce Foundation, 2012
(PDF) Impact of Decline in Science Instructional Time in Elementary School
If Michigan elementary classrooms were to increase instruction to 4 hours / week (and the same pattern were to hold true) we should have the highest NAEP scores in the country
Panel Recommends New Breed of Assessments for Science and Learning
Laying out a new vision for science assessments, a panel of the National Research Council proposed that states design testing systems that integrate several key types of science learning, and blend classroom-based assessments with state-level "monitoring" tests and gauges of students' "opportunity to learn."
The proposal, (URL) detailed in a 256-page report, offers an expert panel's ideas on how testing should change to fully reflect the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by eight states so far. The picture it paints departs markedly from current assessment practice, which tilts heavily toward students' knowledge of science facts, and typically takes place in one large-scale statewide exam each spring.
Instead, to gauge student learning, the panel recommends that states obtain feedback from three sources. One is ongoing, classroom-based, or "formative," assessments, which would draw students into building and refining scientific models, generating and analyzing data, and creating oral and written arguments about what they're learning.
The second source of information would be state-level "monitoring" tests that would be aimed at measuring how well students have learned the material over the course of a year, and that could be used to meet states' accountability needs.
Finally, the panel says states should collect school-level information about resources that affect students' chances "to learn science in the ways laid out in the [NRC] framework and the [new science standards]," such as access to good instructional materials, the level of teachers' subject-matter expertise, and instructional approaches that allow students "of varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds" to access the material,
LISTSERV
If you would like to receive email regarding science education in Wayne County send an e-mail to (EMAIL) Latisha Porter, with your name and email address. You will then receive an email confirmation.
- (URL) NGSS Assessment Padlet with assessment examples and resources
- (PDF) Formative Assessment in the Middle/High School Science Classroom PPT
- (URL) Michigan Interim Assessment Program
- (PDF) Multiple Measures Article
- (URL) Michigan State University part of $2.9 million grant to develop Next Generation Science Standards tests
- (PDF) Sample Task Formats for all 8 Science and Engineering Practices
Outreach
The Wayne County Mathematics and Science Center at Wayne RESA works with individuals and groups from the community to support our work. These include business, industry, cultural institutions and universities. These partnerships promote improved math and science education.
Community
Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve
Crosswinds Marsh is a 1,050 acre Wetland Interpretive Preserve which offers a unique opportunity to observe a variety of wetland environments, including forested wetlands, wet meadows, shallow water wetlands and shallow water emergent wetlands. Crosswinds Marsh offers a blend of wetlands, wildflower meadows and upland forests, attracting over 200 species of birds, 30 species of mammals and a variety of reptiles, amphibians and fish.
Take I-275 to Will-Carleton Road (Exit #8). Take Will-Carleton/Oakville Waltz Road west 3 ½-miles to Haggerty Road. Take Haggerty Road ½-mile north to park entrance on the west side of the road.
Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve offers School Programs, Outreach Programs, Family Programs and Scout Badge Workshops focusing on the natural and cultural history of our area. Interpretive programs designed specifically for schools, scouts and families, feature hands-on activities, hikes, games and crafts to foster fun and informative learning experiences. We offer a variety of programs, but other topics can be provided upon request. On-site programs are offered April through October and outreach programs are offered throughout the year. The Parks Millage made these programs possible.
Detroit Science Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy
The Detroit Science Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy SEMAA Program services over 1500 students per year. It is an innovative program designed to reach K-12 grade students that are traditionally underrepresented in careers involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is the only program in the metro area for the state of Michigan. The goal of the program is to encourage students to pursue STEM related majors and careers closing the gap of falling behind to prepare our next generation for the STEM workforce. With a curriculum planned by NASA, students meet regularly to engage in interactive learning sessions that are specifically designed for each grade level. We also feature an Aeronautics Educational Laboratory, complete with a flight simulator, wind tunnel, and over 10 computer stations that touch on subjects such as weather patterns to Bernoulli's principles.
EarthWorks
Exchange City in Taylor provides students with a wonderful hands-on experience in both science and social studies.
View recent press release on the (DOC) Michigan Department of Education visit to Earthworks.
Engineering Society of Detroit
The Engineering Society of Detroit has partnered with the Wayne County Math and Science Center to foster excitement in math and science among young people in Wayne County.
Friends of the Rouge
Friends of the Rouge promotes the restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River.
Nankin Mills Interpretive Center
The Nankin Mills Interpretive Center is now open to the public and offers cultural, historical and natural science educational programming and exhibits for schools, scout groups and families. Nankin Mills Interpretive Center is located on Hines Drive, just east of Ann Arbor Trail in Westland, Michigan. Wayne County Parks is pleased to open the doors of Nankin Mills Interpretive Center to the public with exciting and informative exhibits for the whole family. Come visit their displays and explore the natural and cultural history of the Rouge River watershed. You will discover which animals still call our area home, and learn how the first people of Michigan lived closely with the land. The Rouge River was an important resource to the first settlers in the area and a gristmill was located here for 100 years. Henry Ford continued to utilize the water power on our site for one of his first Village Industry projects. So much local history to discover! Tour on your own, or call for a guided group tour appointment.
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. The NWF Great Lakes Natural Resource Center regularly works with Wayne county educators, organizations, and the public to provide educational resources on schoolyard habitats, wildlife, climate change, and the Great Lakes.
Orion's Quest
The Wayne County Math and Science Center is very lucky to be affiliated with Orion's Quest. This project provides students with the opportunity to do space research. The project was developed in Wayne County.
Rouge Education Project
The Wayne County Math and Science Center is a proud sponsor of the Friends of the Rouge/Rouge Education Project. Over 100 schools from Wayne and Oakland Counties participate in this water quality project. If you would like to view the data that students have collected on water quality parameters, please click (URL) HERE.
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is interested in partnering with Wayne County schools to do service-learning projects at the Refuge on invasive species removal, trail building and posting refuge signs.
The Greening of Detroit
One of our newest partners is The Greening of Detroit. Their mission is to guide and inspire the growth of a "greener" Detroit through planting and educational programs, environmental leadership, advocacy and by building community capacity.
Cultural Institution
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
A wonderful experience for hands-on science for children is at the Hands-On Museum. Mel Drumm is the Director and a real friend of science education in the area. He can be contacted at: director@aahom.org
Detroit Science Center
The New Detroit Science Center provides wonderful experiences for "kids of all ages."
Cranbrook Institute of Science
The theme of the Cranbrook Institute of Science is "Connecting Us to Our World and the Universe Beyond." Our friend at the Institute is the director, Michael Stafford. He can be contacted at: mstafford@cranbrook.edu
Detroit Zoo--Conservation and Education
The Wayne County Math and Science Center has a very good friend in Kim Sneden at the Detroit Zoo. Kim is in charge of Education at the Zoo. Kim can be contacted at: ksneden@detroitzoo.org
Citizen Science
You can download David Bydlowski's presentation on Citizen Science, by CLICKING HERE . The presentation took place at the MDSTA/DACTM Fall Conference held at Woodhaven High School, on November 8, 2014.
Citizen Science Opportunities
The web offers many exciting opportunities for classes to get involved in REAL science! Here are some great starting points that will get you thinking about how you might incorporate these opportunities into your curricula! (Thanks to Jim Forde from Digital Learning Environments for sharing this information. Please visit his site at: http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/blog_jim_forde/citizen_science_opportunities )
Sci Starter
An easy to use menu for searching for science projects to get involved in utilizing categories like : at home, at night, at the beach etc. You can also select item by science topic. Starting in October 2012 project from this web site are being featured on the NSTA web site. A nice collaboration!
Here is their cool blog
Scientific American Citizen Science project list
An exhaustive list of great projects to consider getting involved in. Dig into this one! I am definitely going to get involved in the seafloor explorer and the baby laughter project!
The Cornell Lab or Ornithology Citizen Science Central
Once again, here is another great resources for connecting with an array of citizen science opportunities! Give one a try! You can even find out about an annual conference for people interested in this topic!
Zooniverse
This site is self described as, "home to the internet's largest, most popular and most successful citizen science projects." The most popular project on this web site is Galaxy Zoo. All of these projects appear to be Space based and will have you analyzing Hubble Telescope images, finding stars from IR image data, exploring the surface of the moon or Sun, or my favorite, searching for evidence of planets around Stars!
NASA: Citizen Science page
It doesn't get much better than NASA if you want to contribute to a science project! Check out the ones they encourage you to participate in. Would you like to be a Martian scientist? Or perhaps study lunar impacts? Here you go!
Journey North
An oldie but a goodie. This is the site that featured the Monarch Watch project and more! Now it tracks various migrations both north and south.
A couple of specific projects to highlight are...
Students' Cloud Observations Online (S'COOL)
The project aims to collect data on cloud type, height, cover, and related conditions from all over the world. Observations are sent to NASA for comparison to similar information obtained from satellite.
Globe at Night
Help contribute to a database collecting information about light pollution. This is an easy one to do!
Citizen Science Projects
As provided by Scientific American
Research often involves teams of scientists collaborating across continents. Now using the power of the Internet, non-specialists are participating too. Citizen Science falls into many categories. A pioneering project was SETI@Home , which has harnessed the idle computing time of millions of participants in the search for extraterrestrial life. citizen scientists also act as volunteer classifiers of heavenly objects, such as in Galaxy Zoo. They make observations of the natural world, as in The Great Sunflower Project. Andy they even solve puzzles to design proteins, such as FoldIt . Scientific American will add projects regularly. All you have to do is CLICK HERE to find hundreds of citizen science projects.
Wayne County Green Schools
Welcome to Wayne County's 11th year of the Michigan Green School program - 2017-2018 school year. Wayne County will again continue to showcase your school’s environmental leadership, while encouraging students, staff, and parents to improve energy conservation and become environmental stewards. Public Act 301 (2010), is the updated and revised P.A. 146 (2006) which encourages all public and private schools to voluntarily implement energy saving and environmental activities and become recognized as a Michigan Green School.
The Wayne County Department of Public Services (DPS) and partner Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA) will again implement this program and recognize schools that achieve 10 or more energy saving and environmental activities in an academic year. The activities are set up in categories: Recycling, Energy Saving, Environmental Protection and Miscellaneous. A fifth category allows you to Propose Your Own Activity. This is an annual recognition, so schools must re-apply each year to remain a Wayne County Michigan Green School. All schools recognized as a Wayne County Michigan Green School will receive a large indoor/outdoor Michigan Green Schools banner and a certificate signed by the County CEO and Wayne RESA Superintendant to proudly display as your school continues to work to reduce energy costs and protect Michigan’s precious natural resources.
Important Information
- You must use the Wayne County Guidelines. Please note that other application forms, including those found on the Michigan Green Schools Foundation website, CANNOT be accepted.
- The school coordinator or team leader must complete the Activity Verification Form, or similar format with proper documentation describing how the school has performed the activities.
- Activity Verification forms should be submitted to Nancy Gregor by March 1, 2018
- Wayne County schools can achieve the following Green School Designations, depending on the number of specified energy saving and environmental activities they complete:
Designation | Number of Points Earned |
Green |
10 - 14 points |
Emerald | 15 - 19 points |
Evergreen | 20 or more points |
Together, Wayne County and You can build Green Schools for a better environment!
For additional information on Wayne County’s Michigan Green School program, please visit https://www.waynecounty.com/doe/wayne-county-green-schools.htm or http://www.resa.net/greenschools
We look forward to working with you for another great and growing Green School year. For more information or assistance, please contact Wayne County Green Schools program coordinators:
Nancy Gregor
Wayne County Department of Public Services
3600 Commerce Court
Wayne, MI 48184
734.326.4607
ngregor@waynecounty.com
Richard Bacolor
Wayne County Mathematics and Science Center at Wayne RESA
33500 Van Born Road
Wayne, MI 48184
734.334.1348
bacolor@resa.net
Guidelines and Activity Form for 2017 - 2018
Please click HERE to apply to become a Wayne County Green School.
What is a Michigan Green School?
- Michigan Green Schools is a non-profit 501(c)3 agency dedicated to assisting all Michigan schools - public and private - achieve environmental goals which include protecting the air, land, water and animals of our state along with world outreach through good ecological practices and the teaching of educational stewardship of students pre-kindergarten through senior high school.
- Michigan Green Schools began as an idea from students and teachers of Hartland Consolidated School District in the fall of 2005. It was determined that the best way to help Michigan achieve environmental goals through its schools was to formulate 20 points of educational environmental activities. It was further decided that if any school in Michigan achieved ten of these points within an academic year, it could achieve official Michigan Green School status.
- Students and teachers then proceeded to propose their bill to local Representative Joe Hune, who introduced the bill in the Michigan House in 2006. Students and teachers testified before the House Natural Resources Committee; it was forwarded to the House floor. Public Act 146 of 2006 was approved by an overwhelming majority of that body.
- State Senator Valde Garcia then sponsored the legislation before the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee, which voted to send the bill to the Senate floor. The Senate voted almost unanimously to approve the measure.
- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed the bill May 21, 2006. In the first year of the program, 18 schools participated. Last year 189 schools became official Michigan Green Schools. This academic year, over 300 schools are participating in the growing program.
CLICK HERE to see a list of Archieved Green School Awards
Resources from the Wayne County Green Schools Workshop, held at the Nankin Mills Nature Center on Wednesday, November 6, 2013
- (PPT) Review of the 2013 Recognition Ceremony, held at Wayne RESA.
- (PPT) "Green" Ideas PowerPoint Provided by our Friends in the Macomb County Green Schools Program.
- (DOC) "Green School" Photos - 1
- (DOC) "Green School" Photos - 2
- (DOC) Activity Ideas
- (XLS) List of Resource Providers
- (URL) Nankin Mills Nature Center, Westland,MI (Host Site)
- (DOC) Meeting Agenda
Resources
- Green Schools Presentation
- (IMG) Official Michigan Green School Logo
If you need to use the official Michigan Green Schools Logo for your newsletters, emails, etc., please feel free to click on the attached link, download it and use it.
- (URL) Michigan Green Schools Website
The following resources are provided by Waste Management, Inc.:
- (URL) Landfill Gas to Energy
- (URL) Single Stream Recycling
- (URL) Secret Life of Landfills: Use the Teachers resource section to select the following:
- Grades - All
- Landfill
- Videos and this link should appear so you can click on it and watch the Secret Life of Landfills video
- (URL) Beneficial Re-Use
- (URL) Wildlife Habitat Certification
- (URL) Wildlife Habitat Council
- (URL) Waste to Energy