Science in Cobb County

Myths, Misconceptions, & The TruthMyths, Misconceptions, & The Truth

1. Students in grades K-2 should be learning curriculum outlined in the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) and

not GPS.

• K-2 students should be taught K-2 students should be taught using the new GPS for science. using the new GPS for science. Course guides, unit outlines, and Course guides, unit outlines, and lessons on PICASSO are all GPS lessons on PICASSO are all GPS based, not QCC.based, not QCC.

False

2. CCSD is implementing Science GPS in grades 3-5 in the 2006-2007 school year and grades K-2 during

the 2007-2008 school year.

• CCSD is implementing K-5 GPS CCSD is implementing K-5 GPS Science this school year, 2006-Science this school year, 2006-2007. 2007.

False

3. Students in grades 1-5 will be asked to complete a science section

on this year’s CRCT.

• Students in grades 3-5 will be Students in grades 3-5 will be completing a science section on the completing a science section on the CRCT. CRCT.

• There are no plans, that we know of, to There are no plans, that we know of, to add a science section for 1add a science section for 1stst or 2 or 2ndnd grades.grades.

False

4. Students will have to make a certain score on the science

portion of the CRCT, in order for schools to make AYP for the 2006-

2007 school year.

• AYP will not be based on science AYP will not be based on science CRCT scores for the 2006-2007 CRCT scores for the 2006-2007 school year.school year.

False

5. The science and social studies departments will be

doing a program evaluation this year.

• Advanced Learning (ALP), Science, Advanced Learning (ALP), Science, and Social Studies will all be and Social Studies will all be completing a program evaluation completing a program evaluation this year.this year.

True

6. Students, Parents, Teachers, and Administrators in grades K-12 will be asked to complete a survey

about the Science, SS, and ALP programs.

• Teachers and administrators will be Teachers and administrators will be asked to complete an on-line survey.asked to complete an on-line survey.

• Parents and students (grades 3-12) Parents and students (grades 3-12) will given a paper and pencil survey.will given a paper and pencil survey.

True

7. The new science GPS has two different types of standards,

content standards and characteristics of science

standards.• The The content standardscontent standards tell teachers tell teachers

whatwhat to teach. to teach.

• The The characteristics of science standardscharacteristics of science standards tell tell

teachers teachers howhow to teach. to teach.

True

8. It is important to teach specific lessons on science

process skills.

• Whenever possible it is best to Whenever possible it is best to teach process skills embedded into teach process skills embedded into content. For example: Integrate a content. For example: Integrate a lesson on how to use a magnifying lesson on how to use a magnifying glass into a lesson on types of soil. glass into a lesson on types of soil.

False

9. Links to the elementary science BLOG can be found on PICASSO under each science course guide

on PICASSO.• www.cicobb.typepad.com/es/www.cicobb.typepad.com/es/ is the address for is the address for

the BLOG.the BLOG.• You can click under any science course guide You can click under any science course guide

to access the BLOG.to access the BLOG.• You can also access the BLOG from the You can also access the BLOG from the

instructional resources tab.instructional resources tab.

True

10. A teacher demonstration of a science concept is just as

powerful as having students do a hands-on experiment.

• There is no substitute for allowing There is no substitute for allowing students to actually experience students to actually experience science. Student hands-on is the science. Student hands-on is the best way to help students learn a best way to help students learn a new concept.new concept.

False

• Currently only Currently only trainedtrained teachers in grades teachers in grades 4, 6, 8, and HS Astronomy can reserve the 4, 6, 8, and HS Astronomy can reserve the Starlab.Starlab.

• We have five working Starlabs for 103 We have five working Starlabs for 103 schools. We are doing to best we can to schools. We are doing to best we can to ensure that we accommodate all schools ensure that we accommodate all schools wanting to schedule the Starlab.wanting to schedule the Starlab.

11. Teachers in any grade can reserve the Starlab mobile

planetarium to use with their students. False

• Science consumable funds can be used to Science consumable funds can be used to purchase hands-on science consumable purchase hands-on science consumable items only.items only.

• Office supplies, vertebrate animals*, and Office supplies, vertebrate animals*, and bulletin board kits can not be purchased.bulletin board kits can not be purchased.

12. Science consumable funds can be used to buy resource books and bulletin board kits

from the School Box. False

• Amy Krause is the Mathematics Amy Krause is the Mathematics Supervisor.Supervisor.

• Jan Hollis is the new Language Arts Jan Hollis is the new Language Arts Supervisor.Supervisor.

• Contact any of them or any of the literacy Contact any of them or any of the literacy coaches or math facilitators if you have coaches or math facilitators if you have curriculum questions. curriculum questions.

13. JoAnn Wood is the new Social Studies Supervisor and Sally

Creel is the Science Supervisor. True

• These resources are in your buildings. These resources are in your buildings. We want you to be aware that you have We want you to be aware that you have them.them.

• We hope to purchase even more GPS We hope to purchase even more GPS support materials this year.support materials this year.

14. CCSD has purchased AIMS resource books, electricity kits,

simple machine kits, and magnet kits for each elementary school in

the district. True

• This is no longer a 1This is no longer a 1stst grade standard. grade standard. • Life cycles have moved to 2Life cycles have moved to 2ndnd grade. grade.

(Standard S2L1)(Standard S2L1)• All 2All 2ndnd grade classrooms will be getting grade classrooms will be getting

butterfly garden kits in March. butterfly garden kits in March.

15. CCSD has purchased butterfly garden kits to be used

in all first grade classrooms. False

• CCSD teachers worked collaboratively to CCSD teachers worked collaboratively to create the course guides on PICASSO, create the course guides on PICASSO, based on the new Georgia Performance based on the new Georgia Performance Standards.Standards.

• Our Harcourt textbooks are a curriculum Our Harcourt textbooks are a curriculum resource, not our curriculum.resource, not our curriculum.

16. The science course guides located on PICASSO were based

on the Harcourt science textbooks. False

• The 2006-2007 course guides will be The 2006-2007 course guides will be revised over the summer.revised over the summer.

• Teachers should continue to send their Teachers should continue to send their comments, ideas, concerns, and general comments, ideas, concerns, and general feedback regarding the course guides to feedback regarding the course guides to Sally Creel. Sally Creel.

17. There are plans to revise the science course guides on

PICASSO over the summer.True

18. During the 2nd 9 weeks, students in 4th grade will be learning about water and

weather. False

• Having a “Refection Relay” with your Having a “Refection Relay” with your students is an excellent performance students is an excellent performance based method. Students must use the based method. Students must use the reflective properties of light to successfully reflective properties of light to successfully ‘hit’ the target.‘hit’ the target.

19. One way to teach 4th grade GPS standards on light is to

encourage students to investigate the properties of

light by redirecting a beam of light using mirrors.

True

• Check out the BLOG for all kinds of cool resources and information.

• Workshop information and details are also posted on the BLOG.

20. The simple sound experiments Marlee Tierce shared and the sound PP from D. Eicher

can be downloaded from the Elementary Science BLOG.

True