Science Lab Status

Initial Research

• Sat down with Mr. E to discuss his vision– Remember this is K-5 Science– Learning initial concepts– Build a passion for Science

• Contacted others looking for possible volunteers to support– Possible leads on College volunteers

• Visited Ashley Falls

Take away from Visit

• Room needs to have a Science “Feel”– Display tables on walls to have “science stuff” out and

viewable at all times– Equip Lab with lab tables and stools instead of desks

and chairs so that it is distinct from a normal classroom

• Independent science lab is important– Allows for setup of lessons before students arrive– Students go to “the lab” making it a special place for

hands on science

What the Teachers Want

• Some teachers enjoy teaching science and feel they do not need to pass it off to somebody else; Setup a system that can work for all teachers

• Teachers want a credentialed Science Teacher– Talked about teacher training, but like Ashley Falls

teachers really want a teacher to run the lab and free them up for other prep

• The science topics should be coordinated with the ongoing lessons in each grade

Teacher Input: Primary K-3 Needs

• General support for an independent science lab and science teacher to support the teachers in these grades

• Consensus that science was something that tended to get pushed off when time was limiting

• Time required to put together hands on projects was a hurdle

• A weekly science class would be welcome.

Teacher Input: Grades 4 & 5

• Needs are different in grades 4 and 5• Grades 4 and 5 have state testing, the teachers believe

they have an effective system where the teachers rotate science topics and directly address the California standards

• Less interest in having an external science teacher; however, a science teacher and lab could benefit the teachers by helping them improve and expand their current science lessons

• Through discussions with these teachers, specific topics could be identified where the science lab/teacher could help to supplement the science curriculum or go deeper into specific topics.

Keep Costs Down

• Ashley Falls– While Del Mar has a nice system, it costs

$800 per student (just the part the foundation supports)

– Some parents question the cost/benefit payoff

• We can use an impact Teacher as opposed to a full time teacher (~$100/day or $17,000/year)

Updated Concept

http://www.powayusd.com/pusdtbes/ScienceLab2.htm

Concept Overview

Curriculum

• There is existing curriculum from the State of CA that is currently taught

• Testing is done at the 4th and 5th grade levels (we have average scores)

• Physical Science– 5th grade content: 81% proficient– 4th grade content: 70% proficient

• Life Science – 5th grade content: 73% proficient– 4th grade content: 76% proficient

• Earth Science– 5th grade content: 77% proficient– 4th grade content: 69% proficient

• We need to start with general science to set a stronger base and to improve overall understanding

Vision

• Focus on general science– Need to build a base for the K-3 students– Build a passion for science– General scientific method and discovery– 4th and 5th grades have existing focus for

state testing• Need to enhance the base before the students

reach 4th and 5th grade• Need to enforce general science concepts to

support the current 4th and 5th grade teaching

Equipment / Room Needs

• Have a lot of existing science materials and equipment that probably has not been used– Lab will allow enhanced use

• Have room setup and teacher costs to address– Tables and Stools– Credentialed Teacher– Posters / Paint / etc

Student Tables• Ashley Falls tables

– 36”W x 40”L x 30”H – Seat 2 stools on each side

• Discussion/ Decision: What size tables?

– Can not find same dimensions as Ashley Falls

– 24” is not wide enough to have kids on both sides

– Use 36”W x 48”L x 30”H– Probably Lab tables vs activity

tables to give the science feel

36”W x 48”L x 30”H Approx $520 shipped

36”W x 48”L x 30”H Approx $250 shipped

http://www.hertzfurniture.com/Science-Lab-Tables--Steel-Frame-Science-Bio-Tables--297--pr.html

42”W x 72”L x 30”H Approx $407 shipped 3 stools on each side

Student Stools• Ashley Falls stools

– 18” fixed height

• Discussion/ Decision: Believe 18” fixed height stools, solid seat are best

18” fixed height $45.99 + Shipping

18” fixed height $53.95 (21 or more) + Shipping

18” fixed height $26.99 + Shipping (~$61.36) = ~$88.35

Adjustable 18” to 24” height $46.99 + Shipping

http://www.bizchair.com

Side Tables

• Discussion/ Decision– Can buy 24” side tables

– Could build for significantly less 24” x 48” x 30”

$319.99 + ~$113.27 shipping = ~$433.26

24” x 60” x 30”

$369.99 + ~$113.99 shipping = ~$483.98

Home Made Table

26” x 50” x 30”

Less than $50.00Build with pre-fab counter tops approx $25/lin foot

Other Items

• Promethean board - ~ $1500• Clickers ~ $1,500 (TBS)• Science posters and paint ~ $1000• Additional Supplies

– A lot of resources are already in the class – see inventory– Resources that are currently spread between individual

classes should be brought together. – FOSS kits – from the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of

California at Berkeley ($400-800 per kit) http://www.fossweb.com/

– Steve Spangler Kits.  www.stevespanglerscience.com – Low/No cost options: http://

www.treasuresforteachers.org/workshops.html

Science Teacher• Critical part of plan is finding a qualified teacher to implement the

vision. – We need to initiate the process ASAP with the goal of having a teacher

start soon enough to plan lessons, coordinate with teachers, and obtain needed resources to start teaching in early 2010.   

• The California State Standards for each grade are very clearly defined, but they leave a wide range of options for meeting the standards.– The specific curriculum and lessons would be selected and developed by

the teacher in coordination with the classroom teachers.– The selected teacher should be encouraged to use resources from the

community to assist in lesson development and teaching (local college student volunteers, biotech companies, etc). 

• We should have teacher/PTA/Foundation representatives participate in the curriculum development and gathering needed resources (gathering science supplies from classrooms, donated supplies from local biotech, etc) to support the teacher.

Measuring Success

• Standardized Testing Data– There is significant room for improvement in the

science proficiency of Tierra Bonita students.– As a comparison – Ashley Falls in Del Mar that has a

science program and reaches >90% proficiency.– We should track changes in the standardized testing

to determine if the new science program is having a positive effect.

– Realistically it will take 2 years to determine if there is a significant effect on testing scores.

– After two years the program should be evaluated and adjusted as needed.

Next steps

• Goal: Have science lab running by January 2010.– Depending on the experience and background of the teacher, it

is likely that the science curricula will have to be developed and phased in over the first two years.  One way to do this would be to focus on one of the three science areas the first year (for example Earth Science), then add the others in subsequent years.  How this is done should be guided by the new science teacher.

• To accomplish goal, we have to make progress in four key areas:– The Lab.  The classroom needs to be transformed into a

science lab. – Resources.  The science lab needs to have funding to obtain

supplies. – Teacher.  We need to hire a science teacher. – Funding.  We need to define a budget and obtain funding.

Budget Summary

Year 1 BudgetTeacher (start Jan) $9,000

Tables – 6 @$307 each

$1,842

Side Tables/counters 100ft x $25/lin ft

$2,500

Stools – 40 @$60 each

$2,400

Promethean Board $1,500

Clickers $1,500 (TBS)

Paint & Posters $1,000

FOSS Kits – 4 @ $800 each

$3,200

TOTAL $22,942

Year 2 Budget

Teacher $17,000

FOSS Kits – 4 @ $800 each

$3,200

General Supplies $1,000

Total $21,200

PTA Summary

Funding Year 1 1. Science Lab Set Up $5,370 2. Science Lab Supplies $11,700 *probably a high estimate 3. Teacher (starting Jan.) $9,000 TOTAL: $26,070 Year 2 1. Science Lab Supplies $10,000 *probably a high estimate 2. Teacher (full year) $17,000 TOTAL: $27,000

Need to work with Brett to resolve differences, but same ball park figures