BSCS | Curriculum Development

Curriculum Development > Middle School 6-8 > Comprehensive Programs > Inquiry 8

BSCS Seeks Teacher Collaborators for Research Project Funded by the US Dept. of Education
Project Goal is to Improve Learning in Science for All Students

Application

Teacher-collaborators will field test a standards- and inquiry-based unit (4-5 chapters) for eighth grade from a multidisciplinary science program currently under development. Teacher and student feedback will play a key role in informing the revision of the materials. Field test teachers will choose one major content area (Life Science, Earth/Space Science, Physical Science, or Science and Society) and will teach a unit on that content area to their students between November 2009 and March 2010.

BSCS is developing this program with the best approaches to student learning in mind. These approaches are based on current research in learning and teaching for conceptual understanding and include literacy strategies, sense-making strategies, and a constructivist approach to teaching/learning science. Each unit addresses standards that closely align with state and national standards for eighth grade science. The following concepts are addressed in each unit:

Physical Science

Energy has many forms; it is not created or used up
Heat is transferred in predictable ways and is involved in most energy transformations
Light is a form of energy and interacts with matter in various ways
Electrical energy is produced by and can transform into other forms of energy

Life Science

Populations are shaped by the things individuals need (including energy) and other living things
Energy transformations shape patterns and relationships in ecosystems
Energy stored by living systems is used in human societies
Understanding the role of energy in living systems helps societies make environmental decisions

Earth/Space Science

Planetary systems have objects (stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets) whose motion is controlled by the force of gravity
Energy flows and changes within and among Earth systems
Radiant energy moves from the Sun to the Earth and back to space
Energy is transferred from the tropics to the poles and back out to space, causing climate and weather patterns on Earth
Energy is transferred and converted from Earth systems to humans for use as electricity and to power cars, houses, etc., then is transferred back out to space

Science and Society

Understanding health requires knowledge of energy and systems
Humans require energy to function
Energy balance relates to human health
The systems of the body respond to exercise
The body does not function correctly when systems are disrupted

Units in all disciplines address key standards in critical analysis, scientific thinking, and the history and nature of science. Each unit will ultimately be part of the multidisciplinary curriculum BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach, Grade 8.

BSCS will select collaboration sites and teachers using a variety of criteria to ensure a diverse group of field test teachers and students, including geographic location, student diversity, and the teacher's professional experience. Field test teachers will attend a two-day orientation 6-7 November 2009, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. BSCS will provide travel, lodging, and meals for the field test orientation. In addition, BSCS will provide field test teachers with a $700 stipend: $350 after the orientation, and $350 after receipt of evaluation materials. BSCS is unable to provide funds for substitute teachers. After completing orientation, teachers will field test the 4-5 chapter unit in their classrooms. Each chapter is scheduled to last approximately two weeks on a traditional (50-55 minute) schedule. The field test process involves:

administering pre- and post-tests
teaching all chapters of the unit to the same class or group of students
having BSCS writers visit classrooms during the field test to see how the materials are performing
providing BSCS writers with artifacts of student work
answering questions about each activity in an online survey

Field testing will begin the second week of November 2009, and will continue through the end of March 2010 or until you complete the unit. Selected field test teachers for the 2009-2010 will be invited to consider field testing the revised materials in the 2010-2011 school year. BSCS will provide additional support for the implementation of the revised materials.

Submit your application by 15 June 2009 to be given priority status and receive a free gift bag. Final application deadline is 25 September 2009.

Sue Kowalski
Science Educator, Field Test Coordinator
719.219.4148
skowalski@bscs.org

Betty Stennett
Science Educator, Field Test Coordinator
806.998.5029
bstennett@bscs.org