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Science
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A foundation in scientific literacy prepares students to be confident and capable lifelong learners who are equipped with the skills needed to access, understand, evaluate and apply information in various contexts. Regardless of their academic standing, all students should have access to a rich and challenging science curriculum that will promote scientific literacy, while inspiring and supporting advanced study and science-related careers. | NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS – Updated 12/1/2012. New national science education standards are being developed in a 2-stage process begun in 2011 and culminating with the March 2013 publication of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
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STAGE 1 was the July 2011 publication by the National Research Council (NRC) of A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas.This influential document describes a vision of K-12 science education in which all students, over multiple years, use the "practices" of science and engineering to deepen their understanding of "core disciplinary ideas" and "crosscutting concepts". The framework identifies the key scientific ideas and practices all students should learn by the end of high school. It proposes a stronger role for technology and engineering in science education. It also places greater emphasis on teaching students not only the content and process skills of science, but also how they apply to real-world issues and technologies. |
To learn more about the NRC framework:
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Order a copy or download a free PDF of the report that presents the framework.
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Download or read the report brief, which gives an overview of the Framework.
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View a video or photos of a July 2011 public briefing held to release the framework.
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Watch this video to learn about the report from Heidi Schweingruber.
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STAGE 2 of new science standards development is the translation of the NRC Framework’s Practices, Core Ideas and Crosscutting Concepts into a set of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Once completed, the NGSS will guide the work of curriculum development, assessment development, teacher training and instructional materials modification. A group of 26 Lead States is guiding the work of a team of 40 standards writers in a process coordinated by Achieve, Inc., a nonprofit education advocacy organization. |
In May 2012, the first draft was released for public feedback. The release of the second and last public draft is scheduled for the first week in January 2013. The draft will be posted at www.nextgenscience.org. All interested parties are encouraged to closely review the draft (as individuals or in groups) and provide feedback to the 26 Lead States and standards writers through Achieve. In response to May 2012 public feedback, over 90% of the standards were revised. The January 2013 draft will include several new features, including a definition of college and career readiness in science.
Information about NGSS development is available at www.nextgenscience.org.
The final edition of the NGSS will be completed in March of 2013. At that time, Connecticut will begin a process to determine whether or not to adopt the NGSS to replace its own science standards. Costs and benefits will be studied over a period of months as the State Board of Education considers the adoption decision. There are no federal deadlines or incentives associated with NGSS adoption.
CSDE CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT PUBLICATIONS
Curriculum
- Position Statement on Science Education-PDF - Adopted by the State Board of Education on September 3, 2008, this document expresses the Board’s views on the importance of science education and provides guidelines for policymakers.
- 2010 PK-8 Science Curriculum Standards and Assessment Expectations PDF [DOC] – Adds specificity to content standards in the 2004 Core Science Curriculum Framework. Includes Grade-Level Concepts (GLCs) that describe what students should know about the main idea in each content standard; Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs) that describe measurable student performances which provide evidence of understanding; and Assessment Expectations that indicate the content and skills selected for summative assessment on Connecticut Mastery Tests or other local assessments.
- 2004 Science Framework-DOC – Science curriculum standards and state assessment expectations for each grade, PK-10, and for advanced courses in Grades 11 and 12.
- 2004 Science Matrix-DOC - Traces the 11 conceptual themes in the Science Framework as they develop across elementary, middle and high school grades.
Instruction
Science Safety
New for 2011! Scientific Inquiry Formative Feedback Rubrics – a resource for assessing student performances in scientific inquiry and providing meaningful feedback to students to promote learning. Elementary and Middle Grades rubrics can be used to assess student work on Connecticut’s Curriculum-Embedded Performance Tasks for Grades 3 to 8, or for any performance task that features the essential components of scientific inquiry.
- Introduction to Scientific Inquiry Formative Feedback Rubrics
- Scientific Inquiry Formative Feedback Rubric: Grades 3-5 [DOC] [PDF]
- Scientific Inquiry Formative Feedback Rubric: Grades 6-8 [DOC] [PDF]
2011 Updates! Curriculum-Embedded Performance Tasks - interdisciplinary, open-ended investigations that promote the development of inquiry processes described in the 2004 Core Science Curriculum Framework. Some questions on the state science assessments (CMT and CAPT) will refer to the contexts of the embedded tasks to assess students’ abilities to use inquiry processes.
Elementary Grades
Grade 3 Embedded Task:
Grade 4 Embedded Task:
Grade 5 Embedded Task:
Middle Grades Grade 6 Embedded Task:
Grade 7 Embedded Task:
Grade 8 Embedded Task:
Assessment
Professional Development and Recognition
- Mathematics and Science Partnership Project (MSP) - MSP Information
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Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching – Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the nation's highest honor for K-12 teachers of mathematics and science. The nomination period is now OPEN for teachers working in Grades 7-12. To learn more about qualifications for this prestigious award, visit www.paemst.org. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2013. However, the application process should be started as early as possible to allow adequate time for videotaping a lesson and fulfilling application requirements. Completed applications are due by May 1, 2013. Nominate a Teacher. Teachers may also register themselves to begin an application at www.paemst.org.
Professional Organizations
Teachers & Administrators
- AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
On-line updates of the 1993 Project 2061 statements of what all students should know or be able to do in science, mathematics, and technology by the end of grades 2, 5, 8, and 12.
- AAAS Science Netlinks
Resources for K-12 science educators, including lesson plans, interactives and reviewed Internet resources linked to national standards.
- Access Excellence
Site for health and bioscience teachers.
- American Institute of Physics
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a not-for-profit membership corporation chartered in New York State in 1931 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics and its application to human welfare.
- American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society promotes the public's perception and understanding of chemistry and the chemical sciences.
- Classroom of the Future
The COTF serves as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) premier research and development program for educational technologies.
- Council of Chief State School Officers
The Council of Chief State School Officers is a nationwide nonprofit organization comprised of public officials who head departments of education in the states. CCSSO publishes a number of documents (e.g., State Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education) of interest to science educators.
- CSSS Safety Brochure [PDF]
Science laboratory safety brochure produced by the Council of State Science Supervisors.
- Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
ENC's mission is to identify effective curriculum resources, create high-quality professional development materials, and disseminate useful information and products to improve K-12 mathematics and science teaching and learning.
- Geological Society of America
Established in 1888, The Geological Society of America provides access to elements that are essential to the professional growth of earth scientists at all levels of expertise and from all sectors: academic, government, business, and industry.
- iCONN Science Reference Center
Database of articles from scientific reference books, magazines, journals, biographies, images and videos. Searchable by topic and readability level.
- iCONN Science Education websites
Links to web sites that offer a wide range of resources related to science curriculum, instruction, assessment, research, open courseware, instructional materials, etc.
- NASA Spacelink
An Aeronautics and Space Resource for Education.
- National Science Education Standards
Criteria by which to judge the quality of what students know and are able to do; the quality of science programs; the quality of science teaching; the quality of the system that supports science teachers and programs; and the quality of assessment practices and policies.
- National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the U.S. Government. NSF's mission is to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; and to secure the national defense.
- National Assessment of Educational Progress ("NAEP") Science Framework 2009
Describes science knowledge/abilities that will be assessed on the national assessment administered to a representative sample of Connecticut students in Gr. 4-8.
- NAEP Questions Tool
A bank of released questions from 1996, 2000 and 2005 administrations of NAEP science assessments for elementary, middle and high school.
- Performance Assessment Links in Science ("PALS")
A resource bank of science performance assessment tasks indexed via the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and various other standards frameworks.
- Presidential Awards Home Page
Information about the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
- Science Education Safety - Key Issues in School Laboratory Safety
- Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ("TIMSS")
A bank of released questions from 1995, 1999 and 2003 administrations of TIMSS science and math assessments for elementary and middle grades.
- U.S. Department of Education
Information about and from the U.S. Department of education for educators, policy makers, parents, students, researchers, and other citizens.
- USGS - Education
The Learning Web, a portion of the U.S. Geological Survey to, a portion of the USGS web sit dedicated to K-12 education, exploration, and life-long learning.
Parents & Community
- Connecticut Science Center
Families and individuals alike will find entertainment and educational value in hands-on, engaging, and exciting exhibits and programs that emphasize current science and science you can use every day.
- U.S. Department of Education
Information for parents about No Child Left Behind, helping your child with science, homework help, supplemental services and school/district data.
Students
- National Youth Science Camp is an intense residential science education program for young scientists the summer after they graduate from high school.
Elizabeth Buttner, Consultant
E-mail: elizabeth.buttner@ct.govPhone: (860) 713-6849
Major Responsibilities:
PreK-8 Science
Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant Program
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science (PAEMST)
Connecticut Mastery Test
Content Last Modified on 4/9/2013 11:50:45 AM
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