This Curriculum Is Designed to Assist Teachers, Sujoervisors and Administrators Procedures, Setting up Activities, and Locating
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 022 708 SE 005 323 By Taylor, Paul H.; And Others SCIENCE GRADES K-6. North Carolina State Dept. of Pubiic Instruction, Raleigh. Pub Date Mar 68 Note 203p. EDRS Price MF-$1.00 HC-$820 Descriptors-CONCEPTUAL SCHEMES, *CURRICULUM, *CURRICULUM GUIDES, *ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCIENCE, SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, *TEACHING GUIDES, TEACHING PROCEDURES, TEACHING TECHNIQUES This curriculum is designed to assist teachers, sujoervisors and administrators develop effective elementary school science programs. The phases of planning at the local level are given in terms of defining objectives, developing a scope of instructional topics, establishing a sequence of topics, developing teaching units, devising evaluation procedures, setting up activities, and locating information. Some 445 activities are outlined which relate to major content areas and a series of appendices gives useful practical hints for teachers. (GR) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVEDFROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORiGINATING IT.POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOY NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. , If I ua tt--44 Vt, 1.3. MEV 4111111110. -1416-1* u NNW/ SCIE.... GRADES K-6 STATE DEPARTMENT OFPUBLICINSTRUCTION RALEIGH, N. C. PUBLICATION NO. 410 FOREWORD There is widespread interest in the elementary schools of North Cal'..:a in de :l- oping improved science programs for grades K-6. This cornmndable interest is reflected in the numerous requests for assistance and guidance received by the Department of Public Instruction. This bulletin is designed to meet part of the needs expressed in those requests. The contents of this bulletin represent the combined efforts of scores of scientists and hundreds of educators throughout North Carolina. In September, 1966, several possible approaches were presented to interested and knowledgeable persons in the State. When their responses were received, an advisory com- mittee was formed in November, 1966, to draw together the ideas 'which had been sub- mitted and to make further recommendations. Serving on this committee were Miss Jessie Baxter, University of North Carolina at Greensboro ;Professor William E. Fulcher, Guilford College ;Mrs. Dorothy Zimmerman, Yanceyville ; Mrs. Georgia G. Thayer and H. L. Forbes, High Point; Miss Millie Moore, Rocky Mount; Carl O. Foster, Greensboro; Mrs. Mary L. Gilmer; Charlotte, Mrs. Allene B. Poe, East Spencer ; Mrs. Ura Jones, Shaw University; Mrs. Pauline Longest, Methodist College; and Dr. Kent Robin- son, Appalachian State University. After an approach and format had been decided upon, the writing was begun. Dr. Paul W. Welliver deserves special recognition for his contributions to the actual writing. Leadership in developing the bulletin was provided by members of the Science Edu- cation Section of the Department of Public Instmcb.on: Paul H. Taylor, State Science Supervisor ; John M. Goode, David L. Mallette and Dr. Welliver, Associate State Science Supervisors in Science Education. To insure the appropriateness and readability of the contents of this Bulletin, sev- eral hundred elementary school teachers from throughout the State reviewed, edited, and reacted to portions of it. This valuable assistance was coordinated with the aid of James E. Jackman, who supervised the editing and layout with the assistance of Mrs. Cynthia K. Bullock and Mrs. Lynne Hartshorn; Mrs. Patricia Bowers provided the art and layout design; and Miss Mary Lou Smith supervised the assembling and typing of the manuscript. This elementary school science curriculum bulletin was developed and printed with financial assistance provided under the Nati onal Defense Education Act, Title III and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title V. March 1968 Charles F. Carroll State Superintendent of Public Instruction What should be the nature of a sciencecurriculum bulletin for the elementaryschools of North Carolina? This question was pondered by scientistsand educators from throughoutNorth Car- olina in planning this publication Thesuggestions put forth in answer to thequestion were numerous andvaried. jome persons have expressed adesire to have a curriculum bulletinpresenting a course of study to befollowed by al of the schools of theState. Others would designit to serve as a supplement to theState-adopted bas& science textbookseries. Still others consider the development of sciencecurriculum tc be the responsibilityof local schools and therefore the State guide should beonly a topical outline emphasizing scopeand articulation. The idea is also held thatwhatever form the bulletin takes itshould be adaptable for use with new content and newapproaches in elementary schoolscience. Recognizing this broad divergence of viewsand the merit that attendseach of them, this bulletin has been designed to beof optimum assistance insatisfying all of the requiri ments which might be made of it. Thepossible approaches to its use are many. For some, it can be viewed as containingthe elements of a science curriculumwhich may be assembled into acomplete, sequential instructional program.For others, it pro- vides the working materials for adetailed instructional guide incorporatingoriginal approaches that are unique in design andrelevant to a particular school orschool ad- ministrative unit. How should this guide be used ? This depends uponthe type of assistance that might be desired in developing an elementaryschool science program. Teachers, principals,and supervisors might begin by readingcarefully the suggestions offered in thesection, "How to Use This Science Bulletin."Hopefully this will open many doors topossibili- ties for assisting children in learningscience and making it a stimulatingand rewarding experience. NILE F. HUNT Director Division of General Education CONTENTS How to Use This Science Bulletin vi i Objectives 1 Scope 5 Sequence 11 Units 14 Activities 24 Index to Science Activities 25 I. Introduction to Science 26 II. Living Things 30 III.Matter and Energy 58 IV.Earth and Space 132 Appendices A.Useful Techniques for Teaching Elementary School Science 166 B. Safety in Science Teaching 178 C. Equipment for Science Instruction 181 D. Illustrations of Commonly Used Science Equipment 188 E. Evaluation of Elementary School Science Instruction 193 F. Professional References in Elementary School ScienceEducation 194 vi HOW TO USE THIS SCIENCEBULLETIN This curriculum bulletin for elementary schoolscience has been designed to assist teach- ers, supervisors, andadministrators in developing effective instructional programsin sci- ence. To accomplish thismajor objective,itoffers suggestions which should help in the principal phases of program planning: Defining objectives Developing a scope of instructional topics Establishing a sequence of topics Developing teaching units Devising evaluation procedures Setting up activities Locating information it sets forth sample objectives to be usedin developing a significant list of behavioral objectives ; outlines several procedures for developing a scopefor the program; offers assist- ance in arranging a meaningful sequence,in developing comprehensive units of study and a bruad and varied set of practices for evaluating the progressof children in their study and understanding of science as well as the effectivenessof the instructional program; and pro- vides a wealth of information, activities, and resourcesfor enriching the elementary school science program. The purpose of this curriculum bulletin is to assist eachschool and school administrative unit in developing a coordinated program in elementaryschool science which is suitable to its own needs and resources.The following steps are suggested as aframework in which to work : 1. Read the Preface of this bulletincarefully to become acquainted with its purpose, approach, and underlyingphilosophy. 2. Contact the Supervisor of ScienceEducation, State Department of Public Instruction, Raleigh, 27602, for assIstance inpreparing a science curriculum development project. The ScienceEducat:on Sec- tion of the Department has developed materialswhich, along with this bulletin, are designed to assist a supervisor orprincipal in work- ing with a group of teachers on the development of ascience instruc- tional program. 3.Decide on the size of the group which will be wokkingtogether on this curriculum project. The minimum size of the groupshould be the faculty of one school. However, the facultiesof several schools, of an entire school administrative unit, or of severaladministrative units may want to work together. An effort should bemade to involve local kindergarten teachers in the project. 4.Gather all available resources to providebackground and assistance in developing a course of study for grades K-6. 5. Prepare, with the guidance of this curriculumbulletin and other availthle resources, the objectives, scope, and sequenceto be used in the schools involved in the study. These maybe strongly influenced vii by a previously developed local course of study, the basal science textbook series, the suggestions given in thi;.; bulletin, one of the new nationally developed elementary school science curricula, or some other source. Any school wishing to set up its program around one of the new, na- tionally developed science curriculum projects may contact the State Supervisor of Science Education for assistance. The Department of Public Instruction strongly supports the wiseuse of these programs. 6. When the objectives,