Watershed Explorers STEM Field Study

 

Watershed Explorers STEM Field Study: 

Each fall fifth graders in NTPS engage in the STEM Field Study, Watershed Explorers.  This STEM field study is designed to support teachers with lesson plans and activities as well as an outdoor STEM Field Study, which serves to reinforce skills  taught in the classroom and provides a rich and special learning opportunity for ALL students.  

The teacher guide contains the pre and post trip lessons, chaperone support pages, grading opportunities that align to the SEPs (Science and Engineering Practices, which are graded in NTPS), picture vocabulary cards and a tips and tricks page.  

Teacher Guide- Link 

Student Field Journal- Link

STEM Alignment- Link 

Science Door "poster"- Link 

Using senses for observation K-5th grade- Link 

Communicating in Scientific Ways

Looking for great sentences starters for encouraging students to engaging in argument from evidence (SEP7) AND obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information (SEP8)?   This two page document is a great resource for helping students communicate and ways to figure things out.  

Suggestions for use:

1) Print out a set for groups, while students are evaluating peers, encourage them to use the sentence starters in "How we communicate" as questions, notices, and wonders.

2) As students move through a scope or kit, encourage them to use the symbol as a note taking strategy.  Is there something they have a questions about, or do they need to remember to give evidence and do not want to forget?  

3) As the instructor, use the sentence starters as a way to model good questions, or wonders.  "Are you saying _________"  or "That idea makes sense to me because....."  

Do you have a suggestion for ways that this resource can be used, feel free to leave a comment below.  

Communication in Science- Link 

BBS Curriculum Assessment Points

NTPS SEP Grading Matrix 

Grading SEPs Matrix

With the move to the updated 3D version of Building Blocks of Science (BBS), the grading points have changed.  As I continue to update this document, I will add priority, additional and optional grading points.  At this time, all SEPs (even ones that are "not best fits") have been listed.  Watch for more updates to come.  

Please note: to view this document, use the link below.  If you "click" on the image it will not open the document, instead, it will enlarge the image, which is not the complete document.  

 5th Grade BBS Curriculum Assessment Points- Link 

2021 and beyond Grading matrix

Fifth Grade Grading resources:

The Grading matrix is a quick, one page document that has all of your grading resources in one place. On this document you will find:

• Fifth grade scope and sequence

• Grading curriculum alignment

• SEP rubric

• Link to the data collection documents and the gradebook

• Report card inserts

Grading Matrix- Link

SEP Data Collection Resource

Looking for a way to collect data for the SEPs?  

For each of the 3 data collection options described below, remember to make your own copy and save it in your Google Drive.  From there, you can download and/or print what you need. 

The Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) are used in NTPS for science grades.  For additional resources on grading, check out the Elementary Science Blog quick links (report card insert, grading, science and engineering practices, science practices grading rubric).    

Option A: Option A is divided into the individual Science and Engineering Practices. On each of the 8 SEP pages, a rubric and brief description of the practice is provided.  

Option B: This option can be downloaded and printed for the whole class or teams of students (4 students per group).  Option B shows all 8 SEPs,which are identified based on the color; Green = priority SEP, Yellow= additional SEP option.  This document is by lesson/scope.    

Option C: Option C lists the lesson/ scope and the SEPs listed for each lesson. A final report card page is available for this option.  

Data collection resource option A- Link 

Data collection resources option B- Link

Data collection resources option C- Link

NTPS Science Practices Grading Rubric

"Both, And, Or" - Science Grading Rubric 

NTPS Science Practices Grading Rubric  

The science grading rubric defines levels of student expectations for  each of the 8 SEPs.  A video definition for each SEP is provided as an additional resource. Paying close attention to words like both, and,  or will be especially important when assigning levels for the report card.  For example, "students create models focused on predicting or explaining the natural world" means students either predict or explain, not both.  "Students read and evaluate text to obtain scientific information" means to be proficient they must do both.  Little words carry big meaning. 

Science Practices Grading- Link

Science Practice Diagram- Link  

NGSS 3-Dimensional Planning Cards

SEP Planning Cards

Looking for a quick teacher reference cards for grading science?  These 6 x 4 printable cards are a helpful references for the 8 SEPs (Science and Engineering Practices) found on the report card.  With a description of what student performance looks like and a great visual for quick reference, these cards are perfect for building understanding of the SEPs.   

SEP Cards - link