Science Curriculum Review
April 27, 2010
Committee Members
Dr. Margot Bram
Mr. Kevin Maginn
Dr. Barbara Breitman
Ms. Robin McNemar
Ms. Kim Buchinsky
Ms. Pat Pasquine
Ms. Jen Dilks
Ms. Susan Powidski
Dr. Mark Elfont
Ms. Maryann Romano
Ms. Sue Friedman
Ms. Susan Kelley
Ms. Barbara Gastfriend
Mr. Michael Peters
Dr. Peter Grande
Dr. Maryjane Richmond
Ms. Gerry Guiliano
Ms. Britt Saitta
Mr. Chris Hamburg
Ms. Nancy Swerdlow
Dr. Jeanette Hausman
Mr. Anthony Tamaccio
Dr. Marilyn Lake-DellAngelo
Ms. Erin Thoryk
Mr. Kevin Swillo
Format of the Committee
Site Visits
 Needs Assessments
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Parent Survey
 Teacher Survey
 Student Survey
 Curriculum Analysis
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Research
Site Visit Overview
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Unionville-Chadds Ford, Lower Merion,
& Upper Merion
Scheduling
Process
Groupings and Tracking
Technology
PSSA
Curriculum and Materials
Facilities
Survey Overview
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Inquiry –based program
Improvement in lab facilities
Better technology
More 21st century skills
Instill life-long love of science and inspire
interest in science research competitions
Parents expressed a positive opinion of our
science teachers
Time for preparation of inquiry-based lab
activities
Curriculum Analysis
Our current curriculum meets & exceeds
the state standards
 We need to arrange the sequence of
topics to better align with the state anchors
to better prepare our students for the
PSSA
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Research
Reviewed current goals and mission
 Studied national recommendations from
NSTA
 Noted research findings from experts in
their field
 Reviewed curriculum of similar schools
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Goal of Our Science Program
To prepare scientifically literate students
with the 21st century skills necessary to be
ready to compete and engage intelligently
in this ever-changing world.
 Video - Did you know
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To Achieve This Goal Our
Program…
Must be dynamic rather than static
 Teach students to be life-long learners
 Foster inquiry and critical thinking skills
 Relate science to everyday experiences
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Elements Critical to Achieving Our
Goal
Curriculum
 Technology
 Equipment
 Facilities
 Staff Development
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Curriculum
Align to and exceed the state standards
 Achieve greater understanding of the big
ideas of science for all students
 Articulation within and between grades
 Effective use of the Internet and other
technologies
 Continue to prepare our students for the
demands of college and life after Lower
Moreland
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Technology
Increase use of computers and technology
in science classes
 Effective use of interfacing equipment for
experiments
 Effective use of on-line textbooks and
virtual investigations
 Incorporate emerging technologies
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Equipment/Facilities
Renovation to the Murray Avenue Labs
 Additional Lab at the High School
 Interfacing equipment for Murray Avenue
 Dedicated science lab room(s) at Pine
Road
 Updated STC kits for Pine Road
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Staff Development
Curriculum writing
 Changes in instructional practices as we
focus on big ideas and essential questions
 New technologies, curriculum, and
materials
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Program Recommendations
Pine Road (K-5)
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Current content supports state standards
but materials are dated
Purchase upgrade toolkits for all STC kits
(K-5) & Harcourt texts (4-5)
Purchase assessment packages
Purchase of Human Bodies Works Kit for
grade 3
Program Recommendations
Murray Avenue (6-8)
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Adoption of Holt Science
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Units are organized by big ideas and essential
questions to align with the state standards
On-line texts with virtual labs
Audio book for ipod
Differentiated activities
Assessments include PSSA type questions
STC Kits
Program Recommendations
Murray Avenue (6-8) - continued
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Upgraded 6th grade Microscopes
Digital microscope for the 6th grade
“Vernier” Sensors and Probe ware
3 carts of 24 net books
• One cart for each grade
Program Recommendations
Grade 6
Holt: Microorganism, Fungi, and Plants
 STC: Micro worlds (refurbished supplies
currently being used by 6th grade)
 Holt: Cells and Heredity
 Holt: Sound and Light
 STC: Ecosystems
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Program Recommendations
Grade 7
Holt: Intro to Science
 Holt: Environmental Sci.
 Holt: Intro to Matter
 Holt: Interactions in Matter
 STC: Matter
 Holt: Weather and Climate
 STC: Catastrophic Events
 Holt: Water on Earth
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Program Recommendations
Grade 8
Holt: Forces, Motion, and Energy
 STC: Energy, Machines, and Motion
 Holt: Electricity and Magnetism
 STC: Electrical Energy and Circuit Design
 Holt: Astronomy
 Holt: Inside the Restless Earth
 Holt: Earth’s Changing Surface
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Program Recommendations
High School (9-12)
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Maintain current curriculum sequence
Freshman Chemistry & Physics
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Physics
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Continued revision of Biology to incorporate
Ecology standards
 Add semester electives
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Two-Year Adoption
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2010-2011
Freshman Chemistry & Physics
 Biology
 Forensics
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2012-2013
Chemistry
 Physics
 A.P. & Electives
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Freshman
Chemistry & Physics
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Conceptual Physical Science
by Hewitt © 2010 for all levels
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On-line interactive text & virtual labs
Effective use of technology
Excellent visual representations and explanation of
concepts
Best fit with our curriculum
Video demonstrations at www.physics.com
Biology (Grade 10)
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Biology by Miller & Levine © 2010 for Honors & College
Prep Biology
Biology Foundations by Miller & Levine
© 2010 for Biology
 On-line interactive text and virtual labs
 Units organized by big ideas
 Untamed Science–Internet component
were each chapter begins with a mystery
with the style of Myth Busters
 Aligned well with PSSA
Forensics
(Elective)

Forensic Science: An Introduction 2nd
Edition by Saferstein © 2011
On-line interactive text
 Virtual interactive crime scene analysis
 Texted designed for a High School course
 Each Chapter begins with a real-life case
 Engaging case studies
 Excellent resource for students during their
lab investigations
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Budget Implications
Pine Road $45,231
 Murray Avenue $71,800
 High School $47,178
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Total $164,210
Thank you!
Special thanks to our Science Lead
Teachers: Dr. Jeanette Hausman, Mrs.
Susan Kelley and Mr. Chris Hamburg for
their Leadership and to our Board
Members: Dr. Barbara Breitman and Dr.
Mark Elfont for their ongoing support and
commitment and to the entire committee
for their time and contributions.
-Dr. Maryjane Richmond