SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES
AND COMMON CORE
TODAY’S OBJECTIVES
• Introduce parents to the new Literacy standards and help
them understand what to look for and how to help their
children at home.
• Inform parents about what AUSD is doing to transition to
the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) with Science
and Social Studies.
4 C’S + T OF 21ST CENTURY
LEARNING & INNOVATION SKILLS
• Creativity
• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Technology Literacy
A Closer Look: Science/Social Studies Literacy
Shifts
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•
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•
•
Knowledge in the
Disciplines
Staircase of
Complexity
Text-based Answers
Writing from Sources
Academic Vocabulary
Literacy in SCIENCE
Shift #1: Knowledge in the Discipline
What is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is a food-making process that occurs in
green plants. It is the chief function of leaves. The word photosynthesis means
putting together with light. Green plants use energy from light to combine
carbon dioxide and water to make sugar and other chemical compounds.
How is the light used in photosynthesis?
The light used in photosynthesis is absorbed by a green pigment called
chlorophyll. Each food-making cell in a plant leaf contains chlorophyll in
small bodies called chloroplasts. In chloroplast, light energy causes water
drawn form the soil to split into hydrogen and oxygen.
What are the steps of photosynthesis process? Let me tell you the process of
photosynthesis, in a series of complicated steps, the hydrogen combines
with carbon dioxide from the air, forming a simple sugar.
Oxygen from the water molecules is given off in the process……..
SHIFT #2: STAIRCASE OF
COMPLEXITY
uses light
Plant
uses light
Make
food
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
SHIFT #3: TEXT-BASED ANSWERS
What Students need to do with the text:
• Understand vocabulary in science
• Read closely
• Understand the concepts introduced: photosynthesis and
why photosynthesis happens
SHIFT #4: WRITING FROM SOURCES
• What will students do:
• Students will write a paragraph that
explains photosynthesis and describes
each step. They may also explain why
plants need photosynthesis to survive.
• How will they do it:
• They will use their textbook, articles and
the internet to write this paragraph.
SHIFT #5: ACADEMIC VOCABULARY
• Students will read from different texts and develop
knowledge of academic content specific vocabulary.
• Science vocabulary:
• Photosynthesis, carbon dioxide, pigment, chlorophyll,
oxygen
Common Core Social Studies
Listen to a friend.
NEW ASSESSMENTS
• Developed by Smarter Balanced Assessment
Consortium (SBAC)
• Grade 11 in ELA aligned to CCSS
• The ELA SBAC will have science and social science
topics for students to read and respond in writing
Performance Task
Example: Students will read a
student lab write-up and write
the conclusion for the lab.
SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT
CONSORTIUM (SBAC) ITEM TYPES
• selected-response items (SR)
• constructed-response item (CR)
• extended-response item (ER)
• technology-enhanced item (TE)
• performance task (PT)
Go to www.ausd.us and click on Sample SBAC
Pilot Test to take a practice test.
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO HELP
STUDENTS SUCCEED?
• Stay involved, informed and engaged.
• There are many ways to help:
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•
•
•
•
Read with your children.
Review and discuss their homework.
Communicate with their teachers.
Attend meetings to learn more.
Learn about the standards and how they affect your child’s
education and school.
• Look through your child’s backpack each afternoon.
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD IN
LITERACY?
• Ask your child specific questions about what they read.
• Encourage children to read, then write and speak about
nonfiction text such as their biology text, history text and
articles.
• Encourage children to research topics of interest and
read series that relate to a central topic.
• Have your child follow step by step instructions or a set
of directions in order to accomplish a task, such as
installing new software or operating a game.
ONLINE RESOURCES
• http://www.corestandards.org
• http://www.commoncoreworks.org
• http://www.pta.org