Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
OFFICE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM
POLICIES AND PRACTICES
FOR
ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SY 2008-2009
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
Newark Public Schools
Department of Teaching and Learning
Office of Science Education
POLICIES AND PRACTICES
SY 2008-2009
Elementary and Middle School Science Education
“Each time one prematurely teaches a child something he could have discovered himself, that child is
kept from inventing it and consequently from understanding it completely.”
Piaget
CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION
1. Curriculum Guides should be in the possession of every school administrator, lead science
teacher, and teacher. Additional guides can be secured from the Department of Teaching and
Learning or the Office of Science Education.
2. The scope and sequence of these guides must be adhered to in accordance to the
distribution/delivery of the module schedule. Each lesson has been sequentially developed. It is
critical that all lessons are followed in the order in which they are presented in the teacher guide.
3. Each School Leadership Team receives modules on a scheduled rotation. The schedule is a threetier rotation system. This system can only be changed or modified by the Office of Science
Education.
4. The K-6 science curriculum/modules are transported to each school and remain there for 8-9
weeks. Grades seven and eight modules remain in the schools. There are three modules for grade
7 and two modules and one curriculum extension, Crazy Traits, for grade 8.
5. The Curriculum Guides and Teacher Guides should be used when planning instruction,
assessment, and notebook entries.
6. The guides provide extension resources in Mathematics, Language Arts Literacy, and Technology.
7. The K-8 Science Curriculum is correlated to the American Association for the Advancement of
Science (Project 2061) Atlas of Science Literacy and the Test Specifications for NJ ASK and NJ ASK8.
8. Much of the K-8 Science Curriculum is integrated into the SASSI/ABACUS management system.
ASSESSMENTS
1. All K-8 classes will administer module assessments developed by The Office of Science Education.
Additionally, grades 3 and 6 will administer a midterm exam.
2. A NJ ASK Science Practice Test will be administered to students in grade 4 and 8. Schools are
responsible for administrating the practice tests. The practice tests serves as a diagnostic tools for
instruction and preparation for state tests. The Office of Science Education can provide additional
copies of the tests and answer booklets. The Office of Science will provide the schools with the
information needed to score the tests and record results.
3. All other assessment results are scored at the school and reported by the Lead Science Teacher to
the Office of Science Education for analysis. Rubrics, where appropriate, are provided to assist
teachers with grading. The assessment analysis prepared by the Office of Science Education is
forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for review.
4. Ongoing assessments are embedded in all science module teacher guides and should be used to
monitor student learning and teacher preparation and planning.
5. The staff of the Office of Science Education is available to assist principals and the School
Leadership Teams in site specific data analysis.
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
NOTEBOOKS
Writing is one of the ways that children learn in science…When children explain what they
have seen and why they think this occurs in writing, they are forced to clarify their thoughts
and organize these ideas in a way that others can understand.
Jenny Feely – “Writing in Science”, Science and Language Links
1. Students in grades K-8 are required to maintain science notebooks making daily entries.
2. Notebook writing is viewed as a critical aspect of science teaching and learning. It has the
potential to inform the teaching and assess the learning.
3. The Office of Science Education will conduct random sampling of student notebooks and, when
necessary, provide examples of best practices in notebook maintenance.
4. The recording format for student notebooks is as follows:
(All pages are numbered)
a. Student name and start date
b. Table of Contents
c. Purpose or introduction to unit/lesson/Predictions, where applicable
d. Materials
e. Observation (data collection)
f. Conclusion
g. Line of Learning
h. Glossary
5. Students’ sheets or pictorials may be added to notebooks in grades K-8.
6. The use of science notebooks is encouraged during the administration of district assessments.
INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
In order for students to be afforded an opportunity for a rich and challenging science experience, it is
critical that at least 135 minutes weekly for primary grades and 225 minutes weekly for middle school
grades is provided for science instruction.
HOMEWORK
1. It is district policy to assign science homework regularly.
2. Homework assignments are correlated to daily classroom activities and investigations. These are
identified in the Teacher and Curriculum Guides.
 Home/School Connections
 Science Extensions
 Science Stories
 Inquiry Questions
3. Homework assignments should vary in complexity and depth.
4. Parents and guardians are encouraged to support all learning activities at home.
5. Teachers should review homework assignments with students. This is an
ideal opportunity to informally assess students and to gather diagnostic information to make
decisions about instruction.
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The science program challenges students with a variety of learning styles and gives them opportunities to
apply what they have learned to real-life situations. The process of inquiry is one of open-ended,
interdisciplinary exploration, reflection and connection. All students can learn science and should do so
through the experiences of science inquiry, exploration, application and reflection.
The Office of Science Education sponsors an Annual Science Exhibition in April. Schools hold individual
science fairs and the winners of those fairs exhibit their work at Benjamin Banneker Science Center.
Schools are encouraged to share student portfolios and work products reflecting use of the scientific
method and quality research skills. The Office of Science Education provides the schools with a grading
rubric for the projects. The rubric emphasizes scientific approach, thoroughness, ingenuity and creativity,
and visual presentation.
Benjamin Banneker Science Center provides space/service for the following:
a. school visits
b. materials resource center
c. administrative outreach
d. professional development
e. lending library
f. exhibit center
g. model science laboratory
h. STARLAB
i. teacher support
j. summer institutes
k. visiting professors and graduate assistants
l. university and informal science center partnerships
m. FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics
n. research room for high school students
Some of the partnerships include Montclair State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers
University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Liberty Science Center, Newark Museum, New Jersey
Performance Assessment Alliance, Fairleigh Dickenson University, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Schering
Plough, Novartis and Vision Education.
SERVICES TO SCHOOLS
The Office of Science Education is committed to providing support to students, teachers, and
administrators. Our goal is to improve student achievement through professional development, on-site
support, curriculum implementation, and standards-based instruction and assessment. Replete with a
variety of technological tools to enhance instruction, the office has provided many of the same tools to
district schools.
ONLINE RESOURCES and WEBSITES
The Office of Science Education has compiled a listing of appropriate website addresses and support
services in each curriculum guide to compliment each strand. The office also provides teachers with a
wealth of information and resources on its award winning Science e-Board.
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
STARLAB
The STARLAB compliments the grade 7 Planetary Science module. The classroom teacher must stay with
their students during the entire STARLAB presentation. The teacher is to enter the STARLAB with the
students to assist the presenter.
LEAD SCIENCE TEACHER
Recommendations
The following recommendations should help ensure the effective use of the Lead Science Teacher.
The Lead Science Teacher should:
 Not be used for classroom coverage except in the event of extenuating circumstances.
 Be granted time to attend the first day of any district science initiative along with the classroom
teacher.
 Be granted time and encouraged to attend the New Jersey Science Teachers Convention. The
convention is held annually in the month of October.
 Have the last period of each day as a Service Period to update work, troubleshoot problems, and
respond to the concerns of teachers serviced.
Responsibilities
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Coordinates the collection and distribution of modules and any other science materials on site.
Updates school organization and distribution lists, including bilingual and special needs.
Collects reports required by the Office of Science Education. Examples of reports include mid-term
and final examination compilation sheets.
Works with the classroom teachers in a team teaching situation a minimum of 15 – 18 periods per
week or the equivalent of a half-day of team teaching.
Serves as a mentor and is familiar with all modules in use in the school.
Works with new teachers to aid them in developing a comfort level with the science program.
Serves as a liaison between Benjamin Banneker Science Center, Central Office, and their site.
Attends all grade level meetings at the site.
Supports science initiatives.
Attends periodic meetings at the Benjamin Banneker Science Center.
Submits a copy of schedule to the Office of Science Education each Thursday, indicating name, room
#, and grade level to be serviced.
Oversees the science lab; schedules time for classroom teachers to use the lab; and maintains the lab.
Orders science supplies and equipment for the school site.
Serves as a contact person for Science-to-Go, the module refurbishing company, at the school site.
Stays current with cross discipline approaches and philosophies.
Interacts with respective offices of the Department of Teaching and Learning.
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
High School Science Education
CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION
1. Curriculum Guides have been developed, approved, and distributed to all secondary
schools for Comprehensive Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology,
Environmental Science and Earth Science.
2. Curriculum guides should be in the possession of every school administrator, science
department chairperson, and science teacher. Additional guides can be secured from the
Department of Teaching of Learning or the Office of Science Education.
3. The secondary science curriculum guides have been correlated to the New Jersey Core
Curriculum Content Standards for science.
4. The secondary science curriculum guides provide websites.
ASSESSMENTS
1. The Office of Science Education has developed mid-year and final assessments for the
following courses: Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Assessments consist
of Multiple Choice Questions, Science Skills/Problem Solving, and Open-Ended/Free Response
Essay Questions. Scoring Rubrics have been developed for these assessments. Assessments for
Anatomy and Physiology, and Earth Science are the responsibility of the individual schools.
All examination results are scored at the school site. The science department chairpersons from
each school site will collect and forward assessment data to the High School Science Supervisor for
analysis. The assessment summary is forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent, Department of
Teaching and Learning.
2. An End of Course Biology Practice Test will be administered to all students enrolled in biology.
Schools are responsible for administrating the practice tests. The practice tests serves as a
diagnostic tools for instruction and preparation for state tests. The Office of Science Education can
provide additional copies of the tests and answer booklets. The Office of Science will provide the
schools with the information needed to score the tests and record results.
HOMEWORK
Homework is assigned according to district homework policy.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The Office of Science Education sponsors an Annual Science Exhibition during the month of April. Schools
hold individual science fairs and the winners of those fairs exhibit their work at Benjamin Banneker
Science Center. Schools are encouraged to share student portfolios and work products depicting the
scientific method and research skills. The Office of Science Education provides the schools with a grading
rubric for the projects. The rubric emphasizes scientific approach, thoroughness, ingenuity and creativity,
and visual presentation.
A model science laboratory at the Benjamin Banneker Science Center is available to teachers and students
engaged in independent research. The laboratory can be reserved for use from 8:30am to 4:30pm,
Monday through Friday.
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
SERVICES TO SCHOOLS
The Office of Science Education is committed to providing support to students, teachers, and
administrators through professional development, on-site support, textbook and material support,
curriculum and assessment development.
PARTNERSHIPS
The high school component of the Office of Science Education has established strong links with the
Newark Museum, the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Liberty Science Center , New Jersey Institute
of Technology, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Schering Plough.
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Implementation Guidelines
SY 2008-2009
OFFICE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
BENJAMIN BANNEKER SCIENCE CENTER
WHERE SCIENCE COMES ALIVE
460 LYONS AVENUE
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07112
(973) 705-3983
FAX (973) 705-3125
INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
Joylette Mills-Ransome
Director
(973) 705-3881
Joseph Stanish
Supervisor
(973) 705-3886
Monica Peart
Supervisor
(973) 705-3883
______________________________________
Joanne Alonso
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 705-3884
Robert Bulmer
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 733-7641
Intermodal Transportation
Frances Lasley
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 705-3884
Shafeek Mohammed Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 282-3272
Robotics
V. Monica Pinto
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 733-7624
Aerospace
Andrea Ponn
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 705-3837
Derrick Tandy
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 705-3884
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 705-3884
Mini Jayaprakash
Resource Teacher/Coordinator (973) 705-3837
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