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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10136/120
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| Title: | An Integrated Physical Science Curriculum |
| Authors: | Nyquist, Laurel |
| Keywords: | New Mexico state science standards
Rio Rancho public schools
Eighth grade science curriculum
Chemistry
Physics
Life Science
Earth Science |
| Issue Date: | 9-Jun-2008 |
| Abstract: | The New Mexico state science standards for eighth graders are an excellent and complete set of documents. They provide eighth grade students with a thorough guide for science education for that grade level. However, when a teacher is planning lessons based on the state standards, the benchmarks can be confusing and overwhelming to analyze. It is difficult to identify those standards which are essential for the students to fully understand, so that they will have the necessary skills to be successful in high school. A teacher can cover all of the standards in a given semester or year, but in attempting to cover all topics the subjects may merely be glossed over. The students, in that case, will not acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, because the subject was not covered in depth.
The need to help eighth grade teachers design their lessons around the essential standards was the motivation to create this manual. Working in collaboration with Rio Rancho public schools and a team of eighth grade teachers, the power standards or crucial standards were identified and categorized. A curriculum map was then created to help teachers plan their instructional year and maintain alignment of content with other teachers in the building. We organized a syllabus utilizing the curriculum map, and the department approved the eighth grade science text book. Short cycle assessments were then created and aligned to the standards. The assessments were agreed upon by the Rio Rancho Mid High School eighth grade science staff. These assessments provide evidence of student mastery of the power standards. In addition, a guide was written for teachers to utilize the power standards, curriculum map, and short cycle assessments. The final part of the manual consists of laboratory activities and other hands-on assignments that teachers can use to help motivate student learning. There is great potential for the use of this manual to help teachers drive student success and knowledge of the eighth grade science standards. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10136/120 |
| Appears in Collections: | Master of Science for Teachers
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Files in This Item:
| File |
Description |
Size | Format |
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| I S Intro. Body. Conclusion. Cites. Manual Combined v3.pdf | Independent Study Body, Conclusions and Citations | 56Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open | | 8th Syllabus and Short Cycles combined 9 07.pdf | 8th Grade Syllabus and Short Cycles Combined | 84Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open | | 8th Grade Science RRPS PS and curriculum map combined 9 07.pdf | 8th Grade Science RRPS PS and curriculum map combined | 212Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open | | Laurel Nyquist Independent Studyt.pdf | Independent Study | 13Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open | | Class Demographics Comparision.pdf | Class Demographics Comparison | 2820Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open | | Laurel Nyquist Abstract.pdf | Abstract | 9Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open | | Laurel Nyquist Abstract and table of contents I.S. v3.pdf | Abstract and Table of Contents | 15Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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