Science At Sunrise

The Science Program at Sunrise is unique. In most other elementary schools in the district, science is taught in the classroom by the classroom teacher.  At Sunrise  we have a Science Lab, and a Science Specialist, who teaches 2 out of the 3 science units that students receive every year.  The unit that the Specialist does not teach is done by the classroom teacher in the classroom. While the students are in the lab, they benefit from having hands-on experience in a lab setting much like one they will experience in Junior and Senior high.  Both their classroom teacher and the Specialist teach together, providing a rich experience for students. The PTA provides funding for the lab, supplies, and the Specialist.

How often are students in the lab?

There are six science sessions this year. Here is the breakdown of lab times by grade level for the 2015/2016 year:

Kindergarten* January through February, 1x a week for 30 minutes
1st Grade Session 2, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 4 weeks
Session 6, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 6 weeks
2nd Grade Session 2, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 4 weeks
Session 6, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 6 weeks
3rd Grade Session 1, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 5 weeks
Session 5, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 5 weeks
4th Grade Session 1, 45 minutes, 4x a week for 6 weeks
Session 5, 45 minutes, 4x a week for 6 weeks
5th Grade** Session 3, 45 minutes, 4x a week for 6 weeks
Session 4, 45 minutes, 4x a week for 6 weeks
6th Grade Session 3, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 6 weeks
Session 4, 45 minutes, 3x a week for 5 weeks

* In the past, Kindergarten has not received science in the lab.
** Fifth Grade will also go to the lab once a week for 30 minutes, about 4-5 weeks before the Science MSP for review.

What curriculum is used?

(information provided by NSD)
Northshore School District provides a Science curriculum for all elementary schools, which includes a comprehensive inventory of FOSS kits. ​FOSS (Full Option Science System)​ ​ provides teachers with a complete science program that includes student discourse, argumentation, writing to learn, and reflective thinking,  as well as teacher use of formative assessment to guide instruction. The FOSS program includes:

  • Complete equipment kits with durable, well-designed materials for all students.
  • Detailed Investigations Guide with science background for the teacher and focus questions to guide instructional practice and student thinking.
  • Multiple strategies for formative assessment at all grade levels.
  • Benchmark assessments (grades 1–6) with online access for administering, coding, and analyzing assessments (grades 3–6).
  • Strategies for use of science notebooks for novice and experienced users.
  • FOSS Science Resources, a book of module-specific readings with strategies for science-centered language development.
  • The FOSS website with interactive multimedia activities for use in school or at home, suggested interdisciplinary-extension activities, and extensive online support for teachers, including teacher prep videos.

For more information about FOSS, go to ​http://tinyurl.com/opmcnde

What Science units are taught?

(Black is by the science specialist in the lab, red is by the classroom teacher in the classroom).
The same units are taught each year to the grade level they have been designated to as established by the Northshore School District.

Kindergarten Paper and Wood / Animals 2 x 2
1st grade Pebbles, Sand, and Silt / New Plants / ​Solids and Liquids
2nd grade Balance and Motion / Air and Weather / ​The Life Cycle of Butterflies (not FOSS)
3rd grade Earth Materials / Structures of Life / ​Physics of Sound
4th grade Water / Ecosystems (not FOSS) / ​Electricity and Magnetism
5th grade Landforms / Levers and Pulleys / ​Variables
6th grade Mixtures and Solutions / Fast Plants (not FOSS) / ​Flight and Rocketry (not FOSS)