These are the elements of effective education that KSDE is prioritizing in our work and in the school improvement model. Throughout this year we will focus on how these fundamentals align with what happens in our science classrooms across the state.
Screener/Diagnostics
There is not a science-specific screener. We recommend using math and reading screeners to identify students who may need additional support in science.
Pre-Assessment - Classroom based assessment
Ongoing Formative Assessment - informal & formal - Classroom based assessment
KAP - mini-test items (3rd-12th grades)
Mini-test items can be used in many ways and can be integrated into your classroom based assessments!
Unit Summative Assessment - Classroom based assessment
KAP - Interims (5th and 8th grade, Fall and Winter)
KAP - Grade Band Summative Assessment (5th, 8th, 11th grade)
The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) develops and supports the state summative assessment, the interim assessments in the fall and winter, and the mini-test item bank.
Interim Blueprint (shows the standards alignment for fall and winter)
KAP Interim Administration Guide
KAP mini-test items currently available (10/15/24) - access items on KITE Educator Portal
Mini-test items will become available throughout the year!
When new items are available they will be announced on Kite Educator Portal, update on the KAP website, and an updated list will be shared in the monthly newsletter.
There are many different ways to pre-assess students' prior knowledge for a new topic/unit. One of my favorite ways is to use modeling to get a snapshot of each student's initial thinking on a topic.
Recommended Related Reading: Beyond “misconceptions”: How to recognize and build on Facets of student thinking (STEM teaching tools #37)
These example are from a pre-assessment for MS-LS2-1 and MS-LS2-4.
Pre-Assessment data was gathered using this checklist:
The model is used to predict and/or describe the phenomena
The model to shows the relationships among components
Living components (oil palm trees, orangutans, rats, snakes, tigers, and pigs)
Needs for food, water, air, habitat, or shelter
Shows an changes in populations (palm trees increase, orangutans decrease)
A cause and effect relationship between to show a population increasing (palm trees) or decreasing (orangutans) due to human activity (buying/manufacturing candy/building farms
Standards-Alignment has clearly defined student learning expectations aligned to Kansas State Standards and supported with evidence-based instruction and materials .
Recommended Bundles for scope and sequence:
Coming soon! Standards Alignment Toolkits!
Quality Instruction refers to implementation of evidence-based lesson design that reflects high expectations, meaningful student engagement, and learning activities aligned to the Kansas State Standards. A data-driven system of differentiated supports is necessary to help each student meet rigorous state standards.
2023 Science Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool
A Balanced Assessment System refers to a collection of varying types of assessments that provide feedback regarding instruction and student learning. It utilizes assessment as a measure for learning and of learning.
KAP
State Summative
Interims (Fall and Winter)
Mini-test item bank - Access on Kite Educator Portal
Classroom Based Assessments
Pre-assessment
Formative
informal
formal
Unit and/or Course summative
Structured Literacy refers to the explicit, systematic, diagnostic, and cumulative approach to teaching literacy that acknowledges the value of both word recognition and oral and written language comprehension as evidenced in all grades and disciplines.
Some ways we can collaborate...
Assessment Data Talks
Quality Instructional materials conversations
Co-planning for professional development
Facilitating professional development
Supporting implementation of storyline routines
Analyzing for standards alignment
Science PLC support
Let’s connect and collaborate!
KSDE Science Collaboration
Click through on the map to see where and how KSDE science is collaborating with schools and school systems across the state!
Virtual Collaboration and Support Options
Help us better connect with your district!
We want to improve our communication and collaboration with your district! Help us out by filling out the SHORT form with contact information for the science lead in your district. Each district has a unique structure so this could be a science coordinator, a science instructional coach, a science lead teacher, a curriculum leader, etc. LINK HERE
2024 KSDE Science Safety Guidance
2024 KSDE Science Constructive Coaching Tool (observations/walkthrough tool)
2025 Kansas KidWind Informational Webinar
Event Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 04:00 PM
Are you interested in learning more about the 2025 KidWind Challenges in Kansas? Our upcoming webinar will provide an overview of the logistics and rules, what to expect at the events, who is eligible to participate, how to prepare your students for the challenge, and what's new for 2025. We will also allow time for questions. The event will be recorded if you're unable to attend, so please register regardless! We will send a follow-up email to all registrants with a link to the recording and slideshow.
Register for the webinar: https://kansasenergyprogram.org/events/2025-kansas-kidwind-informational-webinar
SeedMoney Challenge
Applications are open for the SeedMoney Challenge, a 30-day crowdgranting competition open to public food garden projects of nonprofit groups, including schools. No previous online fundraising experience is needed. The SeedMoney Challenge can help your project raise the funds it needs to flourish. Participating projects receive 100% (i.e., 0% fees) of what they raise, whether they reach their funding goal or not. In addition to the funds they raise, projects compete for 432 grants ranging from $100 to $1,000. The more a project raises, the larger the grant it qualifies to receive. Apply by November 12.
On November 15, all funding campaigns whose applications were submitted on time and fit the criteria will go live. On December 15, the 30-day challenge period ends. Your campaign will be able to keep whatever it has raised even if it hasn’t managed to reach its funding goal.
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
Through this program, preK–12 formal and informal educators and college/university instructors can join National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists aboard an ocean research vessel as a member of the science team. Teachers have sailed on NOAA surveys monitoring our nation’s fisheries, measuring physical and chemical ocean trends, and charting unknown regions of the seafloor. Participants return to their classrooms with firsthand accounts of what it’s like to live and work at sea, illustrated by photos, blogs, and lesson plans. Past Teachers at Sea have taught math, literature, history, social studies, art, and music in addition to science.
Interested educators can preview the application starting on November 1. Applications will be due on December 2.
Summer Project Ice Professional Learning Course
The American Meteorological Society invites applications from K–12 teachers to participate in its summer 2025 Project Ice teacher professional development course, offered as part of the National Science Foundation/Oregon State University (OSU)-led Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX). Teachers will be selected competitively from across the country, with a focus on those educating underserved students. Participants will engage in a graduate-level, multi-week hybrid course in paleoclimatology and ice core science that includes a workshop at OSU in Corvallis, Oregon, where they will engage with COLDEX scientists and visit the OSU ice core lab and Marine Geology Repository.
Some support for travel, lodging, meals, and tuition will be provided for about 24 selected teachers. The course’s online portion will take place May 27–June 21, 2025, with the on-site residence experience scheduled for June 22–28. For program information and to apply, visit https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/education-careers/education-program/k-12-teachers/project-ice/how-to-apply/. The application deadline is November 8. For more information, contact Project Ice staff at amsedu_workshops@ametsoc.org.
OpenSciEd Elementary Units Released
https://www.openscied.org/curriculum/elementary-school/
K - Sun Energy
1 - Light Waves
2 - Earth's Land & Changing Shape
3 - Forces & Interactions
4 - Collisions & Energy Transfer
5 - Ecosystems & Matter Cycling
Green Schools Campaign
Green Schools Campaign, a program of The Climate Reality Project (a nonprofit organization involved in education and advocacy related to climate change), is a youth-led, intergenerational campaign bringing together community members of all ages. The Green Schools Campaign is developing the leadership and grassroots organizing of young people to spearhead initiatives to transition their schools and communities to 100% clean energy. Currently, Green Schools Campaign is working with students ages 13 and older, as well as teachers who wish to provide support.
Teams of students and teachers in local school districts who are interested in running electrification/clean energy campaigns are welcome, as are those looking for general support and training on doing climate advocacy at their schools. As part of the campaign, members will have access to specialized advocacy skill-building workshops and small-group campaign team coaching from Climate Reality staff. Register on the Green Schools Campaign website. For answers to specific questions, e-mail youthprograms@climatereality.com.
Planting Science
PlantingScience is a Student-Teacher-Scientist partnership founded in 2005 by the Botanical Society of America. This no-cost program facilitates mentoring relationships with real plant scientists and teams of three to five students in grades 6–12 classrooms. Through asynchronous online conversations, the scientists provide support and encouragement as students design and carry out a plant-focused scientific investigation in the classroom. Teachers will receive free materials that will provide the content information needed, along with support from the participating scientists.
The next session will run from February to April 2025. Your class can start their projects anytime during the session, as long as they can finish their projects before the session ends. Earlybird applications are due by December 15; the final deadline is January 15, 2025.
