Embedded Files
Domain 2 – Curriculum
Samples of Lake Hills’ grade level STEM integrated curriculum plans are inserted in Culture 1.11 to provide evidence that all students in the grade level participate in an integrated STEM Curriculum
The following evidence-based STEM curriculum is used at Lake Hills:
Project Lead the Way In 2013—2014 Lake Hills was one of the 44 elementary schools in the nation to be selected to pilot Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Launch! This STEM program helps students implement the Engineering Design Process. Our STEM Coordinator was provided with professional development to help the staff implement the program at Lake Hills. Grade level teams received training on-line and then decided which module they would implement in their classrooms. All teachers in grades K-5 teach their grade specific module during the year and have a good understanding of the program. The staff uses assessments from PLTW to monitor student’s learning and adjust curriculum as needed.
Engineering is Elementary Students learn how to build, take things apart, and discover how things work. This program is used during STEM After School Clubs and to supplement PLTW modules. A complete set of kits is available on-site. Our staff uses these units to help integrate literacy and social studies into their curriculum.
Code.org is used by all grade levels at Lake Hills. Our school has become a leader in the district in implementing this program and other computer science/coding programs. Participation in the Week of Code each year brings awareness to our families and the community. All K-6 students develop computer science skills each day throughindividualized lessons, partner work, and teacher created lessons.
Pearson Science was adopted by the district as the core Science program. Grade level teams decide which lessons/units to use from this program, based on their curricular needs, after examining their grade-level standards. Assessments from Pearson are used to identify and address gaps in learning.
We are using the Depth of Knowledge (DOK) questioning techniques with our students for a deeper understanding of the curriculum. Students use science notebooks to help them make their thinking visible. Our staff received professional development through ISI on using student notebooks and these notebooks are also used for assessment purposes. Each K-6 teacher has been provided with a copy of the new Employability skills. After reviewing these skills we found we were already incorporating them across the curriculum. Teachers are planning to list them into their integrated STEM curriculum plans. Posters are displayed in common areas to help bring awareness of the importance of these skills to the future workforce.
General Education and Student Support Teachers work collaboratively to provide equitable STEM curriculum for all. All students are provided with Chromebooks and/or iPads. This makes the STEM curriculum more accessible and provides accommodations to learners with disabilities. General Education and Student Support Teachers work together to execute successful STEM nights and study trips by aligning activities to grade level standards and work together to provide any necessary support(s) for students with disabilities. They differentiate instruction to support all learners. The staff’s vision is to promote deeper learning in all areas of the curriculum by integrating STEM into all subject areas.
2.1 Curriculum Integration
2.1 Curriculum Integration
Evidence based curriculum used at Lake Hills includes: Project Lead the Way, Engineering is Elementary, Pearson Science, and Code.org. The programs we use have been carefully analyzed to determine which IN grade level standards are covered and which are missing. Our staff makes every effort to collaborate with their grade level teams and with cross-grade level teams to maintain vertical alignment of the curriculum. Our goal is to integrate all subjects throughout the day to ensure that we are meeting the requirements of the state standards. As we begin each school year we make sure that we are intentional in pulling apart each standard and making sure it is taught/reviewed through our designated science topics. Our STEM curriculum is always a work in progress, making sure we are incorporating all of the new state and district initiatives.
We are using the Depth of Knowledge (DOK) questioning techniques with our students for a deeper understanding of the curriculum. Students use science notebooks to help them make their thinking visible. These notebooks are also used for assessment purposes. Our vision is to promote deeper learning in all areas of the curriculum by integrating STEM into all subject areas.
PLTW 2.1.pptx2.2 Computer Science
2.2 Computer Science
Lake Hills has been a district leader in implementing computer science standards. Grade level curriculum maps indicate specific skills taught at each grade level. The LaPorte County Library provides our staff with online training for STEAM curriculum kits they loan to us. All teachers use code.org.
Annually we participate in the Week of Code (two newspaper articles are provided in 2.2 evidence). The STEM Coordinator and three students attended a Rotary club meeting to help bring awareness to community members about the importance of computer science and shared examples from classrooms at Lake Hills (this slide show is also in 2.2 evidence).
An after school Coding club and LEGO Robotics club extends students learning in the area of computer science.
Computer Science 2.2.pptx2.3 Employability Skills
2.3 Employability Skills
Teachers have been provided with copies of the employability standards for their grade level band. Employability skills posters are displayed in common areas to help bring awareness of the importance of these skills to visitors, staff, and students. Grade levels are working to list these standards in their integrated curriculum plans.
We have always asked community experts that we encounter during study trips/speaking engagements to share how these skills are needed in their jobs (we didn't call them employability skills; rather we asked how they used STEM in their jobs, what education or skills were needed for their jobs, character skills they used, etc)
Grades 4 and 5 are piloting a social-emotional program called "Second Steps". Each week a lesson on empathy, respect, listening with attention, accepting differsences, etc. are taughht and practiced. This three year rollout will include all grades K-6 and is taught by classroom teachers.
2.3 Employability Skills Career Day (K-6).pptxAdditional Documentation
2.3 Employability Skills Integration into the Curriculum.docxAdditional Documentation
grams infor stem recert.docx2.3 Employability Skills Third Grade (sample).pptxAdditional Documentation
2.3 Employability Skills Sixth Grade (sample).pptxAdditional Documentation
2.3 Kindergarten Employability skills.pptxAdditional Documentation
2.4 Equity
2.4 Equity
Lake Hills' instructional design is rooted in the MCAS district priorities and perspectives—high quality data-driven instruction, career preparation, viable program choices, focusing on the achievement gap.
General Education and Student Support teachers work collaboratively to provide equitable STEM curriculum for all students at Lake Hills.
Equity work at the district level: MCAS has formed a DEI committee this year that has participated in professional learning on Implicit Bias with community trainers. In addition, the team is attending “Leading for Equity” with the National Equity Project staff. This year all district staff have had the opportunity to attend training on Cultural Responsiveness in the Classroom and topics around Social Emotional Learning.
2.5 Assessments
2.5 Assessments
Classroom teachers create assessments based on the STEM topics they have taught and also use assessments from Pearson Science. Student notebooking, based on the ISI model, is used for assessment and to inform instructional practices. Students use science notebooks as tools to help them make their thinking visible to members of their group.
Project Lead the Way has assessments within each module. Some of these are informal, others are more in-depth.
IReady Math and Reading tests are administered three times a year in grades K-6. Teachers use Instructional Resources to provide practice for students and to create formative assessments.
mClass is used for grades K-2 to monitor student progress in reading and math to make instructional decisions.
IRead and ISTEP+ are administered in the spring.
2.5 Assesments1 (1).pdfReport abuse