MS FOSS Kit Rotation & Logistics

The OUSD K-8 science program centers around the FOSS curriculum, a research-based program from the Lawrence Hall of Science.  FOSS kits are provided to all elementary and middle school sites on a rotational basis each year. Live organisms and consumable materials will also be fully supplied. Below for details and resources related to the program. 

By centralizing the FOSS materials system, OUSD ensures that every classroom has the materials they need every trimester, every year for hands on science.

Plus, this system saves the district about $200,000 per year in replacement material costs.

SMART Center Intern Video 2019 - final.mov

FOSS Rotation - By the Numbers


Over 10,000 human hours every year to keep the system going!

*Sites are responsible for maintaining and replacing all print materials (teacher guides, student books), except in cases where new classes are added. Sites may be charged for lost boxes or for missing or damaged materials beyond regular wear and tear--based on 10+ years of data on regular FOSS kit use.

FOSS Kits & Salesforce

Salesforce COMPUTER For STLs

How STLs logging into Salesforce

Assigning FOSS to Teachers Instructions

STLs assiging kits to teachers in Salesforce

Assigning FOSS Kits.mp4
Salesforce COMPUTER For Teachers

How teachers log into Salesforce

Items Request Form Instructions

Requesting missing or damaged materials

FOSS Inventory Sheets

Below are a list of materials found in each kit. Once you receive your kit, inventory your materials. If materials are missing, request materials using Salesforce. 

6th Grade

Weather and Water.pdf

Weather and Water

Diversity of Life.pdf

Diversity of Life

Middle School Live Organisms

Diversity of Life's Live Organisms

Human Systems Interactions.pdf

Human Systems and Interactions

7th Grade

Chemical Interactions.pdf

Chemical Interactions

Earth History.pdf

Earth History

Populations and Ecosystems.pdf

Populations and Ecosystems

7th Grade Live Organisms for Populations and Ecosystems

Populations and Ecosystems' Live Organisms

8th Grade

Heredity and Adaptation.pdf

Heredity and Adaptation

Electromagnetic Force.pdf

Electromagnetic Force

Gravity and Kinetic Energy.pdf

Gravity and Kinetic Energy

Waves.pdf

Waves

Planetary Science.pdf

Planetary Science

Requesting Missing or Broken Items

We know that when kids do hands-on science, consumable items get used up and sometimes materials get lost or broken. That's why OUSD is committed to replacing missing, broken, or used-up materials at no cost* to sites.

Inventory the kit within two weeks of your FOSS Rotation date. Anything missing afterwards will be the responsibility of your school. To request replacements for missing or broken items:

Replacement items will be sent to your school site within 7 working days. 

Please contact us or your Lead Science Teacher if there are any problems or questions.

Preparing for FOSS Rotation 

TK- 8 Science Teachers work alongside their site's Science Teacher Leader (STL) for site-level logistics for FOSS rotation, including making sure kits are packed and ready for FOSS rotation, assigning boxes to teachers, and electronically ordering missing materials after rotation. We're all in this together! 

Please place the kits in the designated location as it shown below the day before pick up. Thank you!

Fall Pick up in November before Thanksgiving

Winter Pick up in March before Spring Break

End of Year Pick up in May & June

Exit Tickets Surveys

To better support students and teachers across the district, please let us know what investigations you were able to complete. The surveys are below.