United States Science CurriculumUnited States Science CurriculumOverview and then an Attempt to Overview and then an Attempt to

Do Do Two Things Better with GHOUTwo Things Better with GHOU

Carl Pennypacker, GHOU and US HOUCarl Pennypacker, GHOU and US HOU

United States Science United States Science CurriculumCurriculum An Amazing, terrible An Amazing, terrible Mess!Mess!

•• ~10,000 Curriculua, 10,000 ~10,000 Curriculua, 10,000 Standards, •Standards, • 10,000 local 10,000 local assessments, 52 Very •assessments, 52 Very • High High Stakes Testing (State No-child Stakes Testing (State No-child Left Behind, College Boards, a Left Behind, College Boards, a few districts do TIMSS)few districts do TIMSS)•• Very hard to integrate one Very hard to integrate one type of science -- HOU -- into type of science -- HOU -- into this. And it may not be totally this. And it may not be totally in child’s favor, with such a in child’s favor, with such a mess.mess.

Solution 1: Developing A Solution 1: Developing A District Wide One-Week Unit on District Wide One-Week Unit on

Light for Bellevue School Light for Bellevue School District That Uses HOU!District That Uses HOU!

A Brain Storm!A Brain Storm!

Jenifer Perazzo Pleasanton School Jenifer Perazzo Pleasanton School District, Science Specialist/teacher District, Science Specialist/teacher

1st-5th Grade, 1st-5th Grade, LBNL Summer Worker LBNL Summer Worker

Carl Pennypacker, HOUCarl Pennypacker, HOU

Light Unit- the NeedLight Unit- the Need

• We believe that before a student can understand, for We believe that before a student can understand, for example, the phases of the moon, a deeper conceptual example, the phases of the moon, a deeper conceptual understanding of light must evolve in the student.understanding of light must evolve in the student.

• The US National Academy of Sciences study “How PeopleThe US National Academy of Sciences study “How PeopleLearn Learn Science” Science” ((http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10126.html) indicates that children come to school with many rich and valuable preconceptions, based on their experience and reasoning abilities. But pre-conceptions do not have as great a predictive power as we may want.

• Most children emerge from Middle School believing moons phases are due to earth’s eclipse ( Nat. Assesments of Ed. Progress - NAEP)

Light Unit- the Need -- Light Unit- the Need -- continued -- a bigger continued -- a bigger picturepicture• Most United States Science Curriculum is not Most United States Science Curriculum is not

coherent -- not a big theme interconnecting coherent -- not a big theme interconnecting units, units don’t build on each other year to units, units don’t build on each other year to year little technology use or real data use, etc.year little technology use or real data use, etc.

• Try to embed HOU into the whole district innate in Try to embed HOU into the whole district innate in the curriculum, easily.the curriculum, easily.

• Build good pedagogy (as evidenced by many HOU Build good pedagogy (as evidenced by many HOU teachers) into a good recipe that allows teachers teachers) into a good recipe that allows teachers to teach creatively, but the same content in all to teach creatively, but the same content in all classes, and also use best pedagogy (CPU physics classes, and also use best pedagogy (CPU physics template)template)

Overview: Bellevue Washington -- all Overview: Bellevue Washington -- all curriculum on web, teachers teach curriculum on web, teachers teach same units:same units:

Overview: Bellevue Washington -- Overview: Bellevue Washington -- continuedcontinued

•• 8th grade physics (CPU by Goldberg) for 8th grade physics (CPU by Goldberg) for all students, and three years of science in all students, and three years of science in High SchoolHigh School

•• Curriculum coherence and fidelity Curriculum coherence and fidelity biggest driver for improvement of teaching biggest driver for improvement of teaching and learningand learning

•• Teacher subject matter knowledge with Teacher subject matter knowledge with real science courses being implemented.real science courses being implemented.

•• 90 minutes of in-service a week, and 5 90 minutes of in-service a week, and 5 days of inservice each summer.days of inservice each summer.

One week lesson One week lesson overview: Light overview: Light Propagation & Shadows Propagation & Shadows

Pedagogical Template (inspired by CPU Pedagogical Template (inspired by CPU physics)physics)

Solution 2: Squeeze HOU Solution 2: Squeeze HOU Curriculum Down to a 4 6 week Curriculum Down to a 4 6 week 9th Grade Earth Science Course9th Grade Earth Science Course

A Brain Storm (#2)!A Brain Storm (#2)!

Alan Gould and skilled US HOU Alan Gould and skilled US HOU teachers have collapsed HOU teachers have collapsed HOU

curriculum down to good stuff, curriculum down to good stuff, which should be able to be done which should be able to be done

in shorter time.in shorter time. Does not abandon HOU principles, and Does not abandon HOU principles, and is first major entire revision of US is first major entire revision of US

Curriculum.Curriculum.

Quite Exciting. Has Good Potential Quite Exciting. Has Good Potential in Califonia, and George Smoot should in Califonia, and George Smoot should

support.support.