Salmon, Cedar, Canoe; Stewards of the Ecosystem

Nisqually Cultural Center Longhouse 

Salmon, Cedar, Canoe; Stewards of the Ecosystem 

The Salmon, Cedar, Canoe; Stewards of the Ecosystem is the Fourth Grade STEM Field study that all NTPS students will participate in as part of their core Science instruction.  This STEM Field Study is an equitable, integrated, career-connected, locally relevant, field based learning opportunity that aligns                                                                          to NGSS Phenomena based                                                                                             and three- dimensional learning.                                           

Squaxin Island Museum

Students attending the Salmon, Cedar, Canoe; Stewards of the Ecosystem STEM Field Study will visit one of two locations depending on the school they are enrolled in.

 

Evergreen Forest, Lydia Hawk, Meadows, Olympic View, Seven Oaks, Woodland, Ignite, and Summit will visit the Nisqually Cultural Center. 

Chambers Prairie, Horizons, Lacey, Lakes, Mt. View, Pleasant Glade, and South Bay will visit the Squaxin Island Museum and Medicine wheel. 

 During this STEM Field Study, students will:

• Engage deeply with materials in order to generate understanding of how plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior and reproduction.  

And/or

• Use a model to describe how animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain and respond to that information in different ways.  

All NTPS STEM Field Studies have cross curricular connections that are integrated into the pre and post classroom lessons and have Science grading connections embedded throughout these lessons.  The SEL, ELA, Math, and SS cross curricular connections can be used for additional data points for grading as needed.  

Materials to support instruction and the day in the field have been developed and are linked below.

Nisqually Cultural Center- Link to teacher guide

Squaxin Island and Medicine Wheel- Link to teacher guide 

All-Things Science

 

 All- Things Science! 

Interactive Slide-Deck 

A comprehensive slide deck has been created for teachers.  This slide deck provides amazing resources around ordering/ purchasing science materials, science integration, grading science, STEM field studies, research on Why Science, and more.  Consider bookmarking this resource for future reference.

Shopping list: this list is intended to guide OPs in making purchases that are requested by teachers. Your building should come up with an internal process and timeline for teachers to request purchases.  More information on science materials, please see pages 11-13 of the Elementary Science update slide deck linked below.  

Elementary Science Update - Link 

Shopping list- Link 

 

BBS Curriculum Assessment Points

NTPS SEP Grading Matrix 

Grading SEPs Matrix

With the move to the updated 3D version of Building Blocks of Science (BBS), the grading points have changed.  As I continue to update this document, I will add priority, additional and optional grading points.  At this time, all SEPs (even ones that are "not best fits") have been listed.  Watch for more updates to come. 

4th Grade BBS Curriculum Assessment Points - Link 

2021 and beyond Grading Matrix

Fourth Grade Grading resources:

The Grading Matrix is a quick, one page document that has all of your grading resources in one place.  On this document you will find:

•  Fourth Grade scope and sequence
  
• Grading Curriculum alignment
• SEP Rubric
• Link to the data collection documents and the gradebook
• Report card inserts  

Grading Matrix- Link

SEP Data Collection Resource

Looking for a way to collect data for the SEPs?  

For each of the 3 data collection options described below, remember to make your own copy and save it in your Google Drive.  From there, you can download and/or print what you need. 

The Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) are used in NTPS for science grades.  For additional resources on grading, check out the Elementary Science Blog quick links (report card insert, grading, science and engineering practices, science practices grading rubric).    

Option A: Option A is divided into the individual Science and Engineering Practices. On each of the 8 SEP pages, a rubric and brief description of the practice is provided.  

Option B: This option can be downloaded and printed for the whole class or teams of students (4 students per group).  Option B shows all 8 SEPs,which are identified based on the color; Green = priority SEP, Yellow= additional SEP option.  This document is by lesson/scope.    

Option C: Option C lists the lesson/ scope and the SEPs listed for each lesson. A final report card page is available for this option.  

Data collection resource option A- Link 

Data collection resources option B- Link

Data collection resources option C- Link

NTPS Science Practices Grading Rubric

"Both, And, Or" - Science Grading Rubric 

NTPS Science Practices Grading Rubric  

The science grading rubric defines levels of student expectations for  each of the 8 SEPs.  A video definition for each SEP is provided as an additional resource. Paying close attention to words like both, and,  or will be especially important when assigning levels for the report card.  For example, "students create models focused on predicting or explaining the natural world" means students either predict or explain, not both.  "Students read and evaluate text to obtain scientific information" means to be proficient they must do both.  Little words carry big meaning. 

Science Practices Grading- Link

Science Practice Diagram- Link  

Science Report Card Insert for Families

Report Card Insert 

This resource should be added to your semester report cards.  The one page, two sided document, will provide families with a definition as well as a visual representation for each of the 8 SEPs being assessed Kindergarten through fifth grade. A written description of what proficient students KNOW and DO, along with specific grade level examples that align with our current curriculum are provided.  

This document was created in order to help define the terms used on the report card.  Much like the math Report Card Semester insert, this document is intended to provide families with information that builds understanding of the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) being grading in NTPS.  

Report Card Insert- Link 

Report Card Insert