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Instructional Review

Science Goal Setting

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Agenda

New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS) Update
Elementary, Middle, and High School Subject Area Reviews

Curriculum
Standards-Based Instruction
Assessment

Science Department Aspirations

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1.

NYSSLS Update

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2.

Elementary Science

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NYS Standards- Aligned Units of Study	Kindergarten	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5
	Scientific Inquiry Properties of Matter Water Exploration Mammals Plants & Seeds	Scientific Inquiry Universe Force Plants & Animals	Scientific Inquiry Exploring Trees States of Matter Mammals Plant Anatomy Ecology	Scientific Inquiry Electricity Universe Birds Insects	Scientific Inquiry Measurement Density & Buoyancy Design Technology* Living Environment* (Plants/Animals)	Scientific Inquiry Ecology Geology/Weather* Universe * Electromagnetism*
STEM Curriculum Modules: Science & Engineering Practices	Foundations in Science & Engineering Practices	Science & Engineering Practices; Asking Questions & Defining Problems, Developing & Using Models, Planning & Carrying out investigations, Analyzing & Interpreting Data, Using Mathematics & Computational Thinking, Engaging in Argument from Evidence, Obtaining, Evaluating & Communicating Information.
Engineering & Coding	Foundations in Engineering: Duplo	LEGO Curriculum Modules
		Coding Curriculum Modules

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Elementary Assessments

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Engage

Explore

Elaborate

Explain

Evaluate

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Elementary Assessments

After completing a series of engagement activities, 5th grade students are challenged to formulate written conclusions to assess their content knowledge about states of matter

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Planetarium

All students in grades 1-6 visit the planetarium each year
Continued revision of NYSSLS-aligned planetarium curriculum

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Subject Area Review: 5th Grade Science Participation

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Exam	Total Enrollment	Number Tested	Percent Tested
2024	629	264	42%

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Science Investigations

Circle of Life
Cloud in a Bottle
Light it Up
What’s in the Bag

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Major Events

Solar Eclipse
Earthquake

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3.

Middle School Science

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NYS Standards-aligned Curriculum	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8 Biology
NYS Standards-aligned Curriculum	Scientific Method Metric System Chemistry Plate Tectonics Earth Materials: Rocks & Minerals Weather & Climate Space Systems Capstone	Scientific Method/Lab Skills Density Forces & Interactions Energy Waves & Electromagnetic Radiation Electricity & Magnetism Biochemistry Cells Body Systems Ecology Capstone: Offshore Wind Energy Research	Lab Safety/Scientific Method Classification Definition of Life Cells Transport Biochemistry Cellular Respiration & Photosynthesis Cellular Reproduction Genetics Evolution Ecology Body Systems Human Reproduction Capstone
Science & Engineering Practices	Asking Questions & Defining Problems Developing & Using Models Planning & Carrying out investigations Analyzing & Interpreting Data Using Mathematics & Computational Thinking Engaging in Argument from Evidence Obtaining, Evaluating & Communicating Information.

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Middle School Science:

Standards-Based Instruction

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Capstone Research Skills

Offshore Wind Energy Projects

Update Laboratory Investigations NYSSLS-aligned

Continued Support for Mastery

Preparation for

High School

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Middle School Science:

Assessment

Common assessments
Ongoing analysis of assessment data to work to identify high leverage content and skills to prepare students for mastery on Regents exams

New Biology Regents Exam This Year

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Subject Area Review: Living Environment MCCSD, NYS, and County Comparison

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Exam	NYS 65+	County 65+	MCCSD 65+	NYS 85+	County 85+	MCCSD 85+
June 2024	62%	73%	68% (MS)	24%	31%	20% (MS)
			38% (HS)			7% (HS)
June 2023	66%	76%	76% (MS)	25%	31%	22% (MS)
			54% (HS)			10% (HS)
June 2022	74%*	80%*	73% (MS)	28%*	33%*	22% (MS)
			60% (HS)			5% (HS)

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Subject Area Review:

Living Environment (District)

ESSA Subgroup Data Analysis - 2024

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Subgroup	# of Students	Percent Passing	Percent Mastery
General Ed	714	67	20
Black	72	54	11
Hispanic	304	47	8
Asian/Pacific Islander	67	76	31
White	395	67	21
Students with Disabilities	150	25	3
Limited English Proficient	107	25	2
Economically Disadvantaged	404	51	12

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4.

High School Science

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High School Science:

Curriculum

Grade 8	8th Grade Biology
Grade 9	Earth & Space Science R Earth & Space Science H	Chemistry R Chemistry H
Grade 10	Chemistry R Chemistry H Physics H and/or Elective	Physics H and/or Elective
Grade 11	AP and/or Elective
Grade 12	AP and/or Elective

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High School Science:

Curriculum

Electives
Grade 9	Intro to Anatomy & Physiology Meteorology Science Research
Grade 10	AP Biology AP Environmental Science Environmental Studies Intro to Anatomy & Physiology	Marine Studies Meteorology Oceanography Paleontology Science Research Science Research 2 H
Grade 11	AP Biology AP Environmental Science AP Physics AP Research College Science Research Environmental Studies	Intro to Anatomy & Physiology Marine Studies Meteorology Oceanography Paleontology Science Research Science Research 2 H
Grade 12	AP Biology AP Environmental Science AP Physics AP Research College Science Research Environmental Studies	Intro to Anatomy & Physiology Marine Studies Meteorology Oceanography Paleontology Science Research Science Research 2 H

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Subject Area Review: Earth Science MCCSD, NYS, and County Comparison

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Exam	NYS 65+	County 65+	MCCSD 65+	NYS 85+	County 85+	MCCSD 85+
June 2024	67%	78%	69%	30%	37%	24%
June 2023	65%	77%	68%	29%	37%	22%
June 2022	62%	71%	61%	27%	32%	18%
June 2022	62%	71%	61%	27%	32%	18%

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Subject Area Review: Chemistry MCCSD, NYS, and County Comparison

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Exam	NYS 65+	County 65+	MCCSD 65+	NYS 85+	County 85+	MCCSD 85+
June 2024	65%	78%	65%	20%	23%	14%
June 2023	65%	79%	71%	20%	23%	16%
June 2022	60%	73%	65%	20%	24%	16%
June 2022	60%	73%	65%	20%	24%	16%

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Subject Area Review: Physics MCCSD, NYS, and County Comparison

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Exam	NYS 65+	County 65+	MCCSD 65+	NYS 85+	County 85+	MCCSD 85+
June 2024	74%	79%	88%	34%	33%	43%
June 2023	68%	74%	79%	33%	35%	32%
June 2022	62%	66%	77%	30%	31%	35%
June 2022	62%	66%	77%	30%	31%	35%

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High School Science:

Standards-Based Instruction

Ongoing revisions to curriculum, instruction and assessments to align with NYSSLS and corresponding Regents exams
AP courses aligned with course descriptions from College Board
Focus on research-based practices

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High School Science:

Assessment

Assessment practices including those on common midyear assessments and final exams aligned with NYSSLS and skills required for mastery on Regents and AP exams
AP Classroom continues to offer a variety of resources including practice assessments which are aligned with the corresponding AP exams

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AP Data Analysis May 2024

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Advanced Placement Course	Number Enrolled	Number of Test Takers	MCCSD Mean Score	NYS Mean Score	MCCSD % Scoring 3 or Higher	NYS % Scoring 3 or Higher
AP Biology	136	111	2.75	3.17	59.5	69.2
AP Chemistry	29	29	3.17	3.48	79.3	82.1
AP Environmental Science	88	64	2.77	2.67	56.3	50.1
AP Physics C: Mechanics	26	24	3.25	3.55	79.2	78.3
AP Research	17	17	3.35	3.21	76.5	81.3

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The “Big 6” Research Skills

Capstone Coursework & The Big 6^TM Research Skills

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Task Definition

Information Seeking Strategies

Location and Access

Use of Information

Synthesis

Evaluation

Student Voice

Student Interest

Differentiation

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Science Research Course Offerings

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Science Research

Science Research 2H

AP Research

College Science Research

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Elementary STEM Celebration

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STEM Celebration 2024: STEM X!

Activating Curiosity by challenging students to solve real-world problems

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6.

Science Department Goals

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Elementary Goals

Continue to enhance interdisciplinary connections
Continued science literacy development through standards-aligned lessons, activities, and assessments
Support for MCCSD Capstone research

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Elementary School Science:

National Geographic Exploring Science

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Secondary Goals

Increased mastery through effective use of data to inform instruction
Successful Capstone implementation
Effective, student-centered use of instructional technology and resources
Continued growth in AP course enrollment

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Data Analysis

BARS Gap Analysis
Identifying “pushable” topics and skills

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Data Analysis

BARS Gap Analysis
Identifying “pushable” topics and skills

Focus on extracting relevant information from text

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Portrait of a Graduate

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Portrait of a Graduate

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Portrait of a Graduate

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Portrait of a Graduate

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Portrait of a Graduate

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Our Mission Statement �and�Our Strategic Objectives

The mission of the Middle Country Central School District is to empower and inspire all students to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be creative problem solvers, to achieve personal success, and to contribute responsibly in a diverse and dynamic world. Our commitment to this mission is embodied in our ongoing strategic objectives.

Each student will continually identify personal goals, and develop and implement plans for achieving those goals.
Each student will choose to continually contribute to the community in a responsible manner.
Each student will identify and implement creative solutions to increasingly challenging problems within his/her world.

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