Essential

Agreement

Curriculum Design 

 The Clovis Unified School District is committed to a standards-based model for curriculum and instruction. Our goal is for all students to master grade level standards as defined in the following Science Content Standards. Towards this end, instruction will be differentiated to best meet the individual needs of student learners. Where students fail to make progress towards grade level standards, re-teaching will be provided through regular classroom and intervention programs.

Grade Level
Content Standards 

 The curriculum for Grade 5 Science is defined by the California Science Grade Level Content Standards. Standards can be accessed at http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/scgrade5.asp.

Instructional Strategies 

 Teachers are encouraged to use research-based best practices to create a learning environment that maximizes individual student growth.
Textbook

Board Adopted Textbook:
5th grade Harcourt Science
Recommended Supplementary Materials
5th grade AIMS binders, AIMS Educational Foundation
Time Allocation

It is anticipated that teachers will provide a minimum of 120 minutes of instruction in science each week. This instructional time structure can vary depending on the elementary school. Examples include:

·         Multiple station rotation: Each teacher at the grade level teaches one lesson and the classes are rotated through on a set schedule.
·         Team Teaching: Two teacher share curriculum preparation and switch classes on given days.

Calendar recommendations have been set to start 2 weeks after the beginning of school and conclude prior to the state testing window. Language Arts Grade Level Content Standards should be integrated throughout instruction in science with particular emphasis on writing and comprehension of textual materials (non-fiction).
Teacher Input It is the goal of this committee that teacher provide input as the year progresses so that this document is a “living” document that can be improved and refined as the suggestions are utilized. Towards that goal a QuickPlace web page has been set-up to share ideas and suggestions throughout the district. Please access the page using http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/cusd_4th5thscience.
AIMS© Binders AIMS Education Foundation has arranged 4 binders, one for each of the content areas by grade level. The AIMS activities referred to in this document are at 5th grade level and are located in the binder for that content (Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth Science). The Experimentation and Investigation binder was not used as it was believed by the teachers working on the 5th grade content that those standards could be met in the content areas.
Physical Science Content Standards The content standards for Physical science are listed in the recommend order for instruction, no in alphabetic order.

Repetition of Vocabulary

Science vocabulary is repeated where it was deemed appropriate. It was believed that students would benefit from repetitive exposure, within different strands of the content standard.

Questions?  ericbitter@cusd.com 

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