About Science Works

Our training and materials are inquiry based and KERA specific, aligned with NSES and KDE Core Content for Science Assessment, with emphasis on

* Do you have professional development needs in physical science in elementary or middle school grades? We model inquiry instructional strategies and the constructivist approach to learning. We focus on learning science by doing it, and on empowering teachers to provide the experiences necessary for learning to take place in students at all stages.

* Do your plans call for focusing on Science Core Content in elementary and middle grades? Our content is aligned with the KDE Core Content for Science Assessment and the National Science Education Standards. We integrate Kentucky Academic Expectations with science content throughout our materials and training.

* Do you need age appropriate and effective classroom physical science materials for all of your students? Our classroom equipment kits are extensive, practical and suitable for use beyond the activities we provide. They are designed for small group work to ensure maximum student experience. These materials and the associated activities engage students in inquiry science and allow teachers to target a broad range of science skills from basic to higher order. Many weeks of classroom lessons are provided, as well as a variety of assessment strategies.
  Teachers attending a workshop receive

The workshops are 3 or 4 hours long -- the content is the same but the 4-hour workshops have more relaxed pace and more time to experiment. 

* We give teachers the materials, understanding, and confidence to teach physical science core content in an inquiry mode. Our sessions can be paced to allow the depth of experience and instruction needed by your group to assure immediate and effective implementation in the classroom. Training sessions run from 3 to 12 hours in length, depending on your needs. Follow up can be customized to your schools.

* In addition to our equipment kits, we also sell the many science tools in our kits, plus some other things, as individual or replacement parts. We have some hard-to-find items that you may want to use in other lab activities of your own choice. Ask us for a price list if you are interested. Our list includes things like battery operated motors, buzzers, light bulbs, and light emitting diodes; alligator clips; spring scales; diffraction gratings; variety of plastic lenses and mirrors, liquid crystal temperature sensitive materials; thermometers.....

We offer three independent workshop sessions, each with its own equipment, classroom activities, and training. All workshops are linked by the common theme of energy and its transformations. Topics are #1 Systems, Circuits and Weighing Things (which can be readily subdivided into two independent workshops, one on circuits and the other on weighing things, both dealing with various systems); #2 Light; and #3 Temperature and Heat. Our equipment is appropriate for children of all ages and prior experience. The activities are written to target grades 4 through 6, however many teachers report they are easily adapted to primary through 8th grades. Also, with sufficient demand, we are considering developing units on Astronomy, Motion and Forces, and Sound. Let us know your needs.

Sessions are offered both at UK, and in schools/districts throughout the state. Prices for equipment kit, manual and classroom activities range from $120 to $220 per teacher. For groups of 20 or more teachers, there is no additional fee for training beyond this equipment charge. (25 is the maximum number of teachers we recommend for one session.) Sessions for fewer than 20 teachers are available but require payment of a training fee ($350/day for one leader) in addition to the materials costs. In most cases, the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UK will contribute a second leader for no additional charge.

These fees include our travel and delivery costs for locations within 50 miles of Lexington. For travel beyond that radius, we ask you to cover our travel costs, and equipment delivery when necessary. We can schedule sessions at your location to meet your specific training needs and calendar. Open training sessions at UK for teachers and administrators will also be held before and during the coming school year (schedule to be announced soon).

This is a well established program. Since 1994 Joe Straley and Sally Kovash have equipped and trained over five hundred Kentucky teachers in more than 30 training sessions (with some teachers attending as many as four separate sessions), and have earned three different Eisenhower grants. We have worked with teachers from more than 50 districts, and from a variety of private schools. Our topics have been offered in sessions ranging from 3 to 6 hours, and we have recently extended some to 12 hours. During summer 1999 we produced a week-long (30 hour) merger of the workshops on light and temperature and heat, which was held twice, in Floyd and Powell Counties. We have also held follow-up sessions in schools to support effective classroom implementation. Our participants report a high level of usage and success with our materials. Upon request, we are happy to provide names of districts and individuals to serve as references for our programs.

Participants are uniformly enthusiastic and have offered the following recent comments: "excellent training, exactly what teachers have been asking for - you've given us 'how to', not just theory" . "very well organized, fun, and practical" . "I feel prepared to do this in my class! I will definitely get their attention when I teach these lessons." "The activities really showed how inquiry branches out from one question to another and how to lead students to find their own answers" "I am amazed at the materials you have gathered for us!" "my kids love these activities" "made me feel more competent in science" "helps me target higher order thinking skills" "It was a very comfortable atmosphere for me to learn in!" "I definitely understand more about elementary physics now" ..... "the materials are super - the notebook with plans and graphs is fantastic" "This was an awesome hands-on activity day!" "This is definitely a workshop that goes back to the classroom" "I was able to strengthen my understanding of science concepts. This is how discoveries are made and should feed the natural interests of my students" "Your activities are the best ones for science that I have ever used in my classroom." "This is the best science/physics workshop I have ever attended" " the best PD I've had in years"

We are eager to help you address your professional development and materials needs in elementary and middle school physics, and to help raise student performance levels in science. Tell us your needs and goals. We can put together a training and materials package that will help you succeed. We want to provide follow up for participants too. Our schedule is now being established for the next 18 months. Please contact us with questions or requests. We can also send more detailed information about our program.

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