Boulder Valley Public Schools
Academic Content Standards: Science
Background
Content Standards are general statements of what
a student should know or be able to do relative to a particular academic
area. A rationale statement accompanies each content
standard. Benchmarks describe what most students should understand
and be able to do at specified grade levels to meet each standard. The
development and implementation of state content standards were mandated
in May 1993, by Colorado HB 93-1313.
Local standards must meet or exceed state standards. This process was
begun in BVSD during the summer of 1992 in all four content areas (English/language
arts, history and geography, mathematics, and science) by groups of teachers,
community members, and university faculty. By 1995, two drafts had been
completed and work samples to illustrate each standard in math and English/language
arts had been collected from the schools. During the 1995-96 school year,
the Board of Education initiated the development of Curriculum Councils.
The Councils compared Boulder Valley School Districtís Draft #2
with the adopted Colorado standards and additional documents collected
from within Colorado as well as nationally. The Councils also began a review
of Boulder Valley School Districtís curriculum to align the curriculum
with standards.
Focus groups were held fall 1996 that included diverse constituencies
from informational meetings conducted at each school, from community organizations,
and from district advisory groups. Representatives of the School of Education
and other academic departments of the University of Colorado were also
included. Board of Education work sessions were held concurrently, prior
to the Board of Education meetings for formal discussion and adoption of
the standards. As a result of the additional input from focus groups and
Board work sessions, council leaders completed standards revisions. The
standards were adopted by the Board of Education December 19, 1996.
The standards adopted in 1996 were professionally reviewed in 1997/98
by the Mid-Continental Regional Educational Lab (McREL) for comparison
with similar standards around the nation. BVSD Curriculum Councils reviewed
McRELís recommendations and comments in developing revised standards.
Curriculum implementation follows the adoption of standards. Revised
curriculum documents will include standards, rationale, benchmarks, and
the specific grade level or subject area curricula. A scope and sequence
of skills and content will be developed for Kñ12 to illustrate how
specific skills are introduced, practiced, and independently applied throughout
the studentís educational career. Performance assessments will provide
a means for helping students reach proficiency levels and reporting overall
District performance patterns. The assessments will indicate whether a
student has met, exceeded, or continues to need additional work to meet
the standards. This process will help to ensure that we have a system that
is accountable for student learning.
As required by the 1992 "Rules (for the) Administration of Accreditation
of School Districts," specific consideration will be taken in all aspects
of the development and implementation of standards-based education to address
the special learning needs of all exceptional children, including but not
limited to students with disabilities and gifted and talented students.
Comparison
of Colorado and BVSD Content Standards
Comparison of Colorado and
BVSD Content Standards
Colorado Content Standards
(Adopted 5/10/95; Amended 11/9/95)
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BVSD Content Standards
(Adopted 12/19/96)
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1. Students understand the processes
of scientific investigation and are able to design, conduct, communicate
about, and evaluate such investigations.
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1. Students understand the processes
of scientific investigation and are able to design, conduct, communicate
about, and evaluate such investigations.
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2. Students know and understand
common properties, forms, and interactions of matter and energy.
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2. Students know and understand
common physical and chemical properties, forms of matter and energy, and
the laws that define their interactions.
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2.1 Students know that matter has
characteristic properties which are related to its composition and structure.
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2.1 Students know that matter has
characteristic properties which are related to its composition and structure.
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2.2 Students know that energy appears
in different forms and can move (be transferred) and change (be transformed).
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2.2 Students know that energy appears
in different forms, and can be transferred and transformed.
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2.3 Students understand that interactions
can produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of matter
and energy remain unchanged.
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2.3 Students understand that interactions
can produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of matter
and energy remain unchanged.
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3. Students know and understand
the characteristics and structure of living things, the processes of life,
and how living things interact with each other and their environment.
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3. Students know and understand
the characteristics, structures, processes, and relationships of organisms
and how these may be affected by environmental changes and the passages
of time.
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3.1 Students know and understand
the characteristics of living things, the diversity of life, and how living
things interact with each other and their environment.
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3.1 Students investigate diversity
of physical characteristics and life processes of organisms.
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3.2 Students know and understand
how matter cycles and energy moves (transfers) and changes (transforms)
through living systems.
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3.2 Students know how matter cycles
and energy transfers and transforms through living systems, both within
organisms and between organisms.
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3.3 Students know and understand
how the human body functions, the factors that influence its structures
and functions, and how these structures and functions compare with those
of other organisms.
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3.3 Students know and understand
how organisms interact with each other and with the environment.
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3.4 Students know and understand
how organisms change over time in terms of evolution and genetics.
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3.4 Students know and understand
how organisms change over time in terms of evolution and genetics.
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Colorado Content Standards
(Adopted 5/10/95; Amended 11/9/95)
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BVSD Content Standards
(Adopted 12/19/96)
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4. Students know and understand
the processes and interactions of Earthís systems and the structure
and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space.
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4. Students know and understand
the structure, processes, interactions, and dynamics of the Earth and other
objects in space.
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4.1 Students know the composition
of Earth, its history, and the natural processes that shape it.
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4.1 Students know and understand
the composition of Earth, its history, and the human and other natural
processes that shape it.
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4.2 Students know and understand
the general characteristics of the atmosphere and fundamental processes
of weather.
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4.2 Students know and understand
the general characteristics of the atmosphere, including climate and fundamental
processes of weather.
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4.3 Students know major sources of
water, its uses, importance, and cyclic patterns of movement through the
environment.
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4.3 Students know and understand
major sources of water, its uses and importance, and its cyclic patterns
of movement through the environment.
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4.4 Students know the structure of
the solar system, the dynamics of the universe, and how space is explored.
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4.4 Students know and understand
the structure of the solar system, the composition and dynamics of the
universe, and how and why space was and is explored.
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5. Students know and understand
ways science, technology, and human activity can affect the world.
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5. Students know and evaluate
interrelationships among science, technology, and human activity and how
they can affect the world.
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6. Students understand that science
is a particular way of knowing and understanding common connections among
different disciplines.
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6. Students understand that science
involves a particular way of knowing and understanding common connections
among different scientific disciplines.
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7. Students know how to appropriately
select and safely and effectively use tools (including laboratory materials,
equipment and electronic resources) to conduct scientific investigations.
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How
Standards and Curriculum Fit Together
Content
Standards |
| K-4
Benchmarks |
5-8
Benchmarks |
9-12
Benchmarks |
| Grade Level
Curriculum
(Essential Learning
Results)
s Topics/Content
s Skills
s Concepts |
Grade / Course
Level
Curriculum
(Essential Learning
Results)
s Topics/Content
s Skills
s Concepts |
Grade / Course
Level
Curriculum
(Essential Learning
Results)
s Topics/Content
s Skills
s Concepts |
Performance
Indicators
(Assessments) |
Performance
Indicators
(Assessments) |
Performance
Indicators
(Assessments) |
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