SEPUP Science Grade 8, Texas Edition
PROGRAM OVERVIEW All students need to develop an understanding of science and technology to make informed personal and community decisions. Using SEPUP Science Grade 8, Texas Edition, students learn how to gather and interpret scientific evidence about issues of interest to them and their community. As a result, they begin to appreciate the power and also some of the limitations of science. They also begin to recognize that science is much more than a set of answers to be learned, but rather, a way of asking questions. The course was developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science and field tested in Texas with support from grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and was written to align 100% with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for 6-8 as well as 100% alignment to the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). It is a research-based program for grades 6-8 covering the life, earth, and physical sciences, that uses an inquiry-based approach together with an emphasis on personal, societal, and environmental issues to motivate and engage students in the study of science. For example, students study force and motion concepts in the context of motor vehicle safety, body systems in the context of cardiovascular health, and ecology through the study of introduced species. Support for diverse learners is addressed using the SEPUP learning cycle, which closely models the widely used 5E approach. Full support for literacy – reading, writing, oral discussion, and media viewing – is built in to every SEPUP program. Support for ELPS coverage and detailed alignment to the Common Core ELA standards for reading and writing in science and technical subjects is included. Online support for technology, including the Exam View suite of assessment tools, and more than 100 web links to support basic instruction and enrichment is available for each course. The built-in assessment system helps teachers identify students’ strengths and weaknesses from the beginning of the course, and supports both formative and summative assessment. This allows them to adjust activities when needed so that all students get the best chance to build their knowledge and appreciation of science. The program is available in both full year course and separate units formats.
