“We live in a society exquisitely

dependent on science & tech-

nology, in which hardly anyone

knows anything about science &

technology.”

- Carl Sagan

“Part of what it is to be scientifi-

cally-literate, it's not simply, 'Do

you know what DNA is? Or what

the Big Bang is?' That's an as-

pect of science literacy. The big-

gest part of it is do you know

how to think about information

that's presented in front of you.”

- Neil deGrasse Tyson

In This Issue

TAME Divisional Competi-

tion Results

New Teacher Profile

What a Great Idea!

Curriculum

Did You Know?

D4

Science TEKS Streamlining by SHenderson The handwriting is on the wall...the Texas board approved for first reading & filing au-

thorization the streamlined science standards as a response “to frequent comments

that Texas standards are too voluminous.” The first drafts of recommendations were

posted in September of 2016 & public feedback was received by the state. If given final

approval in April, the revised standards have a recommended implementation date of

the 2017-2018 school year. Here are the major changes that may be expected:

All MS Science Process TEKS: 4A- reworded to say & other necessary equipment to

collect, record, & analyze information.

Grade 6 Science Process Standard Changes: 4A- triple beam balance- now just

balance.

Grade 6 Science Content Standard Changes: 5A– elements are represented by a

chemical symbol & a compound is a pure substance represented by a chemical formu-

la; 5C– eliminated; 7A– discuss replaces debate; 7B– eliminated; 8E– no more pulleys;

10A– model to illustrate the compositional & mechanical layers of Earth; 11A– elimi-

nate Galilean; 12B– presence of a nucleus is a key factor used to determine whether a

cell is prok vs. euk.

Grade 7 Science Process Standard Changes: 4A– hand lenses.

Grade 7 Science Content Standard Changes: 5B– eliminated; 6A– eliminated; 6C–

eliminated; 7A– eliminated; 7C– demonstrate & illustrate forces that affect motion in

organisms...such as...& circulation of blood; 8A– how catastrophic events such as

floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes impact ecosystems; 9B– eliminated; 11C– add & hy-

brid plants to end of SE; 12E– compare the function of cell organelles to the functions

of an organ system; 12F– recognize the components of cell theory; 14B– reworded.

Grade 8 Science Content Standard Changes: 5E– add to end & how that relates to

the law of conservation of mass; 5F– eliminated; 6C– change wording to Newton’s

three laws of motion; 8B– recognize that the Sun is a medium-sized star located in a

spiral arm of the Milky Way; 8C– identify how different wavelengths... such as visible

light...eliminate distances & properties; 8D– eliminated; 10A– eliminate & ocean cur-

rents; 11A– eliminated; 11B– add factors such as food after biotic.

HS Biology Science Process Standard Changes: 2F– eliminate calculators, spread-

sheet software, computers, electronic (in front of balances), cameras & change mi-

cropipettors to micropipettes; 3A– reworded; 3B– eliminate news reports.

HS Biology Science Content Standard Changes: 4A– add including their complexity

to end of SE; 4B– eliminate energy conversions & synthesis of new molecules; 5B–

eliminated; 6 statement now reads t.s.knows the mechanisms of genetics, such as the

role of nucleic acids & the principles of Mendelian & non-Mendelian genetics; 6H–

eliminated; 7B– eliminated; 7F– eliminated & evaluate the effects of; 7G– eliminated;

9A– eliminate structures &; 9B– add energy conversions after energy; 9D– eliminated;

11A&B– eliminated; 12D– eliminated.

IPC Science Process Standard Changes: 1A– added including the appropriate use

of safety showers, eyewash fountains, safety goggles, & fire extinguishers; 1B– know

specific hazards of chemical substances such as flammability, corrosiveness, & radio-

WFISD Secondary Science Newsletter; Volume 5, Issue 4 February 2017

cont. on p.2

New Teacher Profile (Wichita Falls High

School) Please help me welcome Ashley Peterson,

new secondary science teacher at Wichita

Falls High School. Ashley is currently teaching

seven sections of Integrated Physics & Chem-

istry @ WFHS.

Elementary School– Bear Branch Elemen-

tary in Magnolia, TX

Secondary School– The Woodlands College

Park High School in The Woodlands, TX

College/Degree– Texas Tech University;

Bachelors of Science in Biology, Chemistry,

German; Bachelors of Arts in History

Previous Teaching Experience– Taught

three years @ Iowa Park HS (Physics, Honors

Physics, & Earth & Space Science)

Professional Goals- “Create lessons that

reflect my students; look into master’s pro-

grams; certification to teach advanced cours-

es.”

Hobbies/Interests– Read, exercise, spend

time with family, & DIY projects.

Ashley Peterson– WFHS IPC Teacher

activity as summarized on the SDS; 2C– add accuracy & before precision; 2E–

add supported by the data through methods such as lab reports, labeled draw-

ings, graphs, journals, summaries, oral reports, & technology-based reports; 3A

– reworded; 3B– eliminate news reports.

IPC Science Content Standard Changes: 4B– eliminate using moving toys;

4D– describe & calculate the relationship...eliminate noting the relationship is

independent of the nature of the force; 4E– replace apply with explain & elimi-

nate such as students on skateboards; 4F– eliminate including satellites; 4G–

eliminate & compare the relative strengths of the electrical force & gravitational

force; 5B– add recognize & before demonstrate; 5G– add reflect, refract, dif-

fract, interfere with instead of superpose on, eliminate bend around corners,

reflect off surfaces along with & change direction when entering new materials;

5H– analyze energy transformations of renewable & nonrenewable resources &

eliminate rest of SE; 6A– eliminate ions & of the substances & the strength of

the forces of attraction between those particles; 6B– eliminate or molecules; 6D

– reworded to say same thing; 6E- & investigate the properties of solutions &

factors affecting gas & solid solubility, including nature of solute, temperature &

concentration is now 6F; 7D– replace analyze with classify & eliminate & classify

them.

Chemistry Science Process Standard Changes: 1B– now SDS; 2E– reword-

ed & safety goggles eliminated; 3A– cleaned up.

Chemistry Science Content Standard Changes: 4B– add properties such as

mass & volume...add such as density & melting point; 5B– reworded; 5C– re-

worded, interpret replaces to identify & explain, & ionic radii eliminated; 6A– de-

scribe replaces understand; 6B- describe replaces understand, reworded; 6C–

eliminated; 6D– reworded; 6D– add of representative elements using & elimi-

nate through; 7 statement now reads t.s.knows how atoms form ionic, covalent,

& metallic bonds; 7B– reworded & representative elements added; 7D– eliminat-

ed the nature of & apply the theory to; 7E– classify replaces predict & reworded;

8B– eliminated use the mole concept to along with ions, using Avogadro’s num-

ber added to end; 8C– calculate percent composition of compounds; 8D– NEW-

differentiate between empirical & molecular formulas; 8D– NOW 8E– write &

balance chemical equations using the law of conservation of mass; 8F NEW–

differentiate among double replacement (ion-swap) reactions, including acid-

base reactions & precipitation reactions & oxidation-reduction reactions such as

synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, & combustion reactions; 8E NOW

8G– add & gas volume & eliminate calculation of limiting reagents; 8H NEW–

describe the concept of limiting reactants in a balanced chemical equation; 9B–

eliminated; 10A– add solutions in terms of polarity & eliminate chemical & bio-

logical systems; 10B– replace develop & use with apply the; 10D– reworded;

10E– reworded & among replaces between; 10F– solid & gas added; 10H–

eliminated; 10I NOW 10H– define pH & calculate the pH of a solution using the

hydrogen ion concentration; 10J– eliminated; 11A– replace understand with de-

scribe; 11B– replace understand with describe & add in terms of calorimetry;

11C– classify reactions as exothermic or endothermic & represent energy

changes that occur in chemical reactions using thermochemical equations or

graphical analysis; 11E– eliminated; 12A– add radioactive decay processes in

terms of balanced nuclear equations; 12B– eliminated.

Physics Science Process Standard Changes: 2A,B,C– reworded; 2D– elimi-

nated; 2E NOW 2D– add & identifying causes & effect of uncertainties in meas-

ured data; 2F NOW 2E– eliminate triple beam, clamps, hot plates, slotted &

hooked, bar, horseshoe magnets, pendulum support, power supply, ring

clamps, ring stands, carbon paper, mini lamp (bulbs) & sockets, 90 degree rod

clamps, knife blade, Celsius, meter sticks, computers, cathode ray tubes with

horseshoe magnets, resonance tubes, spools of nylon thread or string, contain-

ers of, rolls of white craft paper, Periodic Table, & wave motion ropes, move

data acquisition probes, discharge tubes with power supply, hand-held visual

spectroscopes, tuning forks, polarized film, prisms, resistors, friction blocks,

electrostatics kits, scientific calculators, graphing technology, ballistic carts or

cont. on p.3

Hay Más Gatos

Perhaps you too have

sensed a great disturb-

ance in the force. There

is a nationwide shortage

of Felis domestica– this

means high school Anat-

omy & Physiology stu-

dents can no longer dis-

sect preserved cats as

they learn about human

body systems. What to

do?

I contacted each of the

major science suppliers

& asked what was going

on. According to the

feedback I received,

more owners are having

their adult cats spayed &

neutered which means

there are fewer cats

ending up at humane

shelters fewer cats

available to suppliers

fewer cats available for

purchase.

A&P teachers will now

be teaching using farm-

raised minks. You know

what that means...it’s

rabbit season...no, it’s

mink season....

Course Being Taught Now

(4th 6 Wks.)

Going to be Taught

(5th 6 Wks.)

Grade 6 Science Energy Resources; Minerals &

Rocks

The Dynamic Earth; The Solar

System

Grade 7 Science Structure & Function of Cells;

Genetics

Continue Genetics; Genetic Varia-

tions & Adaptations; Structure &

Function of Living Systems / Ho-

meostasis

Grade 8 Science Forces that Change the Earth;

Climactic Interactions

Continue Climactic Interactions;

Earth Cycles; Characteristics of

the Universe (including Light

Years & Theories)

Biology Genetics & Heredity cont.; Evolu-

tion; Classification

Microorganisms; Plants; Body

System Interactions

IPC

Energy: Societal Impacts; Prop-

erties of Matter; States of/

Changes in Matter

Periodic Table; Chemical Reac-

tions I & II

Chemistry Chemical Bonding– Covalent;

Moles; Chemical Reactions Stoichiometry; Gases; Solutions

Principles of

Technology:

Waves Review; Sound & Light;

Mirrors, Lenses, Diffraction &

Interference

Static Electricity; Current & Cir-

cuits; Magnets & Electromag-

netism

Environmental Population Dynamics Environmental Impact

Earth & Space

Science

Intro. to Astronomy, Instrumenta-

tion, Observations, Big Bang;

Earth’s Place in the Universe,

Sun & Moon System

Stellar Evolution, Beyond our So-

lar System; Severe Weather &

Storms, Climate Atmosphere,

Moisture & Weather, Air Pressure

Forensic Science Blood & Blood Spatter; DNA;

Hair & Fiber

Controlled Substances; Firearms

& Tool Marks; Anthropology

Human Anatomy &

Physiology

Respiratory System; Digestive

System; Urinary System

Female & Male Reproductive Sys-

tem; Growth & Development;

Blood; Circulatory System

Medical

Microbiology

Bacterial Cell Growth & Repro-

duction; Colony Morphology

Gram Positive/Negative Bacteria;

Parasitology & Virology

equipment, iron filings, copper wire, electromagnetic spectrum charts & laser pointers to 2F; 2G NOW 2F– eliminate radiation

monitor, ballistic pendulum, ring stand screen, four inch ring, graduated cylinders, & ticket timer, add &/or other equipment & ma-

terials that will produce the same results; 2H NOW 2G; 2I- eliminated; 2J NOW 2H– reworded; 2K NOW 2I; 2L NOW 2J– re-

worded; 3A– reworded; 3C– eliminated; 3F NOW 3E– add manipulate & eliminate including problems requiring proportional rea-

soning &; 4A– replace the use of with investigations using; 4B– add & graphical vector addition & frames of reference; 4C– add

using equations, graphical vector additional &; 4D– add using methods including free-body force diagrams; 4E&F– eliminated;

5A– eliminate research & historical development of the; 5D– add & describe plus such as generators, motors, & transformers; 5E

– reworded; 5F– replace design, construct with investigate & eliminate in terms of; 5G&H– eliminated; 6E&F– eliminated; 6G

NOW 6E– eliminate analyze &, add four, eliminate including the law of conservation of energy & the law of entropy, add & the

processes of thermal energy transfer; 7F– eliminated; 8C– add calculate & before describe, add applications & eliminate signifi-

cance plus & apply if in explanations of phenomena such as nuclear stability, fission & fusion; 8D– add using the standard mod-

el, nuclear stability, fission & fusion, eliminate such as digital cameras. You can access copies of these documents @ http://

bit.ly/2kBKhd8

Your curriculum council will be working in June to reflect these changes in the district’s curriculum documents.

A B

Did You Know?

Contact Steve with sugges-

tions/ideas for future newslet-

ters.

Check out the WFISD Second-

ary Science webpage @ http://

www.wfisd.net/page/579

D4 (Dates, Dead-

lines, & Dogmatic

Dribble)

The 5th 6 weeks runs from

2/13/17 to 4/7/17

Campus SD on Mon. Jan.

20th will be at your campus

The next TAKS Exit-Level

Retest is Wed. Mar. 8th

Spring break will be Mon.

Mar. 13th to Fri. Mar. 17th

WFISD is offering a SAT/

ACT Prep Student Review

Session on Wed. Mar.

22nd @ Region 9

HHS will be giving the Biol-

ogy benchmark exam Fri.

Mar. 3rd (online)

RHS & WFHS will offer the

exam Mon. Apr. 3-7

(paper)

The Grade 8 benchmark

exam testing window is

Mon. Apr. 10th to Thurs.

Apr. 13th—> answer docu-

ments must be returned

to your campus testing

coordinator by 5:00 pm

on the 13th!

Deadline for accessing

your campus consumable

fund is Fri. Apr. 21st

The annual AP Science

Saturday Review will be

held Sat. Apr. 22nd (Earth

Day) from 8:00 am to noon

@ RHS

What a Great Idea! I wanted to use this space to share some really neat

things I have seen while visiting classrooms this

spring. The first photograph (top right) is the en-

trance to Mrs. Jillian Burt’s classroom @ McNiel

Middle School. Notice how is says “Minerals in Ce-

real??” on the dry-erase board? This is Mrs. Burt

telling her students what they are going to learn

about– before they even enter the class! Talk about

grabbing their attention from the very start!

The second photograph (@ right) is one of the two

new plant grow stands donated to Kirby Middle

School from Rider High School. When Mrs. Krugle

(KMS) was explaining to me about her gardening

club & the frustration she was experiencing because

she is not allowed to use the

on-site greenhouse (SpEd

classes have taken over), I

asked the RHS biology

teachers if they would like to

have the four-level plant

stands removed from their

rooms. As you can see, they

will be used to benefit Mrs.

Krugle’s club!

The bottom three photo-

graphs were taken in Stacie

Martin’s Honors Chemistry

class @ RHS. Stacie’s students have been studying single & double displacement reac-

tions (I missed those demos) & combustion reactions. As I always say, “students learn

science best by experiencing it” so the master chemistry teacher demonstrated combus-

tion of sulphur & zinc, isopropyl alcohol, & natural gas trapped in soap bubbles. She’s a

wizard, Harry!

Stacie Martin (RHS Chemistry Teacher) Demonstrates the Com-bustion of Sulphur & Zinc Pow-ders

Stacie Martin (RHS Chemistry Teacher) Safely Demonstrates the Combustion of Isopropyl Alcohol

Stacie Martin (RHS Chemistry Teacher) Demonstrates the Com-bustion of Natural Gas Trapped in Soap Bubbles