Science for All Children A Guide to Improving Elementary Science Education in Your School District (1997) / Chapter Skim
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7. Establishing a Science Materials Support Center
7. Establishing a Science Materials Support Center
Pages 89-99
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From page 89... ...
Larry Small, "Science Materials Support," ~ 992 l o teach inquiry-centered science modules, the teacher needs all the "stuff' of science containers, scales, chemicals, and living organisms. These materials make science inviting to children and bring them into the world of scientists and how they work.
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From page 90... ...
Many school districts engaged in reform have cliscoverec3 the importance of this critical element. George Hein, consultant for the National Science Resources Center's Elementary Science Leadership Institute program, en cl Carol Baldassari and Laura Hudson fount!
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From page 91... ...
Through central coordination across the district, important tasks such as purchasing materials, keeping track of inventory, sorting and packaging items, assembling kits, distributing kits to classrooms, and refurbishing them for reuse can be accomplished efficiently. Because there are so many benefits to this approach, the emphasis of this chapter will be on describing how to set up a science materials support center for a school district.
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From page 92... ...
Small school districts, on the other hantl, may find that one or two rooms in a school building are sufficient. Ideally, the materials center will be in a large space close to an outside entrance that can be used for receiving shipments of materials and for moving science kits in and out of the building.
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From page 93... ...
As more teachers begin using inquiry-centered science modules, additional part-time employees may be necessary. Some large school districts, which may package as many as 3,000 science kits a year, have called on high school students and senior citizens to work during peak processing seasons.
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From page 94... ...
Deiiverly The plan must cover how the kits will be transported from the science materials center to the schools. Some districts use the services established for delivering multimeclia materials and other supplies to schools for the science kits.
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From page 95... ...
Safety Staff at the materials center should be aware of basic safety precautions, such as providing goggles for students who will be working with chemicals, even common ones such as salt and baking soda, and not using seeds that have been treated with fungicides or pesticides. Guidelines on recommended safety precautions should also be providecl to teachers.
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From page 96... ...
Other Types of Materials Centers Although experience has revealed that for the average school clistrict, establishing a districtwide science materials center is the most effective way to supply materials, there are other options. The list that follows identifies some alternate strategies that have been used to supply materials to inquiry-centered science programs.
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From page 97... ...
Small districts may find the consortium approach useful, especially if a neighboring district has already established a materials center. Site-Based System This is a system in which all of the materials needed to teach science at all gracle levels are stored in one designates!
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From page 98... ...
Issues to consider in planning a materials support center include space, personnel, inventory systems, delivery, refurbishing, and cost. The most efficient way to supply materials to schools is through a districtwide science materials center.This approach minimizes costs and ensures that materials needed to teach science arrive in the classroom on time, in a"ready-to-use" condition.
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From page 99... ...
1992. "Science Materials Support," unpublished white paper by former science supervisor for Schaumburg, Ill.
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