We are a 3A school and can't afford an earth science teacher so we also have physical science as Frosh, bio then choices of chem, physics, environ sci and adv bio. (please send this out for me as we cannot get into freelists) -- Terry J. Tinich Chemistry/Physics Instructor West Franklin High School Pomona, KS 66076 ________________________________ From: kact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cline, Brad Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 11:23 AM To: kact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [KACT] Re: earth and space science I see. It is interesting to see how different administrations think differently here. Our administration took a different view. They took the approach that any student wishing to meet qualified admissions standards will just have to take 4 years of science since the physical science did not count. Part of that is due to the fact that we have plenty of teachers to teach physical science and next to nobody to teach earth-space. BC ________________________________ From: kact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rachel Dougherty Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 11:18 AM To: kact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [KACT] Re: earth and space science We dropped the physical science class because it is not accepted as one of the science courses for applied admissions to kansas schools, and that was a big deal to our administration. We now have moved physical science to the 8th grade year. ________________________________ From: kact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cline, Brad Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 10:47 AM To: kact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [KACT] Re: earth and space science With all the schools going to Earth Science for Freshman level, when are you getting the Chemistry and Physics components into the curriculum? Better yet when are your students taking the Physical Science state test? Earth Science components on the test are not as prevalent as Chemistry and Physics components. How will this affect your test scores, if you don't have everybody taking Chemistry and/or Physics (which it is doubtful you have everybody taking both)? We have opted to have a 9th grade physical science class (which can include physics, chemistry, and earth science components) and would cover the state requirement. We rely on the 8th grade to hit the Earth Science more and we concentrate the 9th grade more on the Chemistry and Physics and fill in the missing gaps in the Earth Sciences. By the end of 9th grade the students will have hit the physical science standards and can be tested. Those that take Chemistry and Physics are all the more prepared if you test them later. We currently do not have an Earth / Space science course at the high school level. Our Geology/Space Science class got dumped due to the fact we could not find any applicants that were certified in Earth/Space Science. Hold on to those teachers if you have them because it is becoming impossible to find them with that certification and you must be Earth/Space certified to teach an Earth Science course. You do not have to have earth/space certification if you have a physical science class with earth science components included. Brad Cline Science Dept. Chair AP Chemistry & Physics Teacher Goddard High School 2500 S 199th St West Goddard, KS 67052 316-794-41000 x2808 bcline@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ________________________________ I am interested in how other districts address the KSDE graduation requirement for 3 credits of science, specifically the requirement for earth and space science concepts. I copied the sentence below directly from the KSBE regulations for graduation requirements: "three units of science, which shall include physical, biological, and earth and space science concepts and which shall include at least one unit as a laboratory course" Do you offer an earth science course? If so, at what level? If not, where do you cover the above requirement? At Maize, we have Geoscience which is a district graduation requirement and is offered as our freshman science course. What do the rest of you do? Any input would be appreciated! Hope you all are having a great year!