Middle school science students in Miami, Florida use the Biological Timing Online Science Experiment to learn how to integrate technology and scientific research. Their role is to act as teams of "expert scientists" who investigate and communicate their findings to others. As part of the lesson plan developed for this project, the teacher identifies the specific state and local curriculum standards satisfied by the project. They are:

SC.F.1.3.7.a - (The Processes of Life, 6-8). The student knows that behavior is a response to the environment and influences growth, development, maintenance, and reproduction.

SC.H.1.3.1.a - (Nature of Science, 6-8). The student knows that scientific knowledge is subject to modification as new information challenges prevailing theories and as a new theory leads to looking at old observations in a new way.

SC.H.1.3.5.a - (Nature of Science, 6-8). The student knows that change in one or more variables may alter the outcome of an investigation.

SC.H.3.3.1 - (Nature of Science, 6-8). The student knows that science ethics demand that scientists must not knowingly subject coworkers, students, the neighborhood, or the community to health or property risks.

SC.H.3.3.2 - (Nature of Science, 6-8). The student knows that special care must be taken in using animals in scientific research.

SC.H.3.3.7 - (Nature of Science, 6-8). The student knows that computers speed up and extend people's ability to collect, sort, and analyze data; prepare research reports; and share data and ideas with others.

Goal 3 Standards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Competency Based Curriculum: 

Nature of Science as Inquiry Components: 6-8.I.A1-10, 6-8.I.B.1-5, 6-8.I.C.3-5
Life Science Components: 6.II.A.9-10

Consider these questions as you review your project.

• What curriculum standards will be satisfied by the project you have selected? Standards to consider include science, math, language arts, social studies, and cross-curricula standards.

National

• National Science Education Standards - From the National Academy Press.

• National Educational Technology Standards - From the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

• Principles and Standards for School Mathematics - National mathematics standards from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

Miami

• Sunshine State Standards - This site contains all of the Florida Sunshine State Standards for all subject areas as well as email addresses for subject-area specialists (bottom of page).

• Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Home Page - Official web site for the state's proficiency exam.  Provides access to school test scores as well as teacher information.

  • "What Every Teacher Should Know about FCAT" (PDF document, Adobe Acrobat Read required).

• FCAT 4th Grade Reading: A Professional Development Tool - Web-based tutorial for educators which discusses the FCAT reading test and how to prepare for it.  It provides a good general introduction to the test as well.

Cleveland

• Draft Academic Content Standards - Ohio has released draft content standards for mathematics and language arts (Dec. '00) with additional standards to follow.  Scroll down on page to view drafts.

• Ohio Proficiency Test Materials - The State Department of Education has released a range of sample test materials as well as learning outcomes for 4th, 6th, 9th, and 12th grades. Follow the links below for more information:

  • Fourth-grade

  • Sixth grade

  • Ninth-grade

  • Twelfth-grade

Phoenix

• Arizona State Content Standards - This site contains links to the content standards in all subject areas and grade levels.

• Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) - State proficiency test based on the state standards.  This site contains instructional guides for students, administrative information, performance standards for various grade levels and access to test results.