information for teachers

Click on "information" at left to access the sub-sections of this page.

purpose
Science Tasks with Otis & Flask are designed to help 5^th grade students revisit and build upon critical science concepts. These centers within this program complement your existing curriculum - as lead-ins or follow-ups to science topics. They can also be used by 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers as whole-class activities or extensions.

Organization of Booklets
Each booklet contains science tasks that are presented in a “student-directed learning center” format addressing a specific science topic. Each booklet contains four parts:

Teacher Information
This provides a summary of the center and directions for the teacher, along with a list of all the materials and step-by-step procedures to set up one or more centers. A review of content identifies the key concepts that the center teaches. Prerequisite skills and key vocabulary are identified. The answer key for the final assessment, which the teacher will score, is also included within this section.

Task Cards
Each center contains one or more Task Cards that list the procedures for the students. Teachers can photocopy the Task Cards and provide them at the center.

Student Packet
The photocopy-ready Student Packet leads the student through all of the Task Cards and assessments. The packets may include observation/data sheets and questions related to hands-on activities, student readings, vocabulary words, and assessments. The “Check Your Understanding” assessments are modeled after the OAT and include multiple choice, short answer and extended response questions.

Answer Key
Student answer keys are provided for most questions and all of the “Check Your Understanding” assessments, the only exception being the final assessment that the teacher will score.

information brochure
This brochure provides overview information on the focus of each activity center. Download it here.

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equipment packs
We offer three types of equipment packs to help teachers implement the Science Tasks:

Essential Equipment Pack: Provides one set of the most critical items needed to conduct al of the centers.

More Complete Equipment Pack: Provides nearly all of the items needed to conduct all of the centers. The More Complete Equipment Pack includes everything in the Essential Equipment Pack, plus some assembly of the Essential Equipment Pack items, as well as additional items.

Classroom Equipment Pack: Provides critical items in numbers sufficient to conduct a center's activities simultaneously with one classroom in small groups.

Please download a content list for the Essential and More Complete Equipment packs here.

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updates/additional activities
We will provide you additional resource links and information that will enrich the student activities in the Science Tasks booklets even further. Check back often!

Right now, you can download PDFs of web-based activities for these selected centers:

• Fossils
• Plant & Animal Structure/Function Relationships
• Coming soon: Soils

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feedback
We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think of Science Tasks and any comments you (or your students) have about specific centers and/or activities.Let us know here: connect@teachinglearningcollaborative.org.

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