South Central Alliance

1. Contact

2. Information on the Center

3. Directions to the Center

4. Additional Materials

 

1. Contact

Mike Brown
Co-Director
Science Coordinator
ESD 105
33 South Second Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
Voice: 509-454-2852
Fax: 509-575-2918
mikeb@esd105.wednet.edu


Jewel Brumley
Co-Director
Instructional Coordinator for Math & Science
Yakima School District
10 N. 6th Ave.
Yakima, WA 98902
Voice: 509-469-1436
Fax: 509-573-2777
brumley.jewel@yakimaschools.org


Kathy Moritz
Administrative Assistant
ESD 105
33 South Second Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
Voice: 509-454-5309
Fax: 509-575-2918
kathym@esd105.wednet.edu

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2. Information on the Center

About the Alliance
The South Central Washington State LASER Alliance partners with 22 school districts and 2 private schools to support the ESD 105 Science Education Cooperative in implementing a regional K-6 inquiry science curriculum program. This includes a cadre of Master Trainers to deliver initial use training on 19 STC units in physical science, earth science/technology, and life science, a materials support system for kit purchase, kit sharing, and refurbishment.

A total of 2600 science kits will be implemented in regional classrooms during 2006-2007.

Attendance at a LASER Strategic Planning Institute and the development of a science strategic plan is a requirement for districts to belong to the Science Education Cooperative. The participating LASER/Science Education Cooperative Districts include:

Bickleton School District
CleElum-Roslyn School District
East Valley School District
Easton School District
Ellensburg School District
Grandview School District
Granger School District
Highland School District
Kittitas School District
Mabton School District
Mt. Adams School District
Prosser School District
Selah School District
Sunnyside School District
Thorp School District
Toppenish School District
Union Gap School District
Wahluke School District
Wapato School District
West Valley School District
Yakima School District
Zillah School District
St. Joseph/Marquette School
St. Paul Cathedral School

Efforts of the Alliance Supported by LASER Funding
Kindergarten through sixth grade teachers receive 12 hours of initial use kit training in each of the physical science, earth science/technology, and life science strands. Content (concepts-deepening) workshops in all three strands have been offered since spring of 2005. These workshops are presented by experts from Eastern Washington University , Central Washington University , Yakima Valley Community College , Washington State University, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Assessment Literacy workshops (for 4th and 5th grade) will be offered for the first time in December 2006 and January 2007. Advanced workshops (WASL Connection, GLE Alignment, Integration with Reading and Mathematics, Advanced Notebooks for Assessment) are now in the developmental stages.

The South Central Washington LASER Alliance now has 23 Master Trainers who provide quality training in 19 STC units. The trainers work with master trainers individually, shadow and co-present at Initial Use trainings, and, in some cases, attend a Professional Development Manual Training as unit manuals are developed under the leadership of Peggy Willcuts. At this time there are four more teachers proceeding through this process to become Master Trainers.

 

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3. Directions to the Center

Directions to Educational Service District 105 (33 South 2nd Avenue):
Take exit 33 off I-82 westward towards Yakima Avenue . Follow Yakima Avenue through several intersections, crossing the railroad tracks. At 2nd Avenue, turn left. ESD 105 is the first business on the left.

Directions to the Science Resource Center (603 West Pine, 98902):
Follow above directions onto Yakima Avenue . Continue on Yakima Avenue to 5th Avenue. Turn left and continue through the West Walnut intersection. Turn right onto West Pine just past Lions Park/Pool. The SRC is the first building past Lions Pool on the right.

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4. Additional Materials

South Central Alliance Curriculum Matrix

ESD 105 K-6 Regional Curriculum Program (STC)

GRADE

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

EARTH SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

LIFE SCIENCE

KINDERGARTEN

   

Life Cycle of Butterflies

FIRST

Solids & Liquids

Weather

Comparing & Measuring

SECOND

Balancing & Weighing

Soils

Organisms

THIRD

Chemical Tests

Rocks & Minerals

Plant Growth & Development

FOURTH

Electric Circuits

Land & Water

Microworlds

FIFTH

Food Chemistry

Motion & Design

Ecosystems

SIXTH

Floating & Sinking

Magnets & Motors

Experiments with Plants

 

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Last updated 1/31/2008