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1. What are Science Starters?
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Science Starters are 3-8 minute presentations presented at the beginning of each Science class in grades 6-11 as well as 12th grade TAKS remediation classes. Science Starter presentations are built directly from the TEKS. As teachers spiral through the tested TEKS they provide the daily review and remediation necessary for TAKS success. Worksheets and quizzes accompany the program.
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2. What are the system requirements?
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The program is web-based and is sold as an unlimited site license expiring 1 year from the date of purchase. A backup CD will be provided for use through August following the school year purchased.
CD Requirements: Windows operating system and PowerPoint 2003 or newer. The High School program requires 540 MB and the Middle School program 390 MB.
Website Requirements: Internet, internet browser and Flash version 8 or newer
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3. What is included with the TAKS Science Starter Site License?
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High School:
- 120 Science Starter Presentations
- 12 Worksheet Packets (120 Worksheets)
- 12 TAKS-A Modified Worksheet Packets
- 12 TAKS-A Modified Quizzes
Middle School:
- 100 Science Starter Presentations
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4. How does each Science Starter Lesson follow the 5 E instructional model?
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- ENGAGE: Each Science Starter PowerPoint lesson begins with a slide that focuses students on the lesson objective and encourages critical thinking. The “ENGAGE” slide can be used as a journal topic or as a topic for class discussion.
- EXPLAIN: Each lesson is explained clearly and concisely with images and graphics that promote retention.
- ELABORATE: A vocabulary presentation is available for each Science Starter. This is found on the website under Elaborate. These vocabulary words were selected from the lesson and are not necessarily science terms, but terms that students may have difficulty with. The Spanish term is included.
- EXPLORE: (High School Only) An “EXPLORE” activity is available for each Science Starter. This activity may be a lab, demonstration, or cooperative learning activity that reinforces the concept. You can find the “EXPLORE” activities on the CD “Science Starter Extras” slide or on the website ancillaries page.
- EVALUATE: Each Science Starter Presentation has questions embedded within the lesson that the teacher uses to evaluate student understanding. The High School program includes 12 quizzes and the Middle School 10. These quizzes are administered at the completion of
each worksheet packet.
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5. What data supports the program?
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The Science Starter program was first made available in 2007-2008. 95% of the schools using the program showed a gain in scores. It is recommended that the program be used daily in all science classes that include students who have not successfully completed the exit level TAKS.
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6. How does the Science Starter Program differ for traditional schedule and block schedule?
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For block schedule, 2 lessons are presented per day with a total of 10 lessons presented in 5 class days. On the 6th class day, the students will take a 10 question quiz. Schools on traditional schedule will present 10 lessons in 10 class days followed by a quiz on the 11th day.
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7. What is included in each worksheet and what are the worksheet options?
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Ten Science Starters with blanks are included in each worksheet packet. This allows students to participate in active note-taking as the teacher presents the lesson. Each Science Starter is followed by two independent, short answer questions. These questions are an extension of the lesson. As the students are answering these questions, time is available for the teacher to check roll and attend to other class business.
Teachers have the option of choosing to use worksheets with the independent questions or without the questions. Not only are we the developers of the Science Starters program, we are teachers. Some of us experienced a problem with students answering the questions when they needed to be focused on the lesson. For this reason, we are providing teachers with the option to choose worksheets with or without the independent questions.
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8. How are the worksheets designed to be used?
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The worksheets help keep students focused on the lessons and provide them with study material. Every two weeks, for each ten lesson unit, a worksheet will be distributed. Teachers have reported that they receive the best results when they keep the worksheets in the classroom until time for the quiz. An efficient way to do this is to keep a bin with student Science Starter folders. As students enter the classroom, they pick up their folders. After the lesson is presented, students pass up their folders and they are returned to the bin. On the day of the final Science Starter, the students may take the worksheet home to study for the quiz.
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9. How can TAKS Science Starters be used as a curriculum for a TAKS remediation class?
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The TAKS Science Starters program is an excellent curriculum for a Science TAKS remediation class. It is recommended that the Science Starter lesson be followed with the “ELABORATE” vocabulary presentation and the “EXPLORE” activity or another activity chosen by the teacher. The teacher may also want to give an independent practice assignment. To conclude the class period and reinforce understanding, it is recommended that the Science Starter be presented again at the end of the period.
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10. How do you recommend that we, as a science department, get started with the program?
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Print the Science Starter Recommended Sequence list found on the CD or on the website. With the Science Starter list and the school calendar, determine the dates each Starter will be presented and quizzes administered. Teachers must be committed to adhering to this schedule as closely as possible.
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11. What does the Science Starters program provide for students requiring modifications?
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TAKS-A modified worksheets and quizzes are included. The TAKS-A modifications include a larger font and a reduced number of questions on the worksheets. (Teachers still have the option of using worksheets with or without the independent questions.)
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12. What is provided for ESL students?
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The graphics provided in the program are critical to making the connection between vocabulary and concepts. The “ELABORATE” option specifically targets students with language gaps and barriers. Spanish terms are included to assist students with making Spanish to English connections.
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13. Should Science Starters be used in Honors or Pre-AP classes?
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All students will benefit from the Science Starters. We don’t just want our students to pass, we want them to receive a “commended” rating! Students who score high enough on all sections of the exit level TAKS will be exempt from the college entrance TASP test.
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14. What are the terms of use?
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The purchasing campus has unlimited campus use for 1 year from the date of purchase. Science Starters may not be copied and shared with any other campus. If all district high schools purchase the program, any associated alternative school may use it at no additional charge.
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15. When I run the Science Starter lessons from the installed CD some of the pictures are missing, or I see a large red X in place of the pictures. What is the problem?
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Missing pictures is an indication that you need to upgrade to a newer version of PowerPoint. You must have the 2003 version or newer. Using the Science Starters from the website does not require PowerPoint and this will not be a problem.
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16. Why does the program shut down when I try to open a lesson from the CD?
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This will occur if your computer is connected to a SmartBoard and the tool bar is open. Look at your tools at the bottom right of your desktop and find the Smartboard icon (it looks like a white board with a red pen), right click on the icon and select exit. Once you have closed out the SmartBoard tools you should not have a problem running the Science Starters. Another option is to go into the Ink Aware Settings within the SMART Board Control Panel and uncheck the entry for Power Point. When Ink aware is not enabled for Power Point, the slideshow will run just fine. If you run the Science Starters from the website this is not an issue. There is no conflict with SmartBoards.
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17. I am the computer technician on my campus and I have been given the Science Starter CD to load so that all teachers have access. What is the best way to do this?
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If your campus has a reliable network server we recommend you create a Science Starter shortcut on the desktop of each teacher and load the Science Starter backup CD to the network. If you do not have a reliable network we recommend loading the Science Starter CD on each teacher computer. Teachers should be reminded that the CD will expire on August 31 following the school year purchased. Website access at www.scientificminds.com is enabled for 1 year from the date of purchase.
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18. When does the site license expire?
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The backup CD will expire August 31 following the school year purchased. Web access will also expire on August 31 or one year from the date of purchase. For example, if a school purchases a site license for the 2009-2010 school year in June, 2009, they will be granted web access until August 31, 2010. If a school purchases in November 2009 they will be granted access until November 2010.
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18. We plan to purchase access to the Science Starters. How can we get our account activated as quickly as possible?
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Fax your purchase order to 800-886-1226 and include the following information: District Name: Campus Name(s): District Contact Name: District Contact Email: District Contact Job Title: Campus Contact Name(s): Campus Contact Email(s): Campus Contact Job Title(s): Verify receipt of your fax by calling 800-886-8145.
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