Classworks Science arrived at a time when science instruction at the elementary school level is sorely needed. We know there is a critical need for science instructional software because you – our customers – have been telling us so.
Having just released, we have been deluged with educator inquiries about Classworks Science, asking us how fast we can get it get installed in their schools. We believe Classworks Science will be an essential piece of your elementary science instruction just as schools are facing fifth-grade No Child Left Behind testing requirements for science.
Classworks Science, which is designed for third through fifth-graders, addresses three basic strands: life science, physical science and earth/space science. Classworks Science is also designed to help counter the challenges of teaching science at the upper elementary level, which include:
• Shortage of researched-based, proven technology instruction
• Shortage of elementary science teachers
• Lack of instructional time due to focus on math and reading
• Content based – not skill based
• Unique and technical vocabulary
The interactive instruction begins with small, easy-to-understand units presenting a bite-sized description of a topic – such as food chain cycles or how genetic traits are passed on or how earthquakes and volcanic eruptions happen – and reinforced with graphics, including animation and audio. Students then apply their new understanding of specific scientific principals on specific activities before going on to a review of the topic.
We partnered with Six Red Marbles – a leader in the instructional design field – to develop Classworks Science, which is based on NSTA Science Standards and supports all major textbook series. Classworks Science also uses the Lexile Framework to provide a common, developmental scale to match students’ reading abilities with the reading levels of the science instruction. By using the Lexile scale, time spent on the computer will be more effective because students will understand more of what they read.
Our middle school version of Classworks Science is currently under development.
For more information about Classworks Science, contact your Education Consultant, visit our website at www.classworks.com or call 888.841.4790 ext. 6715.
