Science Content Area

The Wayne County Math and Science Center owns two StarLabs, indoor planetariums. They are for the use of Wayne County teachers. In order to borrow the StarLab, you must be trained. Training for StarLab are conducted as needed. If you would like more information about StarLab trainings, please contact Latisha Porter.

Aunt Nan's Missing Star Here is a short story about light pollution written by Bob Riddle.  He wrote it a few years ago as part of an achievement award for Girl Scouts.

StarLab Registration Form If you would like to reserve the StarLab for use at your school, please download the registration form and return it to Latisha Porter.

Student Services Form When you use the Starlab, it is your responsibility to complete a student services form as it is important to let us know how many students have shared in the use of the Starlab. Please download the student services form and return it to Latisha Porter. 

Return Instructions Form The Starlab can be used for one week at a time, unless other arrangements have been made. It should be picked up on Monday and returned on Friday. Please download the Starlab Return Instructions Form to view information on returning the Starlab and contact information. If you have questions, please contact Latisha Porter.

The StarLab website provides all of the information that you will need about the StarLab.
StarLab Website

Instructional Videos on Using the Starlab

The South Carolina State Museum made a series of training videos on using the Starlab. The focus of the videos was to provide information on their Starlab, but also to help those who have a Starlab and need help in using it. All of the videos are located on YouTube. Each video lasts 3 to 9 minutes.

1. Overview and Unfolding the Starlab
2. The Starlab Fan and Inflating the Starlab
3. The Standard Starlab Projector
4. Starlab Cylinders and "The Yellow Box"
5. Inside the Starlab and Safety Outside the Starlab
6. Entering the Starlab and Deflating the Dome and Packing Up

Please click to watch the entire process of setting up the Starlab, presenting a "show" and tearing it down, in a 25-second video.

Classic Starlab Cylinder Manuals

The Wayne County Math and Science Center has 15 different cylinders that you can use with your students.

User Manual for each cylinder from Starfield: provides information on using that specific cylinder. Please click on the name of each cylinder to download the manuals from Starfield. 

 LED Projector and Starlab.

Activities and Lesson Manuals for Use in Starlab

• Kindergarten - 6th Grade
• Grades 7-12

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Starlab, including: "How many people fit inside?"; "What kind of room do I need for the Starlab?"; "How long does it take to set up and take down?"; "How do I get inside of it and do I have to crawl?";"How heavy is it?"; and "Is it handicapped accessible?"

StarLab FAQs

StarDogs Astronomy

Rod Bisher is the owner of StarDogs Astronomy. Rod has trained teachers in the use of StarLab in Wayne County and is an approved presenter through the Wayne County Math and Science Center at Wayne RESA. For more information, contact Rod at:
Office: (517) 803-2349
Cell: (517) 490-6246
email: stardogsastronomy@gmail.com
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If you are teacher in Wayne County, you have access to resources that you can use in your classroom, free of charge.

In order to qualify for free use of these materials, you need to attend a training session. Once you have been trained, you will have access to the resources. For more information, please contact Latisha Porter, Richard Bacolor or Greg Johnson.

If you are not a Wayne County teacher, but have been trained, you may contact your local Michigan Mathematics and Science Center Consultant. In Livingston/Washtenaw please contact Andrea Pisani. In Oakland, please contact Mike Gallagher. In Macomb, please contact Mike Klein.

Family Engineering

Sample Program
Sample Flyer
Family Engineering Resource Guide
Family Engineering Kit Registration Form
If you would like to reserve the Family Engineering Kit for use at your school, please download the registration form and return it to Latisha Porter.

Student Services Form
When you use the Family Engineering Kit, it's your responsibility to complete a student services form. This is important because it lets us know how many students have shared in the use of the Family Engineering Kit. Please contact student services with any questions.

Tips on Using the Family Engineering Kit 

Tips on Doing the Hand Challenge
Tips on Doing the Brain Saver Challenge

Engineering is Elementary

Youth Engineering Solutions

Engineering is Elementary (EIE) Registration Form

If you would like to reserve the Engineering is Elementary Kit(s) (EIE)  for use at your school, please download the registration form and return it to Greg Johnson at johnsog@resa.net.

Student Services Form

When you use the Engineering is Elementary Kit(s) (EIE) it is your responsibility to complete a student services form. This is important because it lets us know how many students have shared in the use of the Engineering is Elementary Kit(s).  Please download the student services form and return it to Greg Johnson.

The M-STEP Science is a 3-Dimensional science assessment that is currently aligned to our new Michigan Science Standards (MSS). The MSS are the performance expectations (PE's) from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Please see timeline below.

• The M-Step for 5, 8, and 11th grade is currently aligned to our new Michigan Science Standards.
• The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and state law require that we give a state science exam once in each grade band: elementary, middle, and high school. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) continues those same requirements.
• MDE will continue to give the SAT and the M-STEP Science and Social Studies for 11th Grade

• The timeline for the New Michigan Science Standard assessment is:

  • Spring 2018 - New MSS aligned item clusters, Grades 5, 8, 11.  This test will be a little shorter than future tests. (accountability based on participation)

  • Spring 2019 - New MSS aligned item clusters, Grades 5, 8, 11. (accountability based on participation) 

  • Spring 2020 - Fully operational MSS assessment (Start High Stakes accountability) (Grades 5, 8, 11) 

• Move assessment from Grade 4 to Grade 5, and move Grade 7 to Grade 8
• Practices embedded throughout
• Grade 11 and Grade 8 tests to assess the entire band of standards (6-8 for 8th grade test ; 9-12 for 11th grade test)
• Grade 5 test to assess 3-5 grade standards

The NGSS Assessment Padlet has been created that provides assessment examples by grade span and also provides links to many assessment resources.

Tentative Assessment Plan (subject to change)

• Spring 2018 Assessment -- Pilot 2 and 3 dimensional science items aligned to the new standards. Accountability based on student participation rates.
• 2019 -- Pilot 2 and 3 dimensional science items aligned to the new standards. Accountability based on student participation rates.
• 2020 -- Full implementation of the three-dimensional testing of the Michigan Science Standards.

1. Next Generation Science Assessment project.  If you would like to try out the Middle School Assessment Tasks that have been developed so far, please go to  and NGSS Assessments.  
2. NSTA has some resources as well. Check out Classroom Sample Assessment Tasks

Executive Summary
Introduction and Overview
Grades K-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12

NGSS Evidence Statements provide educators with additional detail on what students should know and be able to do. These Evidence Statements are statements of observable and measurable components that, if met, will satisfy NGSS performance expectations.

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) brought together a group of interested states to create the Science Assessment Item Collaborative (SAIC). The purpose of this phase of work for the SAIC was to develop resources to support states in designing assessments aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). As you know, our newly adopted Michigan Science Standards are the Performance Expectations (PE's) from NGSS.

In partnership with WestEd, the SAIC developed these resources:

An Assessment Framework
Item Specifications Guidelines
Item Cluster Prototypes (Grade 5 and Grade 12 item cluster prototypes) 

Additional resources will be made available in the future and can be found at (URL) CSAI Science Assessment Item Collaborative

• Students who take the SAT will get a science score (this will not be used for school accountability)
• Students will also take the science M-STEP (this will be used for school accountability)
• The SAT science score can be used as part of the student's university application process
• Again, the SAT science score will not be used as part of a school's accountability
• Again, the Science M-STEP will be used as part of a school's accountability

How will the M-STEP science be factored into a school's focus or priority school status?

According to the Flexibility Waiver (p.101), Science M-Step scores will still be included within the school's accountability. This is also used in the identification and Top-to-Bottom Ranking for Priority schools ranking (not focus school ranking). The difference is that there were 5 subjects, now there are 4 because Writing and ELA are being combined.

Science is not counting toward Focus School Status anymore. And, even though it does play into the Priority School status, it would be at a much reduced rate because this is based on the number of tests taken for each building. For example, if there is a building with just 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that have 100 students in each grade, there would be 300 math tests, 300 ELA tests, 100 science tests, and 100 social studies tests taken. So, science now counts 1/8 (100 science tests out of 800 tests given) of the overall ranking for priority school status.

In conclusion, science does NOT count toward focus school status. However, It does play in proportionally (as described above in the status of priority schools) based on the number of tests taken in a building. So for elementary and middle there are typically more ELA and Math tests taken than Science. In high school, the proportion should be about the same. Additionally, the Spring 2015 test scores are not affecting Focus or Priority school. The Spring 2016 tests will affect them.

Please go to MDE Student Assessment Website if you would like Assessment Transition updates as weekly communications are posted there.

Here is some of the information from the BAA website:

Legislation was passed requiring the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to develop a new summative assessment for use in Spring 2015. Unlike the previous MEAP assessments, the new assessment will be aligned to Michigan standards, administered in the spring, and measure current year versus past year student knowledge. English language arts and mathematics will be assessed in grades 3-8 and 11. Science will be assessed in grades 4, 7, and 11; and social studies in grades 5, 8, and 11. 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Linda Howley, Test Development Manager Office of Standards and Assessment Division of Accountability Services Michigan Department of Education (517) 241-2525.

Accountability email address and telephone number:

Your one stop shop for all topics and resources relating to district and school accountability in Michigan! The Michigan Department of Education's District and School Accountability initiatives are handled by: Office of Evaluation, Strategic Research and Accountability (OESRA)

Office Phone: (877) 560-8378

Office Email: MDE-Accountability@michigan.gov 

Achieve has released a new resource, the Classroom Sample Assessment Tasks. These sample tasks provide examples of how content from both the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Mathematics can be assessed together in classrooms. Each task focuses on a specific context or storyline and includes multiple components that work together to partially or fully assess a bundle of chosen standards (i.e., group of related standards from the CCSS and the NGSS). The purpose of these sample tasks is to provide some examples of how to meaningfully integrate the NGSS and CCSS in authentic ways in the context of classroom assessment. To aid educators in their own task development, the front matter of the sample classroom assessment tasks provides information about the tasks’ development process so additional tasks can be created to assess a bundle of both math and science standards.

The State Science Education Standards Comparison Tool is available on the NGSS website.

NAEP Sample Science Questions
NAEP Example of Interactive Computer Assessment
Smarter Balanced Assessment

NAEP Data Analysis

According to this NAEP data, guess what factor is the greatest predictor of science success? Those students that are more economically fortunate have a greater likelihood of success in science. But if we look closer at this data, there are several outliers that tell a different story.

• Take a look at Kentucky and Oregon, they have a similar percentage of free or reduced price lunch students, but very different results; Oregon is one of the worst performing states, and Kentucky is one of the highest. Why?
• One reason may be the difference in the amount of time teachers spend teaching science. In Oregon, they average 1.5 hrs./week compared to 3.8 hrs./week. So where is Michigan?
• Comparing Michigan and Nevada, the lunch count should predict similar results, but they are separated by 9 points. Notice the amount of time they spend teaching science in each of these states, about a 1 hr. difference.
• If Michigan elementary classrooms were to increase instruction to 4 hours / week (and the same pattern were to hold true) we should have the highest NAEP scores in the country.

See Impact of Decline in Science Instructional Time in Elementary School.

If Michigan elementary classrooms were to increase instruction to 4 hours / week (and the same pattern were to hold true) we should have the highest NAEP scores in the country.

Laying out a new vision for science assessments, a panel of the National Research Council proposed that states design testing systems that integrate several key types of science learning, and blend classroom-based assessments with state-level "monitoring" tests and gauges of students' "opportunity to learn."

The proposal, detailed in a 256-page report, offers an expert panel's ideas on how testing should change to fully reflect the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by eight states so far. The picture it paints departs markedly from current assessment practice, which tilts heavily toward students' knowledge of science facts, and typically takes place in one large-scale statewide exam each spring.

Instead, to gauge student learning, the panel recommends that states obtain feedback from three sources. One is ongoing, classroom-based, or "formative," assessments, which would draw students into building and refining scientific models, generating and analyzing data, and creating oral and written arguments about what they're learning.

The second source of information would be state-level "monitoring" tests that would be aimed at measuring how well students have learned the material over the course of a year, and that could be used to meet states' accountability needs.  

Finally, the panel says states should collect school-level information about resources that affect students' chances "to learn science in the ways laid out in the [NRC] framework and the [new science standards]," such as access to good instructional materials, the level of teachers' subject-matter expertise, and instructional approaches that allow students "of varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds" to access the material.

Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve

Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve

Crosswinds Marsh is a 1,050 acre Wetland Interpretive Preserve which offers a unique opportunity to observe a variety of wetland environments, including forested wetlands, wet meadows, shallow water wetlands and shallow water emergent wetlands. Crosswinds Marsh offers a blend of wetlands, wildflower meadows and upland forests, attracting over 200 species of birds, 30 species of mammals and a variety of reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Take I-275 to Will-Carleton Road (Exit #8). Take Will-Carleton/Oakville Waltz Road west 3 ½-miles to Haggerty Road. Take Haggerty Road ½-mile north to park entrance on the west side of the road.

Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve offers School Programs, Outreach Programs, Family Programs and Scout Badge Workshops focusing on the natural and cultural history of our area. Interpretive programs designed specifically for schools, scouts and families, feature hands-on activities, hikes, games and crafts to foster fun and informative learning experiences. We offer a variety of programs, but other topics can be provided upon request. On-site programs are offered April through October and outreach programs are offered throughout the year. The Parks Millage made these programs possible.

Detroit Science Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy

Detroit Science Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy

The Detroit Science Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy SEMAA Program services over 1500 students per year. It is an innovative program designed to reach K-12 grade students that are traditionally underrepresented in careers involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is the only program in the metro area for the state of Michigan. The goal of the program is to encourage students to pursue STEM related majors and careers closing the gap of falling behind to prepare our next generation for the STEM workforce. With a curriculum planned by NASA, students meet regularly to engage in interactive learning sessions that are specifically designed for each grade level. We also feature an Aeronautics Educational Laboratory, complete with a flight simulator, wind tunnel, and over 10 computer stations that touch on subjects such as weather patterns to Bernoulli's principles.

Friends of the Rouge

Friends of the Rouge

Friends of the Rouge promotes the restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River.

Nankin Mills Interpretive Center

Nankin Mills Interpretive Center

The Nankin Mills Interpretive Center is now open to the public and offers cultural, historical and natural science educational programming and exhibits for schools, scout groups and families. Nankin Mills Interpretive Center is located on Hines Drive, just east of Ann Arbor Trail in Westland, Michigan. Wayne County Parks is pleased to open the doors of Nankin Mills Interpretive Center to the public with exciting and informative exhibits for the whole family. Come visit their displays and explore the natural and cultural history of the Rouge River watershed. You will discover which animals still call our area home, and learn how the first people of Michigan lived closely with the land. The Rouge River was an important resource to the first settlers in the area and a gristmill was located here for 100 years. Henry Ford continued to utilize the water power on our site for one of his first Village Industry projects. So much local history to discover! Tour on your own, or call for a guided group tour appointment. 

National Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. The NWF Great Lakes Natural Resource Center regularly works with Wayne County educators, organizations, and the public to provide educational resources on schoolyard habitats, wildlife, climate change, and the Great Lakes.

Orion's Quest

Orion's Quest

The Wayne County Math and Science Center is very lucky to be affiliated with Orion's Quest. This project provides students with the opportunity to do space research. The project was developed in Wayne County.

Rouge Education Project

Rouge Education Project

The Wayne County Math and Science Center is a proud sponsor of the Friends of the Rouge/Rouge Education Project. Over 100 schools from Wayne and Oakland Counties participate in this water quality project.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is interested in partnering with Wayne County schools to do service-learning projects at the Refuge on invasive species removal, trail building and posting refuge signs.

The Greening of Detroit

The Greening of Detroit

One of our newest partners is The Greening of Detroit. Their mission is to guide and inspire the growth of a "greener" Detroit through planting and educational programs, environmental leadership, advocacy and by building community capacity.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

A wonderful experience for hands-on science for children is at the Hands-On Museum. Mel Drumm is the Director and a real friend of science education in the area. He can be contacted at director@aahom.org.

Detroit Science Center

Detroit Science Center

The New Detroit Science Center provides wonderful experiences for "kids of all ages."

Cranbrook Institute of Science

Cranbrook Institute of Science

The theme of the Cranbrook Institute of Science is "Connecting Us to Our World and the Universe Beyond." Our friend at the Institute is the director, Michael Stafford. He can be contacted at mstafford@cranbrook.edu.

Detroit Zoo-Conservation and Education

Detroit Zoo-Conservation and Education

The Wayne County Math and Science Center has a very good friend in Kim Sneden at the Detroit Zoo. Kim is in charge of Education at the Zoo. Kim can be contacted at ksneden@detroitzoo.org.

Citizen Science Opportunities

The web offers many exciting opportunities for classes to get involved in REAL science! Here are some great starting points that will get you thinking about how you might incorporate these opportunities into your curricula! (Thanks to Jim Forde from Digital Learning Environments for sharing this information. Please visit his site at Citizen Science Opportunities).

Sci Starter

Sci Starter

An easy-to-use menu for searching for science projects to get involved in utilizing categories like at home, at night, at the beach etc. You can also select items by science topic. Here is their cool Sci Starter blog.

Zooniverse

Zooniverse

This site is self-described as, "home to the internet's largest, most popular and most successful citizen science projects." The most popular project on this website is Galaxy Zoo. All of these projects appear to be Space-based and will have you analyzing Hubble Telescope images, finding stars from IR image data, exploring the surface of the moon or Sun, or my favorite, searching for evidence of planets around Stars!

Specific Projects to Highlight

Students' Cloud Observations Online (S'COOL)

Students' Cloud Observations Online (S'COOL)

The project aims to collect data on cloud type, height, cover, and related conditions from all over the world. Observations are sent to NASA for comparison to similar information obtained from satellites.

Globe at Night

Globe at Night

Help contribute to a database collecting information about light pollution. This is an easy one to do!

Citizen Science Projects

As provided by Scientific American

Research often involves teams of scientists collaborating across continents. Now using the power of the Internet, non-specialists are participating too. Citizen Science falls into many categories. A pioneering project was SETI@Home, which has harnessed the idle computing time of millions of participants in the search for extraterrestrial life. Citizen scientists also act as volunteer classifiers of heavenly objects, such as in Galaxy Zoo. They observe the natural world, as in The Great Sunflower Project. Scientific American will add projects regularly. Visit the Scientific American website to find hundreds of citizen science projects.

Welcome to Wayne County's 11th year of the Michigan Green School program - 2017-2018 school year. Wayne County will again continue to showcase your school’s environmental leadership, while encouraging students, staff, and parents to improve energy conservation and become environmental stewards. Public Act 301 (2010), is the updated and revised P.A. 146 (2006) which encourages all public and private schools to voluntarily implement energy saving and environmental activities and become recognized as a Michigan Green School.

The Wayne County Department of Public Services (DPS) and partner Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA) will again implement this program and recognize schools that achieve 10 or more energy saving and environmental activities in an academic year. The activities are set up in categories: Recycling, Energy Saving, Environmental Protection and Miscellaneous. A fifth category allows you to Propose Your Own Activity. This is an annual recognition, so schools must re-apply each year to remain a Wayne County Michigan Green School. All schools recognized as a Wayne County Michigan Green School will receive a large indoor/outdoor Michigan Green Schools banner and a certificate signed by the County CEO and Wayne RESA Superintendent to proudly display as your school continues to work to reduce energy costs and protect Michigan’s precious natural resources.

Important Information

• You must use the Wayne County Guidelines. Please note that other application forms, including those found on the Michigan Green Schools Foundation website, CANNOT be accepted.
• The school coordinator or team leader must complete the Activity Verification Form, or similar format with proper documentation describing how the school has performed the activities.
• Activity Verification forms should be submitted to Nancy Gregor by March 1, 2018
• Wayne County schools can achieve the following Green School Designations, depending on the number of specified energy saving and environmental activities they complete:

  Designation	Number of Points Earned
  Green	10-14 points
  Emerald	15-19 points
  Evergreen	20 or more points

Together, Wayne County and You can build Green Schools for a better environment!  

For additional information visit Wayne County’s Michigan Green School program,

We look forward to working with you for another great and growing Green School year. For more information or assistance, please contact Wayne County Green Schools program coordinators:

Nancy Gregor
Wayne County Department of Public Services
3600 Commerce Court
Wayne, MI 48184
734.326.4607
ngregor@waynecounty.com

Richard Bacolor
Wayne County Mathematics and Science Center at Wayne RESA
33500 Van Born Road
Wayne, MI 48184
734.334.1348
bacolor@resa.net

Guidelines and Activity Form for 2017 - 2018

Apply to become a Wayne County Green School by completing the Activity Verification Form.

What is a Michigan Green School?

• Michigan Green Schools is a non-profit 501(c)3 agency dedicated to assisting all Michigan schools - public and private - achieve environmental goals which include protecting the air, land, water and animals of our state along with world outreach through good ecological practices and the teaching of educational stewardship of students pre-kindergarten through senior high school.
• Michigan Green Schools began as an idea from students and teachers of Hartland Consolidated School District in the fall of 2005. It was determined that the best way to help Michigan achieve environmental goals through its schools was to formulate 20 points of educational environmental activities. It was further decided that if any school in Michigan achieved ten of these points within an academic year, it could achieve official Michigan Green School status.
• Students and teachers then proceeded to propose their bill to local Representative Joe Hune, who introduced the bill in the Michigan House in 2006. Students and teachers testified before the House Natural Resources Committee; it was forwarded to the House floor. Public Act 146 of 2006 was approved by an overwhelming majority of that body.
• State Senator Valde Garcia then sponsored the legislation before the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee, which voted to send the bill to the Senate floor. The Senate voted almost unanimously to approve the measure.
• Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed the bill May 21, 2006. In the first year of the program, 18 schools participated. Last year 189 schools became official Michigan Green Schools. This academic year, over 300 schools are participating in the growing program.

 Achieved Green School Awards

Resources from the Wayne County Green Schools Workshop

Held at the Nankin Mills Nature Center on Wednesday, November 6, 2013.

Review of the 2013 Recognition Ceremony, held at Wayne RESA.
"Green" Ideas PowerPoint Provided by our Friends in the Macomb County Green Schools Program.
"Green School" Photos - 1
"Green School" Photos - 2
Activity Ideas
List of Resource Providers
Meeting Agenda

Resources

Resources to Assist in Completing Green School Activities. Contact Information, Phone Number, Website, and Email Addresses Are Included.

Official Michigan Green School Logo

If you need to use the official Michigan Green Schools Logo for your newsletters, emails, etc., please feel free to click on the attached link, download it and use it.

Michigan Green Schools Website

The following resources are provided by Waste Management, Inc.:

Single Stream Recycling

Wildlife Habitat Certification

Wildlife Habitat Council