Elementary Teacher Info

2024-2025 Sign-Ups

Elementary teachers can sign up to have the SciTrek program come to their school at no cost to them or their school. The SciTrek elementary program consists of one mini module (~1.5 hours) in the fall and two full length modules (~7 hours each) in two different quarters of the year. To see the module topics for each grade level, see the Elementary Modules/Curriculum page of the website. No partial programs are offered. Elementary Teachers are required to take an active role in the program. This role changes depending on the number of years they have worked with the program and the roles can be found below in Classroom Teacher Responsibilities. If you would like to sign up for the program, you can find available time slots in the Quarter Tables below and then use this Google form to submit your request. If you have any questions, please email  scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu. 

MINI MODULES

Mini modules for all grades run from August 26^th through September 20^th. On the google form you will be instructed to pick a time and date within this range for your mini module. Shown below are the times needed for each grade's mini module.

• 2^nd and 3^rd Grade: 1 hour
• 4^th and 5^th Grades: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• 6^th Grade: 2 session each 1 hour and 15 minutes

FULL LENGTH MODULES

Each day of the module takes 60 minutes of in class time. The number of days in each grade levels' modules are shown below. The table below specifies which modules are offered each quarter. Once you pick a time slot, we will work with you to determine the specific times and days, within that slot, that SciTrek to come to your classroom. 

• 2^nd and 3^rd Grades: 6 sessions each
• 4^th Grade: Module 1 - 6 sessions (+ an addition 30 minute day), Module 2 - 7 sessions
• 5^th and 6^th Grades: 8 sessions each

QUARTER TABLES

Fall

Module 1 for 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th* grade are offered in fall.

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Winter

Module 1 for 2^nd and 3^rd grades and Module 2 for 4^th and 5^th* grade are offered in winter.

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Spring

Module 2 for 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and  6^th* grades are offered in spring.

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CLASSROOM TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

In order for SciTrek to be sustainable, the program needs to work with teachers on developing their abilities to run student-centered inquiry-based lessons in their own in their classroom. To be fully prepared for modules, teachers must attend an orientation that corresponds with the module their class will be doing. For those that job share, both teachers are required to attend orientation for their class as well as attend each day of the module that falls upon their respective days. Additionally, if more than one day of the module is missed, priority registration for the next year will be affected. 

As teachers take over the role of SciTrek lead, SciTrek will continue to expand to additional classrooms. Even when teachers lead the modules in their own classroom, SciTrek will continue to provide volunteers and all of the materials needed to run the module. Below is a timeline for teachers to take over the role as the SciTrek lead. In order to receive priority sign-ups, teachers must adhere to this timeline.

• Year 1 - Classroom teacher is a Group Lead
• Year 2 - Classroom teacher is a Co- Lead
• Year 3 and beyond - Classroom teacher is a Lead

The responsibilities for each of these roles are as follows:

Group Lead

The classroom teacher will serve as one of the volunteers for the module. In this role the teacher will work with one group containing 4-10 students. During the module the teacher will sit with the group and work with them as they complete their experiments. For the 4^th - 6^th grade classrooms the group of ~10 students will be divided into two or three subgroups. Teachers will be responsible for overseeing all subgroups within the large group.

Co-Lead

The classroom teacher will serve as the SciTrek lead with an experienced SciTrek staff member present to help out if needed. In this role, the classroom teacher will be responsible for leading entire class discussions (e.g., scientific practice activity, tie to standards, etc.), time management, overseeing volunteers, and helping any groups that are struggling. The classroom teacher must be prepared to do all of the above activities; the SciTrek co-lead will only step in for emergencies. In the teacher's second year with the program they will not be required to co-lead the tie to standards day (last day of the module).

Lead

The classroom teacher will serve as the SciTrek lead with no experienced SciTrek staff member present. However, SciTrek volunteers will be there to lead groups and all module materials will be provided. In this role the classroom teacher will be responsible for leading entire class discussions (e.g., scientific practice activity, tie to standards, etc.), time management, overseeing volunteers, and helping any groups that are struggling. The classroom teacher must be prepared to do all of the above activities. Once the classroom teacher is serving as the lead, it is essential that they notify a SciTrek staff member if they will not be there for any day of the module at scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu. If this is not done there will not be anyone there to lead the class. In teachers third year an experienced SciTrek staff member will be present every day and they will co-lead the tie to standards day (last day of the module) with teachers.

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