Family & Community Alternative Learning
Charter Schools Best Practices

North Central Charter Essential School

Inquiry-based Science Instruction

Topics:	Instructional Practices Developing, refining, and documenting curricula
Mission:	The North Central Charter Essential School is a public school where students are known personally, challenged intellectually, and expected to participate actively in their learning. Guided by its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, the school seeks to send graduates into the world who THINK for themselves, CARE about others, and ACT creatively and responsibly.
Goals:	1. To produce and disseminate a Teacher’s Guide to inquiry-based science for grades 7-12. 2. To develop and present a teacher workshop incorporating the guide 3. To present the best practice at a conference in Spring 2007 4. To develop and present a public forum on inquiry based science education to encourage the mentoring of teachers by professionals.
Summary:	Essential Science: Using Inquiry-based Science to Engage Students. North Central Charter Essential School has identified its inquiry-based science program as a best practice. Discussions between a few science teachers and school administration indicated that the school's science program was something special that needed to be shared with others. Essential Science uses inquiry-driven investigations to engage students in becoming active learners and more importantly, active questioners. North Central Charter Essential School shares its “Essential Science” inquiry-based science program with other educators. This occurs through the production and dissemination of a Teacher’s Guide to Inquiry-based Science in grades 7-12 and the development and presentation of teacher workshops incorporating the Guide. The school applied for funding through the federal dissemination program to fund the work of the teachers involved and the production and distribution of the Guidebook. The product resulting from this project, A Guide to Teaching Inquiry Based Science in Grades 7-12, is a 100+ page document providing practical, concise information on incorporating inquiry-based science. Chapters include: What is Inquiry Science, The Scientific Method, Real World Connections, Skills and Skills Assessment, Reinforcing Mathematics in the Science Classroom, Accountability and Other Teaching Resources. An Appendix includes sample lesson plans and activities. The school also offers professional development/workshop sessions to support teachers in implementing the program. In the future the school will consider filming activities and posting these on the website so that teachers can access the materials on their own at their leisure.
Partner(s):
Dates:	01/01/2005 01/01/2006
Contact:	Carolyn Sellars, Director of Strategic Planning (sellarsc@ncces.org/978-345-2701 Ext. 403)
Resources:	A Guide to Teaching Inquiry Based Science in Grades 7-12. Contact the school for more information.
Federal Charter Schools Program Funds?	Yes

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