| All About Science Kits... | |
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All About Science Kits...
A science kit is basically a box full of resource materials for teachers. The box contains consumable and non-consumable equipment, student and teacher print resources, and posters that pertain to a specific strand and grade level in the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum.
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or back to Sarnia Lambton Index Page
- Simply e-mail your order to sciencecentre@lkdsb.net
OR call the Science Resource Centre at (519) 541-0107,
OR fax your order to (519) 541-1353.
We'll need your name, school, which kit(s) you would like, and when approximately you'd like them delivered.
[NOTE: These instructions are for the Sarnia Science Centre, which serves all "A" and "B" courier routes (Sarnia Lambton schools). If your school is in the Chatham Kent area, click here to return to your main menu.]
- If there is a copy of the kit you requested available we'll do our best to get it to you within the dates specified. If not, we'll recommend the closest date available.
- Kits will arrive with the regular school courier.
- You will have your kit for approximately eight weeks. A return date will be listed on the shipping label. DO NOT remove this label.
- Your kit is returned to the science centre by the same courier who delivered it. Just leave it out wherever your school secretary leaves the mailbags for pick-up. The courier comes in the morning, so you'd be best to leave your kit out the night before.
- VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE check your inventory before sending kits back. A brightly coloured, laminated inventory sheet is included in each box. Return all posters, print resources, non-consumable items, unused consumables and/or empty containers, including lock top bags that can be refilled. In many cases, the kits will go out again to another school within a couple days of their return from your classroom. Imagine how disappointing it would be to receive a kit with some of the inventory missing. The time you take to check the kit inventory is appreciated.
- Should anything be missing/broken, please leave a note explaining this for science centre staff.
- Booking for the upcoming school year can be made in late June. If you wish, you can book all your kits at this time.
- Note that S.E.P. science kits can only be booked by teachers working within the Lambton Kent District School Board or the St. Clair Catholic District School Board.
- If you have any questions, e-mail sciencecentre@lkdsb.net.
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What is available? Click on the appropriate link to be connected with a list of what we have available from the Science Centre located at Errol Road Public School in Sarnia. Note that this centre services all schools on "A" and "B" courier routes (Sarnia-Lambton schools). If your school is in the Chatham-Kent area, click here to return to your main menu.
- Lambton Kit List
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Three divisional curriculum teams are responsible for science kit development: Primary (Gr. 1-3), Junior (Gr. 4-6), and Intermediate (Gr. 7-8). Each curriculum team consists of a teacher representative from the Lambton Kent D.S.B., a teacher representative from the St. Clair Catholic D.S.B., and the Science Centre Technician.
The following process is followed during kit development:
- A needs assessment is conducted within each school system to determine where teachers need the greatest support to deliver hands-on, minds-on science. All science kits developed support the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum document.
- The curriculum team conducts a preliminary search to identify existing curriculum resources and materials. These materials are purchased in duplicate to build two pilot kits. Inventory in each kit consists of items not readily available in a school setting and/or cannot be obtained by recycling.
- Pilot teachers are identified in each system and invited to participate. An initial meeting is set up to discuss the expectations, timelines and procedures with the pilot teachers. On-going support for pilot teachers is provided by the curriculum team while the new kit is tested in the classroom.
- After the pilot sessions are completed, a second meeting is set up to do inventory revisions based on the pilot teachers experiences as well as input from the curriculum team teachers and the technician.
- Bulk orders are placed by the technician for the required number of copies of the final inventory. The kit copies are then assembled.
- The kit is introduced to all schools by an in-service team consisting of pilot teachers, curriculum team members, appropriate community members and representatives from the steering team.
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While using our kits, you may at one point or another think to yourself, "I wonder why they didn't include this... or that..." Our kits are built with the following considerations in mind:
- Cost: Total per kit cost is between $400 and $600.
- Size: Kits typically are stored in one 68-liter Rubbermaid container. Kits should also be a manageable weight.
- "Shipability": Kits are shipped to schools in the back of a truck. Fragile items do not fair well in such a situation! This is why we have limited glassware in our kits.
- Quality/Durability: A typical kit will visit four to five classrooms per year, therefore inventory that would not survive repetitive use is not appropriate.
- Safety: Inventory must adhere to proper safety procedures and safety alerts must be included in the kits.
- Quantity: Amounts will vary according to cost and type of activity.
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