Why we use SEPUP in Arizona

•  Student Centered

•  Hands-on with a purpose

•  English and Spanish Student Books

Get to know Lab-Aids

Lab-Aids is the exclusive publisher for SEPUP, an acronym for Science Education for Public Understanding Program, located at the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Lab-Aids partners with SEPUP to publish digital and print materials and produce science lab equipment.

SEPUP requires students to interact with scientific content multiple times through varied learning experiences including investigations, laboratories, readings, and simulations. Literacy skills are embedded into the investigations and will support Chandler Unified Schools curriculum goals.

Students investigate real-world issues through engaging experiments and then make data-driven decisions. 

Change the Equation recognizes SEPUP as one of the nation's most effective STEM learning programs. Click here for more details.

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How are we culturally responsive?

Lab-Aids supports Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices. 

  • Foster Positive Learning Communities:
    • 4-2-1 model supports heterogenous grouping, networking, and collaboration.
    • Activates multiple intelligence through varied activities.
    • Support materials are organized and easily accessed. 

  • Student Centered/ Relevant to Student's Lives: (see sample student pages)
    • Students generate, investigate, and respond to questions relevant to their lives.
    • Presented in a student-centered storyline, main characters are students and reflect the diversity of society.

  • Engaging, Rigorous and Relevant:
    • Challenges students to think critically and address relevant issues.
    • Issues-based - student explorations build their expertise - they propose solutions supported by data.
    • Their voice is respected and valued, encouraging divergent thinking supported by their evidence and reasoning. 

Professional Development

Build sustainability

Science educators have come to trust Lab-Aids as a valuable resource for engaging and worth-while professional development.

Our trainings are like our programs; engaging, hands-on, and personally relevant. From our popular conference workshops and getting-started days to full year implementation and district level train-the-trainer programs we are here to support our schools - now and in the future. 

It's how all PD should be.

Teachers PD

Using a model similar to other large districts, we will create an intentional plan within Chandler Unified to build internal leadership and long-term sustainability of the program.  

HOW LAB-AIDS SUPPORTS PARADISE VALLEY CURRICULUM

Literacy supports throughout

Our labs provide frequent opportunities for students to develop their language skills, each providing embedded strategies to help teachers explore students' thinking. 

The Three-Level Reading Guide is a reading strategy that focuses students on processing content in text. It guides students from the literal level of understanding to the higher levels of interpretation and application of the reading.

Talking Drawings help students construct diagrams to visually communicate their ideas about a concept. 

Use of a science notebook is also integrated.

Learn more

Materials chosen for durability and low refill cost

We provide teachers with all the tools needed so that they can get back to what matters: teaching. Lab-Aids provides all the needed components for an authentic inquiry classroom. From one day activities to full year curriculum, we offer a range of classroom solutions.

1. Student books 2. All Equipment 3. Online Resources 4. Organized Drawers 5. Signature Items 6. Listed Drawer Contents 7. Storage Carts

4-2-1 Grouping Model - Students working collaboratively

Group work helps students build skills and is critical in helping an issue-oriented classroom succeed. The 4-2-1 cooperative approach offers a structure that helps teachers reduce off-task conversations, students dominating discussions, and lack of accountability. 

Having students evaluate the ability of their group to work together also improves group interaction skills. Students improve their ability to work with others when allowed to self-assess their interactions when working in groups. 

ENCOURAGING MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES FROM STUDENTS

Issues-based science means we ask for their position, supported by data.

SEPUP is built intentionally to encourage discussion and evidence-driven debate.

Students gather data and then make decisions.

Input is respected and valued as the researcher-expert.

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE

Chandler Unified 8th Grade

Students develop an understanding of how science and technology work together in order to make personal and community decisions. For example, the Energy unit has students investigate and make decisions on what devices are more efficient than others, how we can manipulate energy transfer and transformation to use energy more efficiently and what can we do to reduce energy use. Throughout every unit, student gather and apply information as evidence to support their claims and arguments. 

English
Spanish
Select Teacher Pages
Student Work and Notebook
LABsent Activity video sample

Arizona Science | Grades 7-8 Correlations        

NGSS | Grades 6-8 Correlations

8th Grade Units Include:

Chemical Reactions
Energy
Waves
Earth's Resources
Reproduction
Evolution
 

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Online Portal Trial

The online Portal for Issues and Science for Chandler Unified is available for both Students and Teachers an includes interactive text. LABsent sheets and videos for absent students, and the ability to receive and submit homework.  Access to the Teacher Edition and Teacher Resources also includes editable PowerPoints, literacy tools, visual aids, training videos, and an integrated online assessment system.

Register for a trial access to the Portal using the access code you've been provided. Don't have an access code? Let us know and we'll set you up!

Login Here

TEACHER RESOURCES

Contact Bill Gipperich • Science Curriculum Specialist • 319-560-4913 • bgipperich@lab-aids.com