Janet Stellema - Math and Science Specialist

What is FOSS?

       Full Option Science System (FOSS) is a research-based system of teaching science curriculum that is used at Ryan as an integral part of each student's hands-on science learning experience.  FOSS was developed at the University of California, Berkeley, in response to concern that students were losing ground in developing scientific literacy.

       FOSS  kits contain all of the equipment students will need during any of 33 different areas of elementary level science study. 

       For instance, each second grader observes the metamorphosis of butterflies, mealworms, ants and milkweed bugs during a curricular unit on insects.

       Meanwhile, fourth graders’ investigation of electricity and magnetism includes building and testing circuits and electromagnets.  FOSS kits are utilized at every grade level, adding to the  real-life experiences of all Ryan scientists.

FOSS Curriculum

    The following is a list of the FOSS kit scope and sequence.  Please keep in mind that FOSS is a program used to support our curriculum and not our entire curriculum for science.

 

Grade Level	Kit	Description
K	Animals 2x2	Students observe, compare and describe the structures of a variety of animals, including goldfish & guppies, sow bugs and pill bugs, night crawlers and red worms. They may also observe eggs in an incubator. Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix.
K	Fabric	Students observe & describe the properties of a variety of fabric. Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix and the Earth Science Strand Matrix.
K	Paper	Students observe & describe the properties of a variety of paper. Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix and the Earth Science Strand Matrix.
K	Trees	Students observe, compare and describe the properties of trees & parts of trees. Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix.
K	Wood	Students observe & describe the properties of a variety of woods. Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix and the Earth Science Strand Matrix.
1	Balance and Motion	Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix. Students explore concepts of balance, stability, and the variety of ways objects move. They observe and compare stable and unstable, systems, rotation, spinning, and rolling.
1	New Plants	Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix. Students study some of the diversity of forms in the plant kingdom. They observe & describe the changes that occur as plants grow & develop. They organize and communicate their observations on a calendar and in a journal.
1	Pebbles, Sand, and Silt	Part of the Earth Science Strand Matrix. Students study the properties of rocks & soil. They group and seriate rocks on the basis of single, observable properties, learning simple ways by which earth materials can be organized.
2	Air and Weather	Part of the Earth Science Strand Matrix. Students study the properties of Air. They examine its effects on other materials and use basic tools to gather information about air and weather.
2	Insects	Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix. Students study some of the diversity of forms in insects. They observe and compare the differences in the life cycles and behaviors of insects and organize and communicate their observations on a calendar and in a journal.
2	Solids and Liquids	Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix. Students are introduced to two fundamental states of matter. They investigate and describe the properties of solids and liquids and begin to organize their observations.
3	Astronomy	Students make a solar system scale model, learn about the phases of the moon, and develop awareness of the seasons and what causes them. This kit was developed as a partnership between C.U. Boulder and B.V.S.D. to help students learn astronomy standards.
3	Earth Materials	Part of the Earth Science Strand Matrix. Students examine rocks in detail, discovering they are made up of various combinations of minerals. Rock and mineral properties are used to identify them by similarities and differences.
3	Human Body	Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix. Students observe and investigate the human skeletal and muscle systems. They observe and compare the bones and muscles in their own bodies and compare them to photographs and build models for comparison.
3	Measurement	Part of the Scientific Reasoning & Technology Strand Matrix. Students are introduced to metric measurement. They observe, measure, compare, and record length in centimeters, weight (mass) in grams, volume in milliliters & liters, and temperature in degrees Celsius.
3	Physics of Sound	Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix. Students investigate the nature of sound and vibration. They observe and compare how sound travels through different media, compare sounds, and record and report the results.
4	Ideas and Inventions	Part of the Scientific Reasoning & Technology Strand Matrix. Students are introduced to techniques used to see details about the world that would otherwise be difficult to observe. They record & compare patterns and create inventions using carbon printing, textures and patterns using rubbings, prints made by pigments using chromatography, and compare the symmetry of objects using mirrors.
4	Magnetism and Electricity	Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix. Students explore permanent magnetism, electric circuitry, and electromagnetism. They observe and compare the interactions of electricity and magnetism with different materials. They organize their observations by sorting and graphing.
4	Structures of Life	Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix. Students observe, compare and describe the properties of seeds and fruits and the structures and behavior of crayfish. They organize their observations through writing, drawing, and graphing.
4	Water	Part of the Earth Science Strand Matrix. Students examine the properties of water in its various forms - solid, liquid, gaseous - and what happens to it as it is mixed with solid earth materials.
4/5	Food and Nutrition	Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix. Students observe and investigate properties of foods. They relate the results of investigations and experiments to the amounts of certain types of chemicals and foods.
5	Environments	Part of the Life Science Strand Matrix. Students gain experience with the major environmental factors in terrestrial and & aquatic systems. They organize and analyze data from experiments & investigations with plants and animals and relate laboratory studies to natural systems.
5	Landforms	Part of the Earth Science Strand Matrix. Students test relationships (amount of water, steepness of slope) between flowing water and earth materials and determine the effects of erosion & deposition in the creation of landforms.
5	Mixtures and Solutions	Part of the Physical Science Strand Matrix. Students are introduced to basic concepts of chemistry. They measure, mix, and compare solids & liquids and observe and describe the interactions and results. They relate the concentrations of a solution to the weight of an amount of solid material dissolved in a volume of water.
5	Variables	Part of the Scientific Reasoning & Technology Strand Matrix. Students are introduced to the concept of a variable. Students identify & control variables & conduct controlled experiments using a variety of multi-variable systems: pendulums, airplanes, boats, & catapults. They observe & compare the outcomes of experiments, identify relations between independent and dependent variables, and make predictions using the results of their experiments.

FOSS Links on the Internet: