A Brief Background of REEL at Lorenzo de Zavala ESA

Thanks to the vision of our Principal, Mrs. Mary Smith, and the support of our
Superintendent, Dr. Susan Hull, De Zavala ESAs students are now enjoying
the beauty and wonder of Science, in the real-world context of REEL.
Using the NGSS Framework for K-12 Science Education developed by the National
Research Council, (http://www.nextgenscience.org/) together with the TEKS, our
K-5 students will be working with the three major recommended dimensions:
1. Scientific and engineering practices
2. Crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science and engineering through
their common application across fields
3. Core ideas in four disciplinary areas: physical sciences; life sciences; earth
and space sciences; and engineering, technology, and applications of science
The classroom also uses the ELPS to accommodate ELLs.

REEL
(Research Environmental Engineering
Leadership)

What is REEL?
Science, engineering, and technology permeate
nearly every facet of modern life, and they also
hold the key to meeting many of humanitys most
pressing current and future challenges. - A FRAMEWORK
FOR K-12 SCIENCE
EDUCATION - Practices,

Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas National

Research Council of the National Academies.

What is REELs Objective?

Based on this framework, our objective at Lorenzo
de Zavala ESA is to ensure that by the end of 5th
Grade all of our students have appreciation of the
beauty and wonder of science; possess sufficient
knowledge of science and engineering to engage in
public discussion on related issues; are careful
consumers of scientific and technological
information related to their everyday lives; are able
to continue to learn science outside of school; and
have the skills to enter careers of their choice,
including (but not limited to) careers in science,
engineering, and technology.

Kindergarteners using evidence to

construct explanations for the
push/pull forces involved in gear
activities.

Engineering teamwork in action

4th. Graders working on their project using evidence to
construct a quantitative explanation that will establish a relationship
between the speed of an object and its energy.

5th. Graders in the planning stage of their project using a model of the
Water Cycle to desalinize sea water.