With the school year well under way, I hope you’ll have a little time now to catch up on the latest news about the STC PROGRAM™, which includes STC® for grades K-6 and STC/MS™ for grades 6-8. This issue of STC Update reminds you of the curriculum evaluation options that Carolina offers, gives a materials tip, and fills you in on the latest changes to the units.

We’re also adding a way for you to provide instant feedback about articles in STC Update. You’ll see the new Newsletter Feedback link at the bottom of each article. Use this link to comment on an STC Update article or the STC PROGRAM™ in general, or tell us about a topic you’d like to see in the newsletter. We want this publication to meet your needs.

Thanks,
Cindy Dillon
 

In this issue

	Featured article: Driven to Succeed
	Materials tip: Properties of Matter alcohol burners
	What's new

Featured article: Driven to Succeed
Did you ever think that buying curriculum materials is like buying a car? Both are major purchases, so buyers should consider a number of important factors before making a decision. When the purchase is a hands-on science program, many schools and districts even want to take the curriculum for a "test drive."
 Read about one school district's test-drive experience
 Learn more about piloting an STC® or STC/MS™ unit

Materials tip: Properties of Matter alcohol burners
Using alcohol burners, rather than Bunsen burners, with the STC/MS™ unit Properties of Matter means the investigations that require a heat source will probably take a little longer to perform, because alcohol burners do not produce as much heat as gas burners. To get maximum heat from your alcohol burners, follow these suggestions.


What's new:
Kit component change
The STC/MS™ Earth in Space kit originally included a voucher that the teacher completed and returned in order to receive the Starry Night Backyard CD-ROM. Now, the CD is included in the kit. This change requires revised instructions for the teacher’s guide. If your module was purchased after July 2005, you’ll want to download the errata sheets. (PDF)


Online STC/MS™ bibliographies
Each STC/MS™ Teacher’s Guide contains a bibliography of additional teacher and student resources related to each module. That information is now available online. Simply go to the STC/MS™ student/teacher site, select a module title, click on “general online resources,” then look for the bibliography download link near the top of the page.