NSTA Resources: Preparing for Next Generation Science Standards
NSTA offers the following resources that take an in-depth look at the Framework and explore the implications for science teaching.
Essential Reading
Next Generation Science Standards
Background information, development process, and timeline are all located at the Next Generation Science Standards website at www.nextgenscience.org.
A Framework for K–12 Science Education
The NGSS is being developed based on A Framework for K–12 Science Education, released by the National Research Council and viewable online at www.nap.edu. The Framework describes the major practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas that all students should be familiar with by the end of high school, and how these practices, concepts, and ideas should be developed across the grade levels. NSTA is also selling the document in the NSTA Science Store.
The NSTA Reader’s Guide to the Framework
What can science educators can do now to prepare for new science standards in 2012? NSTA Past President, Harold Pratt, gives his insights and ideas in the NSTA Reader's Guide. The Guide assists science educators in the study of the Framework. For each chapter of the Framework, the Guide provides a brief overview, an analysis of what's new and different from previous standards and benchmarks, and suggested actions science educators can take to learn more about the concepts and ideas. Download this free e-pub (PDF) from the NSTA Science Store »
Articles and More
Venn Diagram (PDF) by Tina Cheuk of Stanford on Relationships and Convergences Found in NGSS and CCSS ELA and Math
NSTA has developed a guide to help science educators lead study groups to review the draft standards. Take a look at the slides from this session and download our guide. See also the NSTA Reports article "NSTA Stepping Stones to Help You Prepare for New Science Standards."
NSTA Journal Series: Exploring the Science Framework and Preparing for NGSS
- April 2013: "The Next Generation Science Standards and the Earth and Space Sciences" by Michael Wysession (PDF)
- March 2013: "The Next Generation Science Standards: a Focus on Physical Science" by Joe Krajcik (PDF)
- February 2013: "The Next Generation Science Standards and the Life Sciences: The important features of life science standards for elementary, middle, and high school levels" by Rodger Bybee (PDF)
- December 2012: "Exploring the Science Framework: Making connections in math with the common core state standards" by Robert Mayes and Thomas R. Koballa, Jr. (PDF)
- November 2012: "Exploring the Science Framework: Engaging learners in scientific practices related to obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information" by Philip Bell, Leah Bricker, Carrie Tzou, Tiffany Lee, and Katie Van Horne (PDF)
- October 2012: "Exploring the New Standards: How to form a study group to examine the Next Generation Science Standards, second public draft" (PDF) by Ted Willard, Harold Pratt, and Cindy Workosky (PDF)
- "Engaging Students in the Scientific Practices of Explanation and Argumentation" by Brian J. Reiser, Leema K. Berland, and Lisa Kenyon (PDF)
- "Engaging Students in Scientific Practices: What does constructing and revising models look like in the science classroom?" by Joseph Krajcik and Joi Merritt (PDF)
- "The Second Dimension—Crosscutting Concepts" by Richard A. Duschl (PDF)
- "Core Ideas of Engineering and Technology" by Cary Sneider (PDF)
- "Scientific and Engineering Practices in K–12 Classrooms" by Rodger W. Bybee (PDF)
- "The New Framework for K–12 Science Education: A Message to Our Membership" by Harold Pratt, NSTA Past President and Education Consultant
NSTA Reports
NSTA Web Seminars Focus on NGSS
Learn about NGSS through NSTA's special series of free interactive web seminars on NGSS. Register now for coming programs or search the archive and previous programs. Visit the NSTA Learning Center to register for upcoming programs.
Practices:
- Asking Questions and Defining Problems (September 11, 2012)
- Developing and Using Models (September 25, 2012)
- Planning and Carrying Out Investigations (October 9, 2012)
- Analyzing and Interpreting Data (October 23, 2012)
- Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking (November 6, 2012)
- Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions (November 20, 2012)
- Engaging in Argument from Evidence (December 4, 2012)
- Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information (December 18, 2012)
- Engineering Practices in the Next Generation Science Standards (January 15, 2013)
- Using the NGSS Practices in the Elementary Grades (January 29, 2013)
- Connections Between Practices in NGSS, Common Core Math, and Common Core ELA (February 12, 2013)
Crosscutting concepts:
Presentations at NSTA Conferences