Instructional Materials

NSTA Instructional Materials are sensemaking tasks teachers and parents can use to engage their students in authentic, relevant science learning.

Students actively try to figure out how the world works (science) or how to design solutions to problems (engineering) using the science and engineering practices. Engaging in these practices requires that students be part of a learning community, of classmates or family, to be able to share and evaluate ideas, give and receive critique, and reach consensus.

Daily Do Lesson Plan
A standalone lesson that is driven by students’ questions about a phenomenon or problem and can be completed in 1-3 50-minute class periods.

Daily Do Playlist
A group of two to four Daily Dos (lesson plans) that were not designed as a coherent learning sequence but address related Disciplinary Core Ideas.

Playlist
A coherent learning sequence of 2-4 lessons (up to eight 50-minute classroom periods). NSTA is currently using a storyline approach to develop playlists. 

Unit
A coherent learning sequence of 6-10 lessons (up to 16 50-minute class periods) with a culminating task. NSTA is currently using a storyline approach to develop units. 

For more information about storylines, consult Teaching and Learning Through Storylines.