What Are High-Quality Instructional Materials? Understanding the Essentials for Effective Science Teaching, August 12, 2025








What makes instructional materials high quality and how can you tell the difference between a resource that simply covers content and one that truly supports deep, three-dimensional learning? Join us on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM ET, in this informative webinar, where we will break down the essential features of high-quality instructional materials designed to meet the vision of Three-Dimensional Standards like the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Join us as we explore what to look for in materials that promote sensemaking, center student thinking, and authentically integrate the Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas. You’ll examine how thoughtfully designed materials help students make sense of phenomena, build science ideas over time, and engage in productive struggle—all while supporting teachers with clear guidance and flexibility.
Whether you're selecting, adapting, or implementing curriculum resources, this webinar will empower you to make informed decisions about what high-quality science instruction looks like in practice.
Participants will:
- Learn the defining characteristics of high-quality instructional materials
- Explore how these materials support three-dimensional teaching and learning
- Understand the role of coherence, student sensemaking, and instructional supports
- Gain tools and frameworks to evaluate and select effective science resources
Who should attend:
- K–12 science educators
- Instructional coaches
- School and district leaders
- Curriculum specialists seeking to strengthen science instruction through the use of high-quality materials
All individuals receive a certificate of participation and 100 NSTA activity points for attending the live seminar and completing the end-of-program survey. A certificate of participation is not awarded for watching the recorded version of the program.
We invite you to register for upcoming web seminars at NSTA.
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