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Book Chapter

From NGSS to Instruction in an Elementary Classroom

Implementing the standards does present significant challenges—the obvious and immediate challenge of classroom instruction. There also is the long-term challenge of contributing to students’ progressive understanding across the K–12 curriculum...

Book Chapter

From NGSS to Instruction in a Middle School Classroom

For middle school science teachers, one of the most fundamental changes involves curriculum, instruction, and assessments. This chapter uses performance expectations from the life sciences as the basis for a description of how Next Generation Science...

Book Chapter

From NGSS to Instruction in a High School Classroom

This chapter first presents performance expectations that describe the competencies and content for instruction and assessment in a high school biology class. This is followed by a description of a teaching sequence that integrates the practices, cor...

Book Chapter

Beginning ASAP

The general purpose of education standards is to reset the goals for education, then make curriculum programs, classroom instruction, and education assessments more coherent through processes of reform. So, we have to begin as soon as possible (ASAP)...

Book Chapter

Taking AIM

This chapter will help state science supervisors, district science coordinators, and school science teachers with the process of adapting instructional materials to accommodate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The science education comm...

Book Chapter

Planning to ADAPT Materials for Classroom Instruction

For this chapter, the goals are to identify the degree to which current instructional materials accommodate performance expectations from Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and to adapt these materials into a unit of instruction that is usable...

Book Chapter

NGSS Frequently Stated Concerns: The Yes, Buts

In this chapter, some of the Yes, but concerns are addressed. Some of the referents for the concerns lie beyond the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and are the result of other variables, such as national politics, state budgets, or local pr...

Book Chapter

Conclusion

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) raise the academic bar for states and still leave them with the freedom to adopt or adapt materials and provide professional development to attain higher levels of achievement—for all students. The NGSS...

Book Chapter

Appendix A: Grade 5 NGSS Unit, “Is It a New Substance?”

In this unit, students conduct an investigation to determine if two substances combine to form a new substance. The students mix Substance W with a solution of Substance X dissolved in water. They need to complete the investigation to gather evidence...

Book Chapter

Appendix B: Middle School NGSS Unit, “Water and Hydrogen Peroxide”

Water molecules and hydrogen peroxide molecules each consist of only hydrogen and oxygen atoms. A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. A hydrogen peroxide molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. In ...

Book Chapter

Appendix C: High School NGSS Unit, “The Haber-Bosch Process”

A chemist named Fritz Haber developed a process to produce ammonia directly from hydrogen and nitrogen as shown in the equation. An engineer named Karl Bosch designed the equipment needed for the process, and today the Haber-Bosch process is the prim...

Book Chapter

From NGSS to Classroom Instruction

This chapter provides a context for translating standards into something understandable, manageable, and usable for those with the real task of teaching science. In the first sections, the chapter progresses from a brief discussion of the disciplinar...

Journal Article

Wacky Weather

An integrative science unit combines science content on severe weather with the engineering design process....

Journal Article

Straw Rockets Are Out of This World

STEM activities for upper elementary students....

Journal Article

Buoying Design Skills

Creative, inquiry-based lessons with buoys addressed STEM and science standards while promoting teamwork....

Journal Article

Global STEM Navigators

Developing project-based learning experiences helps students direct their learning....

Journal Article

Electromagnetic Induction

An inquiry investigation about electromagnetism helps students understand and use scientific and engineering practices....

Journal Article

Measuring Success

Second graders design, build, test, and improve tools to map a waterway....

Journal Article

Editor's Note: Engineering and Design

Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Elementary Engineering Learning Progression NGSS

Journal Article

The Early Years: The STEM of Inquiry

This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue describes a STEM activity that includes designing and using a tool....

Early Childhood Elementary Engineering STEM Disciplinary Core Ideas Inquiry Performance Expectations Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Guest Editorial: The Next Generation Science Standards and Engineering for Young Learners: Beyond Bridges and Egg Drops

An opinion piece that aims to engage elementary teachers with key engineering components in the NGSS, including conceptual shifts, disciplinary core ideas, and practices to effectively wield the standards as a transformative tool for classroom instru...

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: Flying Machines

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. This month’s issue uses two fiction trade books to inspire students to design and test various flying machines....

Early Childhood Elementary Preschool 5E Instructional Materials

Journal Article

Formative Assessment Probes: Pendulums and Crooked Swings: Connecting Science and Engineering

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue explores the complementary nature of science and engineering in the elementary classroom....

Journal Article

Science 101: What Causes Electromagnetic Induction?

This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s issue the author discusses electromagnetic induction....

Journal Article

Engineering Encounters: Minding Design Missteps

This month's topic describes a watch list of misconceptions for beginning designers....

Early Childhood Elementary Engineering Pedagogy

Journal Article

Safety First: Safety: The Elementary Mission

This month's safety column discusses safety with STEM activities....

Journal Article

Reflecting Understanding: Using Lab Stations to Teach Image Formation

Confront student misconceptions about plane mirrors through this series of lab station activities....

Journal Article

Color: The Eyes Have It

Take a closer look at human eye coloring and conduct a virtual analysis of colors in digital images....

Journal Article

Exploring Waves in the Stratosphere: Balloon's Up!

Launch weather balloons to study how ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and sound waves are affected by altitude....

Journal Article

Catching Waves: Making Wave Prints to Introduce Wave Properties

Use a water tank to create and capture standing waves as part of an activity that explores wave properties through modeling, measurement, and mathematics....

Journal Article

The Wonders of Terrestrial Isopods

Curl up for an in-depth look at the roly poly pillbug....

Journal Article

Editor's Roundtable: The "Magic" of PS4

Science Scope’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Journal Article

Teacher's Toolkit: Differentiating Inquiry

This column provides how-to strategies and practical advice for the science teacher. This month’s column describes how to differentiate a density investigation for variations in student readiness by varying the level of inquiry using an approach th...

Journal Article

Tried and True: Songs in Service of Science

This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. This month’s issue describes the technique of singing songs to teach vocabulary and key facts for a variety of science topics....

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: Wave Warnings

This column shares safety information for your classroom. This month’s issue discusses safety when using equipment that is used to provide students with a better understanding of light, sound, and wave energy....

Middle School Physical Science Labs Safety

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: The Sound of Sound

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue discusses sound in space....