NGSS as Word Documents

As we all start to create multiple support documents, tools, and ways of viewing the Next Generation Science Standards- I thought it might be helpful to have the NGSS in a MS Word format. I converted both forms of the NGSS- by Disciplinary Core Idea (DCI) and by Topic. Download the documents below. I haven’t done anything with the Appendices yet

NGSS by DCI

NGSS by Topic

NOAA Middle School Climate Science Materials

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a FREE middle school unit on the essential principles of climate science titled: Discover Your Changing World. Click HERE to download the entire PDF or individual activities. These materials could be useful in helping to meet some of the weather/climate related expectations in the NGSS. The resource was recently revised but does not contain direct correlations to the NGSS or the Framework for K-12 Science Education but I’m assuming that NOAA is working on this…? Also, see Chris Ohana’s brief critique of the materials in the comment section.

If you are a middle school science teacher or a science curriculum specialist- please leave your thoughts in the comments- Does this look like a useful supplemental resource? Why/why not? How might you use this?

NGSS Chat

If you are a K-12 science educator and you are not on Twitter… you may be missing out. Click HERE to see a guide for getting started on Twitter.

If you would like to see what some educators are talking about regarding the Next Generation Science Standards- click HERE to see the conversation of a recent NGSS Chat #NGSSCHAT (you do not need to have a Twitter account to view this)

Thanks to Fred Ende for capturing the conversation on Storify.

Seeking Feedback: Is it Technology? Probe

As a fan of Page Keeley’s formative assessment probes for uncovering student ideas in science, I often create my own versions of probes to use with teachers, pre-service teachers, and K-12 students. I’m currently working on a probe about technology titled- Is it Technology? This is a Justified List flavor of probe and it is intended to uncover preconceptions about what things are considered technology. I have used the definition and thinking about technology and engineering in the Next Generation Science Standards as a foundation for the probe.

Click link to the right to download the is it technology FA probe

This formative assessment probe is very drafty and I’m looking for some individuals who might provide some feedback on the draft. Key targets for feedback:

- The existing choices (What might be removed? modified? What might be added?)

- The Facilitation Guide (What could be more clear?)

- The explanation section (How do you feel about the Explanation provided? Suggestions for improvement)

- Try it out on some students/teachers- How did leaners define technology? What items did they struggle with?

- Other feedback…

Thanks for considering and for helping me to be able to keep offering FREE tools and resources on Science for All

Science FREE Special Issue: Grand Challenges in Science Education

The AAAS journal Science has released a FREE special issue all about science education. You have to register for FREE access before you can download/view the articles- but it will be worth your while.

Click HERE to see the Table of Contents for the issue. For those of you (like me) who plan and conduct professional development for K-12 science teachers, there is an article titled Professional Development for Science Teachers by S.M. Wilson that could be useful. Enjoy!

 

NGSS Awareness Video

Below is a short video clip from Achieve that “makes the case” for and provides an overview of the Next Generation Science Standards. This could be useful to add to your resources if you are planning professional development or a meeting on awareness of the NGSS. Click HERE if you cannot see the embedded clip below.

Wringing Out a Washcloth on the ISS

Here is a simple structure for scaffolding a science video clip with students.

Predict: What will happen when you wring out a soaking wet washcloth in the microgravity of the International Space Station?

Observe the video below. (Click HERE if you cannot see the clip.) Where does the water from the washcloth go?

Explain why this happened. Make a claim and support it with evidence and reasoning.

Concord Consortium: Find Your Path Through the NGSS

Concord Consortium has a variety of excellent online interactives and simulations for K-12 science education. Concord Consortium also has a dashboard for using the Three Dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards (Practices of Science and Engineering, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas) to select interactives. I highly recommend checking out the dashboard and the resources. Click HERE to get started with interacting with the Three Dimensions of the NGSS. Engaging with the dashboard is not only a helpful way of finding resources but also helps to illustrate how the dimensions of the NGSS might work together in instructional tools.

You will also find a cool printable “NGSS Fortune Teller” as a way to use a different form of technology to interact with these ideas.

FREE Resources for Building Awareness and Understanding of NGSS

The National Science Teachers Association has assembled a wealth of FREE resources to help us understand both the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. The resources include articles and webinars on specific Practices of Science and Engineering, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas. You can see the list of resources HERE.

I took the NSTA resources and organized them on a one-page document (Word and PDF) with embedded hyperlinks that could be used by teachers, administrators, district office personel to build understanding of the Framework and the NGSS. The one-pager also promotes a learning progression of starting with the Framework and then moving to the Three Dimensions of the Framework before diving into the actual standards. I hope this is helpful- please share.

1 pager NGSS Awareness Word Doc

1 pager NGSS Awareness PDF

 

NSTA Reader’s Guide to the Next Generation Science Standards

I just purchased an “e-book” of the NSTA Reader’s Guide to the Next Generation Science Standards by Harold Pratt- and have given it a quick skim (about the time it takes me to consume 16 ounces of iced coffee). Here are my thoughts on the resource so far:

Likes:

• Provides thoughtful advice for learning about the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the NGSS
• Advocates for learning and thinking about NGSS and starting small before jumping to full implementation
• Cautions us not to “hand off” the NGSS to teachers and expect them to implement
• Provides a framework, planning tools and resources to guide our thinking about implementation

Wishes:

• I wish that this was in fact a true “e-book” (iBook?) and not just a pdf. For example, there is a great list of existing resources on the NGSS, however, the resources are not hyperlinked (hello!) and therefore requires the reader to hunt down the links. NSTA could have created a very dynamic and user friendly tool with embedded video and links.. but they didn’t. 
• It doesn’t feel like there is a lot new here (I could be wrong).. perhaps this could have been a FREE resource like the NSTA Reader’s Guide to a Framework for K-12 Science Education 

Audience: This resource would be useful for district curriculum directors, science coordinators, science professional development providers, and teacher leaders.. anyone who is planning to make a plan on how to implement the NGSS.

Please let me know your thoughts if you grab a copy.