Science for the Middle Grades K-12 Alliance Science for the Middle Grades

NGSS Setting a New Course

A Few Conceptual Shifts in CA NGSS California K-12 Science Education: reflects the interconnected nature of science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world. builds coherently from K-12. focuses on deeper understanding of content as well as the application of content.

How California developed the Middle Grade Learning Progressions. How We Got Here! How California developed the Middle Grade Learning Progressions.

State Board of Education November 2013 Decision The SBE unanimously adopted: The integrated learning progression model as the preferred model of instruction for grades 6-8. AND Authorized an alternative model that is discipline specific for grades 6-8.

California Science Expert Panel 27 Science Education Experts K-12 Teachers, COE Science Leaders, IHE Faculty, Business, Industry, and Informal Science Centers Noted Scientist Advisors Dr. Bruce Alberts Dr. Helen Quinn Dr. Art Sussman California State Board of Education Liaisons Trish Williams Ilene Straus

“ When we try to pick out something by itself, we find that is hitched to everything else in the Universe.” -John Muir

Photosynthesis or Geologic Time Select one of these topics. Work with your table group to brainstorm the concepts a student needs to know to fully understand the bigger idea. Display your groups ideas in a concept map and be prepared to share.

Criteria for Selecting Integrated Middle Grade PEs Include PEs from Life, Earth and Space, and Physical each year Be arranged to provide a transition from elementary to high school Align with the cognitive demands of CCSS ELA and Math Build within and across grade levels Be balanced in complexity and quantity at each grade Integrate engineering appropriately

Articulation Example Life Science grades 4th – 8th 8th Natural Selection 7th Ecosystems 6th Cells/Organisms 5th Food Chains/Webs 4th Internal and External Structures/Functions 10

An Example of Eighth Grade Topics

Example Integration 8th Grade Natural selection Earth History and Space Science Energy Engineering and human impact scale stability One way to think about the integration

CA’s Preferred Integrated Progression 6th Grade - 19 PEs; 30 DCIs 7th Grade - 22 PEs; 37 DCIs 8th Grade - 26 PEs; 38 DCIs Including life, Earth, and physical science and Engineering, Technology and Application of Science at each grade

Alternative Discipline Specific Learning Progression Developed by the SEP as an alternative to the preferred integrated model Is based on the adopted NGSS Appendix K Aligns with Common Core State Standards Contains the PEs from each of the disciplines (Earth and Space, Life and Physical Sciences) Contains concepts from other disciplines at each grade level for complete student understanding

CA’s Alternative Discipline Learning Progressions 6th Grade (Earth and Space Science) 19 PEs; 52 DCIs 7th Grade (Life Science) 24 PEs; 52 DCIs 8th Grade (Physical Science) 23 PEs; 43 DCIs Including Engineering, Technology and Application of Science at each grade

Because The integrated progression is the preferred pathway from the State Board of Education for middle grade science instruction, we will take a deep dive into the thinking and implementation of the progression.

Reminder!! Performance Expectations (PEs) are what each student should know and be able to do at the end of the instructional sequence. They do NOT define the Instructional sequence (Curriculum) or the instructional strategies that the teacher utilizes to achieve the outcome. How you “bundle” PEs for instruction is up to you or your district.

How Does One Bundle? Phenomena

Deep Dive ! Using the 7th grade PEs: Review the PEs for the core ideas for each discipline. Consider what would be the best way to bundle the PEs for full deep student understanding. Consider developing a cohesive storyline. Add in concepts and ideas that the PEs might be missing.

Deep Dive Continued ! Consider how your local context might impact the way the PEs are bundled. Chart your ideas into a concept map. Be prepared to share your ideas.

CDE Rationale Grade 7 Read the Rationale Document (pages 16-17) from CDE for grade 7. • How does the thinking in that document resonate with your thinking as you bundled the PEs? • What is similar? What is different? • How does thinking about instruction and assessment help you determine which bundles are most productive?

Creative Implementation Teach life, Earth/space and physical sciences in 6th, 7th and 8th grade as individual units during the year. Teachers collaborate to share expertise with colleagues as they teach all three disciplines within the year. Combine expertise at grade level—students rotate from teachers who stay in their disciplines-(Team Teach) Ease in implementation over the next several years 22

Where Can We Start? Don’t Know? Not Ready? • Consider what you are currently teaching— how can you increase the opportunity for students to learn through the SEPs? How might you incorporate engineering? Ready to Tackle the Issues • Build awareness with your colleagues; make informed decisions • Provide a structure to move from the current status to a NGSS aligned integrated structure

One idea for a SLOW transition from ‘98 standards to NGSS Developed by Palm Spring USD

One Idea for a FASTER transition from ‘98 Standards to NGSS Developed by Palm Springs USD A faster version of the last slide

One Idea for FASTEST Change JUST DO IT!

Search: California Middle School science teachers http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssintrod.asp Facebook group Search: California Middle School science teachers