1. The Scope of GEMS
I’m going to lead you through a quick overview of GEMS programs, with a focus on GEMS guides. Sometimes people ask, “what is the GEMS philosophy?” Many aspects of the GEMS philosophy are included in this presentation.

2. GEMS Is Many Programs New GEMS Teacher’s Guides Classic GEMS
Seeds of Science/
Roots of Reading
(Delta Education)
GEMS Curriculum Sequences
(Carolina Curriculum)
GEMS is a rapidly growing and evolving department, and has many branches.
New GEMS Teacher’s Guides
Classic GEMS
Teacher’s Guide Series

3. GEMS Teacher Guides
Inquiry-based, supplemental instruction, GEMS units have been self-published for over 20 years by GEMS and LHS.
Over 1.5 million guides in print.
GEMS made its name with GEMS teacher guides, and we currently have about 70 published guides.

4. New GEMS Brand new or recently updated guides:
Extensive science background for the teacher
Addresses key science standards
Literature connections and other resources
Guidance on assessment
On some guides you’ll see the New GEMS logo. These are recently published guides, or classic guides we have updated.

5. GEMS Curriculum Sequences
Focus on key concepts
Research-based
Practical
Filled with assessment resources
Critical Junctures & Providing More Experience
Evidence Circles
Student Readings
A recently developed branch of GEMS are the GEMS curriculum sequences. These are sequences from grades 3-8 based on the most important and most challenging space science concepts for children to know.

6. GEMS Curriculum Sequences
Published by Carolina Biological Supply Company
Space Science for Grades 3–5
Space Science for Grades 6–8
Ocean Science Sequence for Grades 3–5. (beginning development)
Currently we have a 3-5 grade space science sequence published, and 6-8 just went to press. OSS is in the beginning stages.

7. Seeds of Science/ Roots of Reading™
Literacy instruction embedded in inquiry science.
Seeds/Roots learning model uses multiple modalities: Do it, Talk it, Read it, Write it.
Another monumental direction of GEMS is in the Seeds of Science Roots of Reading program, based on the idea of embedding Literacy instruction in inquiry science. It’s learning model is sometimes summed up as, “Do it, Talk it, Read it, Write it.”

8. Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading™ Published by Delta Education
4-9 custom science books per unit
(18 copies each)
Among many features of Seeds are the 4-9 children’s books we have written about science topics that are intergral to each unit.

9. Seeds of Science/ Roots of Reading™
Published by Delta Education
4-9 custom science books per unit
(18 copies of each)
Student Investigation Notebooks
Teacher’s guide
Kits available
Among many features of Seeds are the 4-9 children’s books we have written about science topics that are intergral to each unit.

10. GEMS Handbooks GEMS Handbooks Leader’s & Teacher’s Handbooks
Insights and Outcomes – Assessment Handbook
GEMS
Handbooks
The Rainbow of Mathematics
Parent Partners
In addition to curriculum guides, GEMS also publish handbooks designed to help teachers grapple with some of the challenges of activity-based science and math instruction, such as assessment and working with very young children.
Science and Math Explorations for Young Children
Spark Your Child’s Success in Math and Science
The Architecture of Reform

11. GEMS Teacher Guides Supplemental units of study
May be linked in a sequence
Designed to be taught as supplemental units of study or linked together in a larger sequence. For example, each of these 3 units is a stand alone, but they could be sequenced, with students learning about the rock cycle through Stories in Stone, followed by Plate tectonics, then how water has shaped the land through River Cutters.

12. Early childhood education guides
GEMS Guides
Early childhood education guides
The GEMS series includes guides that are appropriate for early childhood education, including preschool - 2nd grade.

13. GEMS Festival guides • Learning station-based
• Suitable for single classroom, whole school, or public event
GEMS festival guides use learning station formats. Festival guides are written to be presented in a single classroom, but they are also designed for whole school events.

14. GEMS Math guides
GEMS has a growing series of math guides

15. MARE: Marine Activities, Resources and Education
In collaboration with MARE (Marine Activities, Resources and Education), GEMS has published 3 ocean education guides.

16. GEMS Space Science guides
GEMS has also collaborated with NASA to publish space science guides.

17. GEMS Chemistry guides
GEMS also has published a selection of chemistry education guides. From Matter and Involving Dissolving for young children, through chemical reactions and Cabbages and Chemistry for older students.

18. GEMS Environmental Science guides
GEMS also has a selection of environmental science guides.