K-12 Alliance Science for the Middle Grades. NGSS Setting a New Course 2.

K-12 Allia

nce

Science for the Middle Grades

NGSSSetting a New Course

2

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 developedthe Middle Grade Learning

Progressions.

How We Got Here!

State Board of EducationNovember 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 AdvisorsDr. Bruce AlbertsDr. Helen QuinnDr. 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

Photosynthesisor

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 ExampleLife Science grades 4th – 8th

Life Science

8th Natural Selection

7th Ecosystems

6th Cells/Organisms

5th Food Chains/Webs

4th Internal and External Structures/Functions

An Example of Eighth Grade Topics

ExampleIntegration 8th Grade

Natural selection

Earth History and Space Science

Energy

Eng

ineeri

ng a

nd h

um

an

impact

scale

stability

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 KAligns with Common Core State StandardsContains 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 ImplementationTeach 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

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

One Idea for FASTEST Change

JUST DO IT!

http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssintrod.asp

Facebook groupSearch: California Middle School science teachers