Collection of phenomena for lessons.
Because the NGSS reflect how TJ thinks about science, he hopes that through curating a cache of phenomena this will open conversations and with educators across the nation who are hoping to create the next generation of student engagement in science.
The life science/biology course is divided into 12 instructional segments grouped into four sections. In the first section, From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes, students develop models of how molecules combine to build cells and organisms (IS1 [Structure and Function]; IS2 [Growth and Development of Organisms]; IS3 [Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms]). In the second section, Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics, students zoom out to the macroscopic scale to show how organisms interact (IS4 [Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems]; IS5 [Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems]; IS6 [Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience]; IS7 [Social Interactions and Group Behavior]). Students return to the role that DNA plays in inheritance during the third section, Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits (IS8 [Inheritance of Traits]; IS9 [Variation of Traits]). The class ends tying together interactions at all these scales by explaining evolution and natural selection in Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity (IS10 [Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity]; IS11 [Natural Selection]; IS12 [Adaptation and Biodiversity]). A vignette in IS12 illustrates the level of three-dimensional understanding students are expected to exhibit as a capstone of the course.
Our students will face decisions about health, science, and medicine that we can hardly imagine.
How can we keep student needs and science first, yet still create a safe and affirming space for intellectual curiosity?
Teaching biology creates many opportunities to authentically incorporate student curiosity. The Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) expect students to ask questions about natural phenomena and then explain their answers using models. This website offers examples of adapting curriculum to NGSS and gender-inclusive standards, as well as resources for advocating to administration and others.
Shape of Life is a series of FREE short classroom videos that beautifully illustrate the evolution of the animal kingdom on planet earth. Based upon an original PBS Series, Shape of Life is especially designed for students and teachers who want a first-hand account of how animals adapt and thrive. The series is NGSS aligned with exquisite focus on diversity, biodiversity, adaptability, body structure, design, behaviors, and the innovative scientists who explore these creatures.
Shape of Life is a series of FREE short classroom videos that beautifully illustrate the evolution of the animal kingdom on planet earth. Based upon an original PBS Series, Shape of Life is especially designed for students and teachers who want a first-hand account of how animals adapt and thrive. The series is NGSS aligned with exquisite focus on diversity, biodiversity, adaptability, body structure, design, behaviors, and the innovative scientists who explore these creatures.
Middle and high school students need an opportunity to construct evidence-based explanations for how variation and natural selection can lead to adaptation of populations over time (NGSS MS-LS4-4 and HS-LS4-4). However, managing a population of classroom-friendly living organisms that consistently grow, develop, and thrive while students observe variation among individuals can be a real challenge.
This two-minute video provides brief background on the use of zebrafish as a model in studying animal development, before showing a time-lapse sequence of a fertilized zebrafish egg developing into a larva. The video includes some annotations that help orient the viewer during the time-lapse sequence. Teachers might want to mute the narration beginning at 0:42 min to avoid giving students too much information.
This phenomenon could stimulate the following driving questions:
How does the zebrafish develop from one cell to the many cells that make up the larva?
How do the zebrafish cells divide?
How are the developing zebrafish cells similar and different from each other?
If all cells in the zebrafish develop from the same original cell, then how do some cells develop differently than others?
How are cell division and growth related?
inquiryHub high school and middle school curricula are aligned to the Framework and guided by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Using research-based approaches to teaching science in a deeply digital environment, students contribute resources, observations, data, and analyses to solve larger scientific problems.
inquiryHub curricula are designed to go beyond traditional science content. By focusing on phenomena relevant to students' lives and communities, the coursesprovides opportunities to authentically engage with science and engineering practices.
This interactive infographic from the National Academies Press highlights essential practices for K-12 science classrooms from A Framework for K-12 Science Education with references to the contents of the full report.
Life sciences focus on all things living, exploring the patterns, processes and relationships of organisms. The goal of life sciences is to demonstrate how unifying principles can help us to make sense of the natural world and solve problems in the world we live in. High school life sciences extend student knowledge of topics such as organisms, ecosystems, heredity and evolution, integrating a long history of scientific research from multiple fields. In high school, students will build on their conceptual understanding of life sciences by investigating and witnessing the relationships among structure and function, matter and energy, ecosystems and natural selection. Students should be able to effectively communicate facts and findings, as supported in the science literacy skills covered in the Common Core State Standards.
Project NEURON develops curriculum materials for middle and high school teachers to use in their science classrooms. Each unit addresses various science education standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards, within the context of neuroscience topics and research performed on the University of Illinois campus.
All of our completed materials, which have been classroom-tested and revised, are available on this website to teachers and educators for free. For teachers who wish to engage with our materials hands-on, we also provide professional development opportunities through local workshops and national teaching conferences such as NSTA.
"Our vision for supporting instructional leaders in their work with teachers to improve science teaching and learning stems from our approach to instructional supervision and science instruction."
"inquiryHub is a research practice partnership engaged in research and development of materials, tools,
and processes to promote equitable student learning of STEM.
inquiryHub Biology is an open access, deeply digital high school biology curriculum
designed to support the Next Generation Science Standards.
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With that in mind, we formed the first storylining working group, which is open to anyone to join at any time. The group is led by Dr. Jason Crean and Mrs. Kristin Rademaker and meets once a month to maintain that open collaboration. We are able to offer Professional Development Credits to participants with an open-door policy.
We began this project with 3 goals in mind:
Train educators in three-dimensional learning, teaching, and coherent curricular design through sustained collaborative work and by both experiencing and doing it themselves;
Create coherent storylines, including embedded three-dimensional assessment pieces that will evolve over time through continuous feedback from pilot teachers; and most of all
Share our work- for teachers, by teachers, for free- with any stakeholders interested in making the fundamental shift towards a three-dimensional classroom.
