Science and Engineering Practices are one of the three dimensions of the NGSS. They represent a significant change in science education because they empower students to take the lead in their own education. And, they represent a shift away from…
While the Scientific Method is a staple in many science classrooms, it doesn’t align with the NGSS.
In this post, I explain why I don’t use the scientific method in my classroom any more and why it doesn’t align. I also provide articles of support if you aren’t quite ready to give up the scientific method yet.
The 3 dimensions of the NGSS are at the heart of the instructional shifts that come with these standards. 3D learning in the NGSS represents a move away from the memorization of unrelated facts. Instead, they require a move toward…
Argumentation helps scientists to understand the world around them. Also, it is a tool that we use in our everyday lives to improve our understanding of a subject. However, argumentation was absent in previous versions of the standards. Here is…
Middle school labs look very different in an NGSS aligned classroom. The NGSS will change your labs in more ways than you think. Here are 4 ways that the NGSS will change labs in your classroom. How are labs different…
Graph annotations help students with the Science and Engineering Practice of Analyzing and Interpreting Data. Help your students to do digital graph annotations with Google Presentations.
One of my favorite ways to introduce phenomena is to use a notice and wonder activity. During a notice and wonder activity, you present students with your phenomenon and ask them what they notice and what they wonder. Students write…
There are so many misconceptions about the Science and Engineering Practice of Developing and Using Models. When I first started shifting my focus to the Next Generation Science Standards, I didn’t know what modeling should look like in an NGSS…
I started working with my students to created digital NGSS models earlier this year. And, in this short time I have learn a lot about what to do. And, what not to do. For example, I have decided that Google…
Many teachers mistakenly believe that if they are using models in their classroom, they are meeting the intent of this practice for the middle school grade band. However, the Science and Engineering Practices are divided into grade level bands to…
