All Professional Learning Units

Professional Learning Unit

Analyzing and Interpreting Data to Support Student Sensemaking in a High School Evolution Unit

This Professional Learning Unit uses a storyline unit with an anchoring phenomenon that is a case study in which the patient has acute mountain sickness at Everest base camp to focus participant learning on how the Science and Engineering Practice An...

High School Biology Evolution Inquiry Instructional Materials Interdisciplinary Is Lesson Plan Life Science NGSS Phenomena Preservice Science Education Professional Learning Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Using the Putting the Pieces Together Instructional Routine

In this module, educators will be introduced to the four elements of the Putting the Pieces Together (PT2) Instructional Routine. In the Putting the Pieces Together Instructional Routine, students synthesize ideas they develop across multiple lessons...

Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Engaging Students in Science Learning: A Productive Approach to Classroom Management

In this module, participants consider the relationship between fostering student engagement through tapping into their curiosity and positive behavior choices in the classroom. Participants explore two different ways of implementing the same lesson a...

Crosscutting Concepts Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Leading the Implementation of High Quality Instructional Materials to Enact Standards

High-quality instructional materials (HQIM) designed for next generation science can make a difference in the quality of equitable science teaching and learning throughout the educational system and for all learners (i.e., for all leaders, teachers, ...

Advocacy Curriculum Leadership Professional Learning Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Project-Based Learning: Principles to Sustain Student Learning and Teacher Change in Practice - Part 2

Have you wanted to implement a Project-Based Learning (PBL) unit in your classroom? Would you like to introduce PBL curriculum in your school? Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning (ML-PBL), an open educational resource, provides interdiscipl...

Earth & Space Science Literacy Mathematics NGSS Sensemaking Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Project-Based Learning: Principles to Sustain Student Learning and Teacher Change in Practice - Part 1

Have you wanted to implement a Project-Based Learning (PBL) unit in your classroom? Would you like to introduce PBL curriculum in your school? Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning (ML-PBL), an open educational resource, provides interdiscipl...

Earth & Space Science Mathematics NGSS Sensemaking Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Science Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms: Module 1: Using Science Notebooks for Sensemaking

In this module, you will examine various ways scientists use science notebooks and a science notebook strategy to experience the critical components of sensemaking.     ...

Assessment Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Professional Learning Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

The Three Dimensions of Teaching and Learning: Module 1: Introduction to Disciplinary Core Ideas

In this module you will use A Framework for K-12 Science Education as a resource for developing an understanding of Dimension 3 - Disciplinary Core Ideas. An immersion in a high-quality science lesson pulls disciplinary core ideas to the foreground b...

Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Professional Learning Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Evaluating Lessons for Sensemaking Using the NSTA Sensemaking Tool

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool (adapted from the research-based NGSS Lesson Screener) is designed to help educators be critical consumers of curricular materials as well as create and/or revise science lessons to reflect the instructional shifts (sensemak...

Instructional Materials NGSS Professional Learning Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

How Do I Begin to Develop a Storyline for a Unit?

In this introduction to Storylines, educators will be introduced to the Key Features in Curriculum Materials that Support the Framework and NGSS. They will then hear experts describe the key routines in a storyline unit and explore a high-quality NGS...

Instructional Materials Learning Progression Lesson Plans NGSS Phenomena Professional Learning Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Engaging Students in Developing and Using Models

This Professional Learning Unit will provide educators strategies for supporting K-12 students in beginning to develop the knowledge and skills needed to engage with this practice. Educators will also recognize the importance of providing students op...

Disciplinary Core Ideas Professional Learning Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Supporting Equitable Sensemaking - A Tool for Educators

How do students build targeted science ideas and concepts? The Supporting Equitable Sensemaking - A Tool for Educators PLU explores how the use of modalities and intentional student interactions create opportunity to build ownership of science ideas ...

NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

What Is Sensemaking?

After exploring what sensemaking truly means, educators will be introduced to the four attributes of sensemaking (phenomena, science and engineering practices, student ideas and grade-appropriate disciplinary core ideas) and how they can be used in t...

NGSS Phenomena Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Leveraging Assets to Build on Student Experiences, A Focus on Curiosity

During this Professional Learning Unit, we discuss instructional strategies that take an asset approach to student learning. The discussion will focus on how the knowledge students bring to learning—including student curiosity, questions, experienc...

Equity Inclusion NGSS Phenomena Professional Learning Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Digital Collaborative Spaces for Sensemaking

Whether you are teaching in the classroom, distance-learning environment, or a combination of the two, our goal remains the same – to provide ALL students opportunities and access to science learning. In this Professional Learning Unit, we'...

Distance Learning Professional Learning Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Technology Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

We have got a Problem to Solve! Now What?

Science standards based on A Framework for K-12 Science Education require us to provide opportunities for students to learn “how science is utilized, in particular through the engineering design process, and they should come to appreciate the disti...

Engineering Interdisciplinary Professional Learning Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking STEM Three-Dimensional Learning

Professional Learning Unit

Solving the Problem of Finding Authentic Problems Students Can Solve in the K-12 Classroom

Is identifying and choosing relevant, authentic problems to put in front of your students holding you back from providing opportunities to engage your students in engineering design? In this Professional Learning Unit, gain insight into what makes...

Engineering Interdisciplinary NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices STEM Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning