All Science Scope resources

Journal Article

The Standard Answer: Considerations for Implementing Standards-based Grading in an NGSS-aligned Science Classroom

Standards-based grading (SBG) is an alternative approach to grading that uses standards, such as the NGSS, to communicate what students have learned. While SBG has increased in popularity in the last decade, questions still remain in regard to what c...

By Jesse Wilcox, Matt Townsley

Assessment NGSS Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Designing Performance-Based Assessments that Engage!

Rather than feel stressful for students, an assessment should feel like a celebration of learning. Performance-based assessments allow students to demonstrate their understanding of one or more standards by accomplishing tasks that are engaging and f...

By Katie Coppens

Middle School Assessment Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Socioscientific Modeling: Helping Students See Systems and Understand Messy Issues

In this article we present a strategy to help students unpack complex, socioscientific issues. We outline a 90-minute learning experience where students are asked to explore the complicated cause and effect relationships that shaped the course of the...

By Eric Kirk, Troy Sadler, Zhen Xu, Jamie Elsner, Li Ke, Laura Zangori, Rebecca Lesnefsky

Interdisciplinary Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Introducing Engineering Aims and Values through Rover Wheel Design

Engineering activities often emphasize the practices of engineers, but pay less attention to aspects of the nature of engineering. One important aspect of the nature of engineering is an understanding of the aims and values that underlie engineers’...

By Jerrid Kruse, Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Dan Chibnall, Sarah Voss, Emma Marie, Bridgid Miller, Jayme Scheck

Middle School Earth & Space Science Engineering STEM Technology

Journal Article

Eliciting Student Thinking

Interdisciplinary Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Growing Beyond Earth: Cultivating 21st century science exploration

Citizen Science column for the Jan/Feb 2024 Science Scope Journal...

Middle School Astronomy Citizen Science Earth & Space Science Life Science Technology

Journal Article

Discover student thinking while analyzing data…and having fun! (Data Literacy 101)

Our students rarely practice data skills with data not related to our science content, which makes sense given all we must teach. But always asking our students to succeed at the data skill move (e.g., graphing, analyzing, interpreting) and the conte...

Middle School Literacy Sensemaking Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

The Science Practice of Modeling as a Sensemaking Tool

Does the scientific practice of modeling actually support students in making thinking visible? Middle school teachers can build from the work of 12 K–8 teachers who wanted to learn how the practice of modeling is developed across grades and analy...

By , ,

Middle School Pedagogy Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Looking Back

January-February 2024 Scope on the Skies column...

Astronomy Earth & Space Science Physical Science

Journal Article

Exploring Socioscientific Issues through Evidence-Based Argumentation with MEL Diagrams

Critical thinking skills are best taught as students participate in the scientific practice of argumentation. When engaged in scientific argumentation students are expected to engage in active listening and social collaboration through the process o...

Middle School Equity Inclusion Interdisciplinary Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Making Scientific Sensemaking Visible

Many teachers and schools are coming to recognize the importance of sensemaking in the science classroom. But what does an NGSS-informed sensemaking lesson look like in practice, and how might our students respond to this shift in our instruction? Th...

Middle School Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Making light work of gravity: Scaffolding middle schoolers’ thinking to help them understand gravitational lensing.

Although the NGSS has helped teachers conceptualize teaching science in a more integrated way, effectively scaffolding students’ thinking within and across lessons can still be a challenge for any middle school science teacher. Thinking about the c...

By , , ,

Physical Science Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Promoting Sensemaking Through an Impactful Instructional Sequence

A valuable framework for promoting sensemaking includes the convergence of two independent ideas: (1) the focus of modern education on teaching for understanding and transfer, and (2) a purposeful sequence of instruction with those ends in mind. In ...

By ,

Middle School 5E Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Science and Engineering Practices Sensemaking