science Units of study

How to use these unit resources:

Review to understand how the standards were bundled (grouped) around a common theme or topic and the dimensions represented in each standard.
Review the Understandings and Essential Questions for each unit.
Make a copy (File -> Make a copy) for your own use.
Use the Unit Storyline found at the end of the document for your instructional planning.
Reference any Resources and Materials shared. Sample Assessments are also provided.
Note: These are sample units and not required units of study for any grade level. All resources can be edited/adapted to meet your needs. You may notice that the Big Ideas and EQs listed are sometimes written in language above grade-level understandings. The Big Ideas and EQs are initially copied directly from the PDE curriculum frameworks. As we work through the units, we will simplify language/reword for understanding as we see fit, and you can feel free to make similar edits at any time with your copies to best meet your needs.
View all NGSS bundles here. Read Thematic and Topic Models for NGSS to learn distinctions among the two types of models.

kindergarten tHEMATIC MODEL

Narrative and Rationale: The three bundles in this Kindergarten model were built to focus on the observation of patterns in the natural and designed world(s), an idea that applies to the physical, life, and earth and space sciences, as well as engineering. Bundle 1 centers on a guiding question about the needs of plants and animals for food, water, and sunlight to survive. Bundle 2 centers on guiding questions about patterns in weather data. Bundle 3 centers on a guiding question about pushes and pulls on an object and their effects. Weather-related phenomena are also used as a way to connect bundles, allowing students to develop a deep understanding of the CCCs and DCIs that are introduced in Kindergarten.

Science K Unit 1 Needs of Plants and Animals

Unit 1: Needs and Plants of Animals

Mystery Science unit connections:

Animal Needs (Animal Secrets)

Plant Needs (Plant Secrets)

OpenSciEd unit connections:

Unit K.4 Ecosystems: Plants, Animals, and their Environment - Winter 2026

Science K Unit 2 Local Weather

Unit 2: Local Weather

Mystery Science unit connections:

Severe Weather Unit (Wild Weather)

Weather Patterns Unit (Circle of Seasons)

Sunlight & Warmth Unit (Sunny Skies)

OpenSciEd unit connections:

Unit K.1: Energy: Sunlight

Unit K.2 Weather

Science K Unit 3 Pushes and Pulls

Unit 3: Pushes and Pulls

Mystery Science unit connections:

Pushes & Pulls Unit (Force Olympics)

OpenSciEd unit connections:

Unit K.3 Forces & Motion - Summer 2025

Alternatively, see the Kindergarten Topics Model.

Narrative and Rationale: The three bundles in this Kindergarten model are characterized by the overarching ideas that weather, sunlight, and the needs of living things affect us daily—ideas that apply to the physical, life, and Earth and space sciences, as well as engineering.

K-5 scope & sequence Planning template

K-5 STEELS Scope and Sequence Template

curriculum framework & unpacking standards

Kindergarten Curriculum Framework

This is an editable version (File-> Make a copy for your own use) of the PDE curriculum framework for Kindergarten.

This version also includes linked standards and corresponding NGSS standards and resources.

K_Science_Curriculum

Unpacking the Standards Organizer

Use this template to dive deeper into the standards and learn to identify the three dimensional components of each.

STEELS Standards Unpacking Organizer for Curriculum Work

MysteryScience

MysteryScience is offering free access for new educator accounts through July 2025. Create a free account to check out some of their NGSS-aligned lessons and activities.

Mystery Science is offering a free trial for new users through June 30, 2025

Be sure to use the ANCHOR LAYER when planning to use Mystery Science units for a more intentional anchor phenomenon experience!

NGSS Course Models (California)

Visit the website.

Click the + sign to disclose the resources for each grade level.

Scroll down to find the California Science Framework (PDF) that references instructional sequences for each grade level unit.

K-5 Units

NGSS aligned

Michigan

from ngss: THEMATIC AND TOPICS UNITS

What is the Thematic Model? In the thematic model, bundles are created to support a given theme. The theme increases in depth and complexity throughout the school year.

What is the Topic Model? In the topic model, each bundle has a separate but related topic.

The example bundles are not intended to represent the only ways to organize courses, but rather to provide some well thought out, concrete examples of what bundles might look like.

From NGSS:

For each grade, two different examples are provided to motivate users to compare the different examples and think about what works in their local context:

For each grade K-5, an example is provided that organizes the bundles based on the Topics arrangement of the NGSS and one that focuses on a particular theme that builds across each year.