Welcome
Welcome video from Dr. Clancy Wolf, who helped created these resources. In this short video he tries to give a quick overview of these resources, where to find them, and how to use them.
Use these links to the navigate the three sections on this page:
Intro to NGSS at the Elementary grades
(17 min) - A short overview of NGSS at the Elementary level.
What and Why Phenomena
(3 minutes) - A significant change in how we think about why kids need to learn science. NGSS is a shift away from “learning about” and towards “figuring out.” A key element of this is identifying and using phenomena as the driving reason to do your investigations. This short video helps explain the importance of this idea.
Crosscutting Concepts (CCC) Crash Course
(5 min) - A short video that introduces the Crosscutting Concepts.
In-depth exploration of individual CCCs - This document has links to a 90 minute seminar run the by National Science Teachers Association on each of the Crosscutting Concepts. This can be rather mind numbing and deadly, and we don’t expect anyone to watch all of it. We offer these as a resource for anyone who wants a more detailed understanding on any specific Crosscutting Concept.
Science and Engineering Practices (SEP) Crash Course
(8 min) - A short video that introduces the Science and Engineering Practices.
In-depth exploration of individual SEPs - Again, overkill, but a list of NSTA Webinar recordings that will allow you to explore a specific Science and Engineering Practice in more detail.
Useful Documents
CCC:SEP Crash Course Summary - A two page document of what each CCC and SEP is and is not - a supplement of the “Crash Courses” above.
Crosscutting Concepts K-5 - A one page document defining each of the CCCs and what that means at the K-2 grade level and the 3-5 grade level. A great way to reduce your stress levels!
Science and Engineering Practices K-5 - A one page document defining each of the SEPs and what that means at the K-2 grade level and the 3-5 grade level. Another great way to reduce your stress levels!
The Kit is Here. Now What?
This is a short video (8 minutes) designed to help you understand what is in your Science Kit when it arrives, and how to use and manage the materials in the kit. Dr. Wolf opens one of the kits (in the Science Kit Center at the ESD) and explains what’s there and how it relates to the FOSS instructions.
Tour These Pages
This 14 minute video is a brief overview of the resources on this site to support your science instruction (and where to find them!)