Standards-Alignment has clearly defined student learning expectations aligned to Kansas State Standards and supported with evidence-based instruction and materials .

Standards Alignment Toolkit

• High School Science 

  • Biology Unpacked Standards 

  • Chemistry Unpacked Standards

  • Physical Science/Physics Unpacked Standards

Coming soon -- unpacked standards tools for middle school & elementary 

Recommended Bundles for scope and sequence:

• Elementary

• Middle School

• High School

KSDE Fact Sheet for Prioritization of Standards

• Prioritization of Standards

Quality Instruction refers to implementation of evidence-based lesson design that reflects high expectations, meaningful student engagement, and learning activities aligned to the Kansas State Standards. A data-driven system of differentiated supports is necessary to help each student meet rigorous state standards. 

KSDE Vision for Quality Science Instruction

DRAFT -- Observation Tool for Quality Science Instruction

KSDE Science Instructional Materials Selection Guidance

KSDE Instructional Materials Implementation Guidance

2023 Science Instructional Materials  Evaluation Tool

A Balanced Assessment System refers to a collection of varying types of assessments that provide feedback regarding instruction and student learning. It utilizes assessment as a measure for learning and of learning. 

Screener/Diagnostics 

There is not a science-specific screener. We recommend using math and reading screeners to identify students who may need additional support in science.

KAP

The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) develops and supports the state summative assessment, the interim assessments in the fall and winter, and the mini-test item bank.

• • 2025-2026 KAP Calendar 

  • State Summative

  • Interims (Fall and Winter)

    • Blueprint

    • Interim Test Administration Manual

  • Mini-test item bank - Access on Kite Educator Portal

    • Students cannot be rostered until after Sept. 2

Classroom Based Assessments

• • Pre-assessment

  • Formative

    • informal

    • formal

  • Unit and/or Course summative

Structured Literacy refers to the explicit, systematic, diagnostic, and cumulative approach to teaching literacy that acknowledges the value of both word recognition and oral and written language comprehension as evidenced in all grades and disciplines. 

KACEE:

• Kansas Environmental Education Conference- Nov 3-4 in Topeka, KS

Explore how the rise of technology and social media use is contributing to growing anxiety and reduced resilience in today’s students—and discover how nature and outdoor learning can provide a powerful antidote. Join fellow educators to spark fresh ideas, share inspiration, and bring the benefits of environmental education into your teaching. 

• Water in Our Community Online eeCredential (Oct 6 - Dec 10)
  Explore how water connects all subject areas, community issues and classroom learning opportunities in this flexible, hands-on online course for K-12 educators. Scholarships available and comes with $150 in curriculum guides. (1 hour of graduate credit available)

• Be the Change Online eeCredential  (Oct 6 - Dec 10)
  Discover practical leadership strategies to engage your students in hands-on investigations that spark real projects for a more sustainable school and community. This sponsored course is free and comes with $150 in curriculum guides.  (1 hour of graduate credit available)

• Explore All Professional Learning Opportunities HERE.

OpenSciEd Elementary Units Released

• K - Sun Energy

• K - Weather 

• K- Force and Motion (NEW)

• 1 - Light Waves

• 1- Sound Waves

• 1 - Space & Sky Patterns (NEW)

• 2 - Earth's Land & Changing Shape

• 2 - Structure & Properties of Matter 

• 2 - Habitats & Biodiversity (NEW) 

• 3 - Forces &  Interactions

• 3 - Weather & Hazards 

• 3 - Trait Variations (NEW) 

• 4 - Collisions & Energy Transfer

• 4 - Electricity & Energy Transfer 

• 5 - Ecosystems & Matter Cycling

• 5 - Matter Properties 

Kansas Association of Biology Teachers

• KABT Fall Conference Information 

  • When: Saturday, September 27th, 9AM – 4 PM

  • Where: Campus High School,  2100 W 55th St S, Wichita, Kansas 67217

  • Theme: Outdoor education and community science

  • Link to presenter application form – we highly encourage anyone who is interested in sharing something cool from your classroom, school, or PD. 

KACEE:

• Kansas Environmental Education Conference- Nov 3-4 in Topeka, KS

Explore how the rise of technology and social media use is contributing to growing anxiety and reduced resilience in today’s students—and discover how nature and outdoor learning can provide a powerful antidote. Join fellow educators to spark fresh ideas, share inspiration, and bring the benefits of environmental education into your teaching. 

• Water in Our Community Online eeCredential (Oct 6 - Dec 10)
  Explore how water connects all subject areas, community issues and classroom learning opportunities in this flexible, hands-on online course for K-12 educators. Scholarships available and comes with $150 in curriculum guides. (1 hour of graduate credit available)

• Be the Change Online eeCredential  (Oct 6 - Dec 10)
  Discover practical leadership strategies to engage your students in hands-on investigations that spark real projects for a more sustainable school and community. This sponsored course is free and comes with $150 in curriculum guides.  (1 hour of graduate credit available)

• Explore All Professional Learning Opportunities HERE.

Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC) at University of Utah

We’re currently seeking middle school teachers in Kansas to participate in this study. We’d love your guidance on the best way to connect with districts and educators in your state. In previous studies, science newsletters have been especially helpful in reaching interested teachers, and we’d be grateful for any suggestions or opportunities you might recommend. 

To learn more about this study, please visit: https://teach.genetics.utah.edu/research/ 

NASA

NASA TechRise Student Challenge  is a FREE NASA challenge for middle and high schools. The challenge opens this September and invites student teams in sixth-12th grade to submit experiment ideas to fly on a commercial space industry suborbital flight (e.g., rocket, high-altitude balloon). 

The challenge includes information sessions for your department or organization upon request, free educational resources to foster classroom learning and an exciting student virtual field trip in the fall. Sixty winning teams will also receive $1500 to build their experiment, a spot to test it on a NASA-sponsored flight, and technical support from our awesome NASA TechRise advisors. The challenge is a great way to get hands-on with a NASA project this school year, and we encourage teams of all skill levels to apply. Updated challenge resources (including videos, slide decks, and educator pacing guides) can all be found on the challenge website HERE when the challenge opens. 

Torziken / Maniken Student 2 Hands-On Anatomy 

Looking for a way to engage students in hands-on learning in both a FTF traditional classroom setting and in remote, distance-learning situations, if

needed? If so, then this workshop is for YOU! Health care is the #1 need and career opportunity nationwide. This workshop is designed to help students learn more about the human body and the career opportunities that are available. This virtual workshop allows you to attend from home and will model distance-learning opportunities that engage students in hands-on learning. Attendees will receive content/activities that can be used in health, biology, and anatomy & physiology classes to support your classroom. Human TORZIKEN™ Model provides easy access to study and build, in clay, internal body systems of the head, thorax, and abdomen. The coronal (frontal), cross-sectional design grants clear definition of the cranial, thoracic and abdominal cavities, and the ventral anatomy that is contained in each. 

Pricing: 

• Torziken Kit plus workshop registration - $393 

• Maniken Student 2 plus registration - $667 

• Torziken and Mankien 2 plus registration - $860 

• Workshop registration - $200 

ESSDACK members enjoy discounted workshop registration!

 Register here : https://essdk.me/anatomy Questions? Contact cleliamccrory@essdack.org