Secondary Science
Curriculum
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were adopted in 2013. To support the transition to NGSS, OUSD developed a transitional NGSS-aligned curriculum support for K-12 science using grant funding (see links below for high school). As high quality, standards-aligned curriculum became available, OUSD moved forward with the curriculum adoption of Elementary FOSS in 2018 and Middle School FOSS in 2019. We are now just seeing high quality, standards-aligned curriculum for high school science. In efforts to support NGSS teaching and learning K-12, OUSD Science field tested the BSCS and OpenSciEd curriculum for Bio, Chem, and Physics staring in 2020. We will pilot NGSS-aligned Biology curricula in the 2022-23 school year and adopt, pending budget approval, in 2023-24. Chem and Physics adoption will happen the following year.
For the scope and sequence in BSCS go here.
The scope and sequence in OpenSciEd is unavailable for the public view.
OUSD NGSS-aligned Curriculum Scope and Sequence
The following OUSD curriculum scope and sequence documents were developed over several years, beginning in 2015, by OUSD teacher leaders. These curriculum tools are part of our transition strategy to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which also includes professional development for teachers and site leaders. As high quality, standards-aligned curricula becomes available in the marketplace, OUSD will move forward with curriculum adoption and purchase to support core high school science classes (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), as OUSD did with the adoption of Elementary FOSS in 2018 and Middle School FOSS in 2019.
Note that some of the units and documents are incomplete and/or not available to teachers outside of Oakland.
Units are backwards mapped from the summative task. Units are driven by an essential question and anchor phenomenon. The unit ends with a summative task that captures 3-dimensional learning, collaboration and literacy skills.
Students revisit the curriculum features (anchor phenomenon, anchor text, and unit rubric) throughout the unit.
As teachers unpack a unit, they should use the Unit Analysis document to plan what they should generate.
The following textbooks were adopted in April 2007 for the various high school courses. Textbooks and teacher materials can be found at school site. While the textbooks all pre-date the Next Generation Science Standards, they can still serve as resources, for both teachers and students.
*Note that Physics is coincidentally using a book called Conceptual Physics, while Conceptual Physics is using a different book.
AP Science Classes
Advanced Placement resources and curriculum guides are available from the College Board Web Site.