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The Vision for Science Instruction
The Vision for Science Instruction
Science, engineering, and technology permeates nearly every facet of modern life, and they also hold the key to meeting many of humanity's most pressing current and future challenges. Yet too few US people have a strong background in these fields, and many people lack even fundamental knowledge of them. This national trend has created a widespread call for change in science education, hence the new vision for science instruction.
National Research Council, 2012Science, engineering, and technology permeates nearly every facet of modern life, and they also hold the key to meeting many of humanity's most pressing current and future challenges. Yet too few US people have a strong background in these fields, and many people lack even fundamental knowledge of them. This national trend has created a widespread call for change in science education, hence the new vision for science instruction.
DoDEA Science Standards
DoDEA Science Standards
The research-based science standards set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do. These standards give educators the opportunity to provide classroom learning experiences that stimulate students’ interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship.
The research-based science standards set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do. These standards give educators the opportunity to provide classroom learning experiences that stimulate students’ interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship.
How do I know the FOSS Resources align to the DoDEA's College and Career Ready Standards?
How do I know the FOSS Resources align to the DoDEA's College and Career Ready Standards?
Answer: The FOSS program was designed for the Next Generation Science Standards, which are DoDEA’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science (CCRSS). The three dimensions of the standards are highlighted throughout the Investigation Guide. Science and Engineering Practices are always blue, Crosscutting Concepts are always green, and Disciplinary Core Ideas are always orange. Look at the Framework and NGSS section for more information about instruction and look at the Assessment section for information about how to evaluate student progress on the standards. Each investigation builds upon the previous one and the grade levels build upon one another. It is important to proceed through the investigation as designed to avoid creating any gaps in student knowledge. Any similarities in activities in different grade levels in an intentional part of the program to allow students to utilize prior knowledge as they explore the concepts with greater depth.
Answer: The FOSS program was designed for the Next Generation Science Standards, which are DoDEA’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science (CCRSS). The three dimensions of the standards are highlighted throughout the Investigation Guide. Science and Engineering Practices are always blue, Crosscutting Concepts are always green, and Disciplinary Core Ideas are always orange. Look at the Framework and NGSS section for more information about instruction and look at the Assessment section for information about how to evaluate student progress on the standards. Each investigation builds upon the previous one and the grade levels build upon one another. It is important to proceed through the investigation as designed to avoid creating any gaps in student knowledge. Any similarities in activities in different grade levels in an intentional part of the program to allow students to utilize prior knowledge as they explore the concepts with greater depth.
FOSS Alignment to DoDEA Science Standards
FOSS Alignment to DoDEA Science Standards
Science Standards: Science & Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas
Science Standards: Science & Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas
Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science: Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas. The first dimension, Science and Engineering Practices, describes what scientists do to investigate the natural world and what engineers do to design and build systems. The second dimension, Crosscutting Concepts, helps students explore connections across the four domains of science, including Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design. The third dimension, Disciplinary Core Ideas, includes the key ideas in science that have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines. These dimensions are combined to form each standard—or performance expectation—and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time. The Science Standards are not a set of daily standards, but a set of expectations for what students should be able to do by the end of instruction.
Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science: Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas. The first dimension, Science and Engineering Practices, describes what scientists do to investigate the natural world and what engineers do to design and build systems. The second dimension, Crosscutting Concepts, helps students explore connections across the four domains of science, including Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design. The third dimension, Disciplinary Core Ideas, includes the key ideas in science that have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines. These dimensions are combined to form each standard—or performance expectation—and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time. The Science Standards are not a set of daily standards, but a set of expectations for what students should be able to do by the end of instruction.
For more information on the 3 Dimensions, click on document to get a printable version.
For more information on the 3 Dimensions, click on document to get a printable version.
Science & Engineering Practices
Science & Engineering Practices
The practices are what students DO to make sense of phenomena. They are both a set of skills and a set of knowledge to be internalized. The SEPs reflect the major practices that scientists and engineers use to investigate the world and design and build systems.
The practices are what students DO to make sense of phenomena. They are both a set of skills and a set of knowledge to be internalized. The SEPs reflect the major practices that scientists and engineers use to investigate the world and design and build systems.
Using Crosscutting Concepts to Prompt Student Responses
Using Crosscutting Concepts to Prompt Student Responses
Crosscutting concepts are essential tools for teaching and learning science because students can understand the natural world by using crosscutting concepts to make sense of phenomena across the science disciplines.
Crosscutting concepts are essential tools for teaching and learning science because students can understand the natural world by using crosscutting concepts to make sense of phenomena across the science disciplines.
Matrix of the Crosscutting Concepts
Matrix of the Crosscutting Concepts
Click button below for FOSS grade level specific Crosscutting Concept information...
Click button below for FOSS grade level specific Crosscutting Concept information...
Prompts that Promote Rigorous Discussions
Prompts that Promote Rigorous Discussions
Examples: What does the pattern of data you see allow you to conclude from the experiment?
Examples: What does the pattern of data you see allow you to conclude from the experiment?
What caused the patterns you observed?
What caused the patterns you observed?
What things stay the same in the system presented in the scenario?
What things stay the same in the system presented in the scenario?
Developed by William R. Penuel & Katie Van Horne, University of Colorado Boulder
Developed by William R. Penuel & Katie Van Horne, University of Colorado Boulder
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Student Performance Expectations
Student Performance Expectations
The Performance Expectations set the learning goals for students, but do not describe how students get there. Performance Expectations offer a benchmarked guideline for what a student should know, but they can’t be understood in a vacuum. The Performance Expectations outlined in the standards depend on the three dimensions of the science framework. Understanding how the standards are organized is fundamental to their successful implementation.
The Performance Expectations set the learning goals for students, but do not describe how students get there. Performance Expectations offer a benchmarked guideline for what a student should know, but they can’t be understood in a vacuum. The Performance Expectations outlined in the standards depend on the three dimensions of the science framework. Understanding how the standards are organized is fundamental to their successful implementation.
Updated May 2021 to align to FOSS Science Modules (Life, Physical, and Earth Science)
Updated May 2021 to align to FOSS Science Modules (Life, Physical, and Earth Science)
Next Generation Science
Next Generation Science
The Next Generation Science site has more information about our science standards. This is a great site to visit to help build a deeper understanding of the science standards.
The Next Generation Science site has more information about our science standards. This is a great site to visit to help build a deeper understanding of the science standards.
Watch this video clip to learn...
Watch this video clip to learn...
How to Read the NGSS
How to Read the NGSS
(Next Generation Science Standards)
(Next Generation Science Standards)
Next Gen Science FAQs
Next Gen Science FAQs
Making Sense of Phenomena in FOSS
Making Sense of Phenomena in FOSS
Grades K-5
Grades K-5
Check out NGSS Elementary Science Videos:
Check out NGSS Elementary Science Videos:
Click on the image to download a free copy of the book
Click on the image to download a free copy of the book
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