Grades 6 - 8 

Grades 6-8 use the OpenSciEd curriculum. The OpenSciEd instructional model uses a storyline approach – a logical sequence of lessons that are motivated by students’ questions that arise from students’ interactions with phenomena. This high quality instructional model focuses on students figuring out phenomena through sensemaking, rather than being told science facts. Instruction begins with an engaging, real-world problem or puzzling event, then students “notice and wonder,” investigate, model, argue from evidence, and build and revise their ideas over time. The curriculum emphasizes coherent storylines, where each lesson builds naturally from students’ questions, and classroom routines designed to have every student contribute to and benefit from the learning. Teachers act as facilitators who guide students’ reasoning, value their ideas, and support them in developing the science and engineering practices outlined in the NGSS and Massachusetts STE Framework. 

At each grade level, the science curriculum includes three domains of science: earth and space sciences, physical science, and life science. It should be noted that some science core ideas and practices are distributed among grades 6, 7, and 8 differently from what is suggested in Open Sci Ed and the state framework. We have aligned our curriculum from K-8 and some state standards are taught in different grades.  For this reason, the units may have different labels. All units and all standards and practices are taught within the K-8 science curriculum.  Prominent cross-cutting concepts include patterns; scale, proportion, and quantity; systems and system models; cause and effect; energy and matter; structure and function; and stability and change.

Eight science practices essential to the work of scientists are integrated throughout the curriculum: asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematical modeling and computational thinking, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.