Why use NGSS to teach Science?
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Cristi Oster, Courtney Ziska, Janae Williams,
Henley Chu, Helen Simmons, & Lindsey Fortgang
● NGSS (also known as Next Generation Science Standards) centers around
making learning more meaningful on multiple levels for all students.
NGSS is centered on student-directed learning that
challenges the student to make sense of their world.
Early Fears in Using NGSS
At first we feared that by giving up total control and making lessons more
student-driven, little learning would get done.
However, nothing was further from the truth!
As we began to relinquish more
control of the direction of
instruction, students of all levels
became more invested and
excited about their learning.
NGSS makes teachers stop spoon feeding facts!
As we began to trust in our students’ abilities to problem solve and discover
connections on their own, their motivation to learn soared.
Collaboration for the win!
By giving students frequent opportunities to collaborate with each
other, they began to work cooperatively, while building deeper connections to content, by increasing their problem
solving abilities.
● NGSS is all about giving both teachers and students the opportunity to think of themselves as researchers and scientists.
You don’t have to be Einstein to teach science using NGSS!
● We need to remember that we and our students can become researchers and scientists together by simply not being afraid to question, explore, use our imaginations, and problem solve through trial and error to discover!
Phenomena: what?! Students are first presented with a
phenomenon:
something that exists in the world that
is hard to explain.
This naturally lends itself to
questioning, exploration and
discovery
We chose this
phenomenon to kick
off a unit on wave
properties.
Sample Unit: Waves
“I like this strategy because when we are older we won’t be scared to try things on our own. This changed the classroom community because we all worked together. This made me feel excited every day to do more science.”
- Phoebe Cho, Ms. Simmons’ Class
“My teacher uses hands-on activities. This strategy has helped me be a better learner by knowing more about the topic. I like the strategy because I like to interact with the topic. It changed my environment by learning the world around me instead of reading about it. On a scale of one to ten I will rate it a ten.”
- Edgar Mancilla, Ms. Ngo’s Class
Student Testimonials
Diving Into Standards
Time to break it down: NGSS for Newbies