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Improving Science Education Through Three-Dimensional Learning

Quick Search Next Generation Science Standards

THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF SCIENCE LEARNING

Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. 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.

Crosscutting Concepts help students explore connections across the four domains of science, including Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design.

When these concepts, such as "cause and effect", are made explicit for students, they can help students develop a coherent and scientifically-based view of the world around them.

Science and Engineering Practices describe what scientists do to investigate the natural world and what engineers do to design and build systems. The practices better explain and extend what is meant by "inquiry" in science and the range of cognitive, social, and physical practices that it requires. Students engage in practices to build, deepen, and apply their knowledge of core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) are the key ideas in science that have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines. These core ideas build on each other as students progress through grade levels and are grouped into the following four domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering.

More about 3D Learning

GET TO KNOW

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K-12 science content standards. Standards set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do. The NGSS were developed by states to improve science education for all students.

A goal for developing the NGSS was to create a set of research-based, up-to-date K-12 science standards. These standards give local educators the flexibility to design classroom learning experiences that stimulate students' interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship.

Get to Know the Standards

IMPLEMENT

The NGSS call for a three-dimensional approach to K-12 science instruction. This represents a significant transition from previous state standards. That's why effective implementation demands a great deal of collaboration and patience among states, districts, schools, teachers, and students.

Thoughtful and coordinated approaches to implementation will enable educators to inspire future generations of scientifically literate students. That is the vision of the NGSS. This website provides a range of high-quality resources that empower educators, administrators, parents, and the general public to help bring this vision to life.

Find Tools and Resources

WHY

Science-and therefore science education-is central to the lives of all Americans.

A high-quality science education means that students will develop an in-depth understanding of content and develop key skills-communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem solving, and flexibility-that will serve them throughout their educational and professional lives.

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Home Page | Next Generation Science Standards

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Improving Science Education Through Three-Dimensional Learning Quick Search Next Generation Science Standards Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. 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.

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I have been getting A LOT of questions from teachers who are new to NGSS. Don't panic! Even reading the next generation science standards can be a challenge.

How do I read the NGSS?

Check out this 10-minute guide to reading the Next Generation Science Standards. In this video, I discuss

the 3-D model which includes Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts.

how to find the standards articulation with other grade levels and across disciplines

performance expectations and evidence statements.

What should I do after I learn how to read the NGSS?

Get more information about the three dimensions of the NGSS.

After you have figured out how to read the NGSS, it's best to take a look at each dimension. I wrote a blog post on 3-dimensional learning to help explain the complex nature of the standards even more. Also, here are my two favorite resources:

The resources provide more in-depth information about the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts by grade band. They also provide information about the progression across grade levels.

Break down evidence statements.

Evidence statements explain, in detail, how students are to be assessed. Evidence statements are an in-depth look at a single performance expectation. I use evidence statements to create objectives. To learn how click here. Evidence statements are also great for helping you to write assessments.

What questions do you have about reading and using the Next Generation Science Standards? Comment below and let me know.
Originally Published on April 5, 2018. Last updated January 17th, 2021.

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How to Read the NGSS - A 10 Minute Guide * Sadler Science

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I have been getting A LOT of questions from teachers who are new to NGSS. Don't panic! Even reading the next generation science standards can be a challenge. Check out this 10-minute guide to reading the Next Generation Science Standards. In this video, I discuss the 3-D model which includes Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts.

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There are so many good books. SOOOOO many. In fact, there are so many books, it can be hard to choose one. STEAM Reads makes it easy by providing hand-selected recommendations of science, technology, engineering, art, and math books for all ages.

Our site filters out books that use scientific terms without teaching concepts. Our recommendations provide engaging material appropriate for each age group. And our main rule: NO BORING BOOKS.

Select an age group to begin:

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There are so many good books. SOOOOO many. In fact, there are so many books, it can be hard to choose one. STEAM Reads makes it easy by providing hand-selected recommendations of science, technology, engineering, art, and math books for all ages. Our site filters out books that use scientific terms without teaching concepts.

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

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ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

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Welcome to Crash Course Kids! This bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course is all about gradeschool science. We’ll look at Earth, Habitats, Space, Chemical Reactions, Engineering, and much much more with host Sabrina Cruz. So, join us every Tuesday and Thursday for new uploads. This series is beginning with 5th grade science, so we’ll be delving into Earth Science, Physical Science, Biology, Geography, Engineering, and Astronomy. Have a look at our playlists on each subject!

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science scienceforkids education scishow "hank green" kids elementary ngss cartoon animation puppet biology chemistry physics engineering stem steam

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From the team behind the YouTube series SciShow comes SciShow Kids! Join Jessi, Squeaks the Robot Lab Rat, and all their friends at the Fort as they conduct experiments, research new questions, and talk with experts to learn about the science-filled world around us.

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Nat Geo Kids makes it fun to explore the world with weird, wild, and wacky videos featuring awesome animals like sharks, tigers and lions, cool science, funny pets, and more! Come back every week for new videos! Fuel kids’ curiosity with magazines designed to inspire and empower children ages 3 an…

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Give yourself a round of applause because you all deserve it for making this place a happening place for kids. We want to send out a special thanks to all of those awesome parents, teachers & kids who watch, comment, subscribe to us.

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It's time to improve literacy skills during social studies instruction and ensure that readers of all abilities have what they need to access grade-level social studies concepts.

Join us on Thursday, December 7 for a look at scaffolded materials that provide extra literacy support while building key social studies concepts and skills.

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Newsela | Content and assessment platform

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Content Aligned To National & State Standard, Flexible To Support Relevant Curriculum. Find the Perfect Piece Of Content For Lessons. Go beyond the book.

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K-5 distance learning SCIENCE resources (FCSS)

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Sample our easy-to-implement strategies and lessons to bring science notebooking into your classroom or home!

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I'm obsessed with keeping notebooks. I have drawers full of them for collecting thoughts and ideas generated during faculty meetings, conferences, and workshops. So many treasures: lists of things to do, illustrations to remind me how to replicate, questions, unfamiliar terms, and examples of strategies I want to remember.

So it's hardly a surprise that notebooking is a key practice in my elementary science instruction! I've tried fancy hardcover notebooks with lines, formatted templates with space for drawing, and lined paper. But do you know what works best? The simplest option: blank papers stapled inside of a file folder. Why? Blank pages allow for flexibility and freedom.

Science notebooks evolve throughout the year along with students, becoming more complex as students gain a better understanding of how data is collected and recorded. For example, a kindergarten class starts off with a general notebook for gathering and recording information, then gradually to specific-topic notebooks. A second grade class starts with general observations, then moves towards formal data recording.

Here are four ways to use science notebooks:

1. Help students create their own reference sheets.

I use a direct approach sometimes, asking students to write down definitions or copy a specific diagram. These entries serve as references for students.

2. Guide students in recording their discoveries.

I use a guided approach and model how to record data and experiences, but leave it up to students to create their own entry.

Open-ended notebook entries are my favorite and the most authentic. Students have total freedom over what they record in their notebooks and how. These entries provide a window to students' thinking and understanding of concepts -- they tell me where and how I can contextualize our experiments.

3. Capture evidence of student learning and understanding.

I often use notebooks to check for students' understanding of concepts and new content vocabulary.

4. Document student growth over time.

Science notebooks provide a permanent record of students' activities and learning and can be included in their portfolios. Notebooks can be used to document student growth and development in science (and literacy) from the beginning of the year.

As a teacher who works with many English language learners and students with disabilities, I appreciate how well all students respond to the opportunities to share their own illustrations, graphs, charts, and words. This improves their ability to organize and explain their ideas and learning. Illustrating a concept in their notebooks can provide a boost of confidence for students who might not otherwise speak up in an oral discussion.

Science notebooks are a powerful way for students to demonstrate understanding of science experiences, and provide teachers with evidence for assessing students' written language development and science learning.

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Four Ways to Think Like a Scientist with Science Notebooks

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I'm obsessed with keeping notebooks. I have drawers full of them for collecting thoughts and ideas generated during faculty meetings, conferences, and workshops. So many treasures: lists of things to do, illustrations to remind me how to replicate, questions, unfamiliar terms, and examples of strategies I want to remember.

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@dianasoriat and @sam_hh to help users begin to feel comfortable with sketchnoting.
Right-click and download the ilinked file or click on it and drag it to your desktop or tap on it to save it to the Camera Roll on your tablet.
​Use it as a background in your favorite drawing program or screencasting program or print it off to use the analog version!

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Sketchnoting, in its purest form, is creating a personal visual story as one is listening to a speaker or reading a text. I also believe the interactive notebook, which includes the process of taking...

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Visual Note-Taking for Educators: A Teacher's Guide to Student Creativity

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Visual Note-Taking for Educators: A Teacher's Guide to Student Creativity [Pillars, Wendi] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Visual Note-Taking for Educators: A Teacher's Guide to Student Creativity

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Tap into the power of your visual brain. Sketchnoting is a creative superpower, and I want to help you wield it.Imagine a world where you actually remember and apply the ideas you learn about ... Read More

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Go to: Video || Testing Materials || Practice Test Scoring Guides || Test Administrator Tutorial for General Assessments || Accessibility Resources || Estimated Testing Times || Reporting || Test Security

The California Science Test (CAST) is an online assessment based on the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) . All local educational agencies (LEAs) with eligible students in grades five and eight and in high school (grade ten, eleven, or twelve) administer the CAST. Every device used for testing must have the secure browser installed. Stable, high-speed Internet is required.

Who takes the CAST? The CAST is administered in grades five and eight and once to each student while that student is in high school. All students must take the CAST by the end of grade twelve, but have the option of testing in grade ten or grade eleven. Only eligible students may participate in the administration of the CAST. Students assigned to take an alternate assessment should take the California Alternate Assessment for Science.

Visit the California Department of Education (CDE) California Science Test web page for additional information.

Video

The California Science Test (CAST) and the Next Generation Science Standards video presents an opportunity to learn about the standards and how they are built into the CAST. The video has information about the structure of the CAST and the types of questions students can expect to see on the assessment.

Testing Materials

Computer-based Test Administration Materials

Test Coordinator Resources

Paper-Pencil Test Administration Directions for Administration (DFAs)

Requests for CAST paper-pencil tests are reviewed and approved by the CDE.

Testing Notification Templates

Parent/Guardian notification templates that can be used to notify parents and guardians of the year's statewide assessments are available on the Parent/Guardian Notification web page.

Practice Test Scoring Guides

The Smarter Balanced practice and training tests include all accessibility resources found in the operational assessments. Refer to the Online Practice Test Scoring Guides, Preparing for Administration (PFAs), and Directions for Administration (DFAs) web page for additional information.

Test Administrator Tutorial for General Assessments

The Test Administrator Tutorial is designed to prepare test administrators to administer the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics, the California Science Test, and the California Spanish Assessment. This tutorial is optional and may be used in addition to the LEA's local training.

The tutorial is available on the CAASPP Test Administrator Tutorial web page on the CAASPP website, so no logon information is required. This public offering does not allow for tracking of course completion. LEA CAASPP coordinators can use the Test Administration Tutorial course on the Moodle Training Site if they want to track staff completion of the course. Moodle will provide participants with an online Certificate of Completion after a participant answers the Checks for Understanding questions correctly.

The following resources are available for LEA CAASPP coordinators and site CAASPP coordinators:

Accessibility Resources

Once it has been determined that a student should receive an embedded or non-embedded designated support or accommodation, an LEA CAASPP coordinator or site CAASPP coordinator should assign the student's accessibility resource(s) in TOMS at least 48 hours prior to testing. More information about accessibility resources can be found on the CAASPP Accessibility Resources web page.

Desmos Calculators

A student taking the CAST can access the embedded Desmos calculator during the entire test. The calculator that appears in the test delivery system is assigned on the basis of the student's grade level. The student can resize and reposition the calculator on the screen as needed.

The Desmos calculator is free and available all year for the student to build familiarity with this resource. A student using Job Access with Speech (JAWS®) can use the Desmos calculator.

Translated Test Directions

Translated test directions are available as a non-embedded designated support. A biliterate student or adult can read these directions in conjunction with the CAST. Refer to the CAST Translated Test Directions web page to download a language-specific PDF.

Science Reference Tools

The CAST assessments for grade eight and high school include a periodic table of the elements and a reference sheet of formulas that students may access during online testing as universal tools. The reference sheet provides all formulas that a student may need to use in responding to a test item; however, this does not imply that the student will receive a specific item type. The purposes of these reference tools are to signal that students do not need to memorize formula sheets and to ensure that students have equal access to the tools during testing. These reference tools are not meant to guide instruction.

Refer to the Printing Enlarged Science Reference Tools quick start guide if the student requires the science reference tools to be enlarged and printed on 11×17 paper.

Periodic Table

An updated and accessible periodic table of the elements is available for all students on the practice and training tests. This periodic table can be resized and moved within the item and is accessible for a student using JAWS.

A printable CAST periodic table has been provided as a resource intended for classroom use. This printable version closely resembles the online periodic table available in the CAST and can be downloaded and printed to give a student practice using the periodic table in a format similar to the online version. Students are encouraged to practice using both types of periodic table resources throughout the year.

Files that contain a periodic table and reference sheet of formulas-.brf and.prn files-are intended to be printed using a braille embosser.

Reference Sheet

Estimated Testing Times

Administration of the CAST is estimated to take approximately two hours. Note that the CAST is an untimed test.

The CAST is composed of six segments of test questions: two or three segments of discrete (stand-alone) questions followed by three or four PTs, where each PT is a segment. It is strongly recommended that a PT be started and completed in a single test session and that students only pause the test after the end of a segment.

Reporting

Once a student completes the CAST, the student's score is available in the California Educator Reporting System (CERS) . Student Score Reports (SSRs) are produced and available for download in TOMS and made available to parents and guardians through parent or student portals.

Typically, an LEA can access results in the CERS and SSRs in TOMS by June of the test administration year, after the CDE verifies and approves the data.

Each student receives an SSR in English and one in the student's primary language if that language is Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Filipino, Korean, or Cantonese (traditional Chinese). To view a sample SSR in each language, visit the CAASPP Sample Student Score Reports (SSRs) web page. If the student needs an SSR in one of the provided languages and that language is not the student's primary language, the LEA should change the language of the SSR in TOMS prior to student testing.

Test Security

LEA CAASPP coordinators and site CAASPP coordinators have the ability to submit STAIRS cases in TOMS as a means of reporting testing incidents. Refer to the CAASPP and ELPAC Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide and the Test Security web page for more information.

Last Reviewed: February 16, 2022

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Information about the California Science Test (CAST), including who takes it and test materials.

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Home

Testing & Accountability

Testing

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System

Item specifications describe how items for the CAST are developed to assess the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).

The CAST item specifications provide details on each assessed dimension of a CA NGSS Performance Expectation (PE). The CA NGSS dimensions are Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs). Item writers use the item specifications to write the CAST multidimensional test questions, which are aligned with the CA NGSS. With these specifications, educators will gain a better understanding of the three-dimensional nature of the CAST; however, they are not intended to guide instruction. Educators can use the item specifications and the 2016 Science Framework for California Public Schools as resources for developing items for interim, benchmark, and summative assessments for the classroom.

Background

The item specifications are based on the PEs in the CA NGSS and are designed to help item writers write test questions for the CAST. The item specification for an individual PE describes how students can demonstrate their understanding of the PE on the CAST. An item specification also includes possible phenomena and any relevant Environmental Principles and Concepts associated with a PE. The grade five assessment draws on PEs from grades three through five (3–5) and includes the foundational concepts that are addressed in kindergarten through grade two (K–2). The grade eight assessment draws on PEs from grades six through eight (6–8), and the high school assessment draws on PEs from the grades nine through twelve (9–12). More information about the construction of the CAST can be found in the Revised CAST Blueprint (PDF).

The CAST item specifications were written for all 175 PEs (i.e., 45 for grade five; 59 for grade eight; and 71 for high school) assessed on the CAST. One item specification is available per PE. Each PE addresses at least one SEP, one DCI, and one CCC, and each item specification represents the integration of the three dimensions.

All 175 item specifications are now available. The item specifications will be updated annually on the basis of input from California educators.

Introduction to the California Science Test Item Content Specifications (DOCX)

Grade Five Assessment

There are 45 PEs that may be assessed on the CAST; these item specifications are presented individually and by content areas.

Grade 5 Earth and Space Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

Grade 5 Life Sciences (DOCX;Posted 26-Jul-2021)

Grade 5 Physical Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

Grade 5 Engineering, Technology, and Application of Science (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

Middle School (MS) Assessment

There are 59 PEs that may be assessed on the CAST; these item specifications are presented individually and by content areas.

MS Earth and Space Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

MS Life Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

MS Physical Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

MS Engineering, Technology, and Application of Science (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

High School (HS) Assessment

There are 71 (PEs) that may be assessed on the CAST; these item specifications are presented individually and by content areas.

HS Earth and Space Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

HS Life Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

HS Physical Sciences (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

HS Engineering, Technology, and Application of Science (DOCX; Posted 26-Jul-2021)

Appendices

Appendix A: Complete List of the SEP Subpractices (DOCX)

2016 Science Framework for California Public Schools, Appendix 2 (PDF)

Questions:

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress | caaspp@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-8765

Last Reviewed: Friday, November 19, 2021

Recently Posted in Testing

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CAST Item Specifications - California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System (CA Dept of Education)

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Item specifications describe how items for the CAST are developed to assess the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).

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CAASPP Test Results - CAASPP Reporting (CA Dept of Education)

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Starting point for viewing test results for California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

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ATTENTION Educators: Due to a recent Google Drive security update the majority of the links on this webpage including the curriculum guides are currently not working. Our team is working on developing a solution, please be patient as we work to restore access to curriculum materials.

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The NSTA Next Generation Science Standards Hub offers information, resources, news, professional learning opportunities, and expert advice in understanding and implementing the Next Generation Science Standards - NGSS

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The Wonder of Science website aggregates the work of Paul Andersen around the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

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Research - College of Education - Michigan State University

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Access to Kindergarten Curriculum Materials
Access to 1st Grade Curriculum Materials Access to 2nd Grade Curriculum Materials
In the folders for each curricular unit, you will find different documents. In the table below, we list the types of documents, descriptions of each document, and where to find the documents in the folders.

Overview

Provides:
- A general description of the unit,
- Unit objectives
- NGSS performance expectations addressed throughout the unit,
- Teacher background Information,
- Unit Puzzling Phenomena,
- Unit Driving Question,
- Formative Assessment Opportunities,
- Texts, and
- Overview of Lessons

Main Google Drive Folder

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Access to Kindergarten Curriculum Materials Access to 1st Grade Curriculum Materials Access to 2nd Grade Curriculum Materials In the folders for each curricular unit, you will find different documents. In the table below, we list the types of documents, descriptions of each document, and where to find the documents in the folders.

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The Wonder of Science was created to support the next generation of science teachers. All of the resources are licensed under Creative Commons licensing.

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Sense-Making Notebooks in Your Elementary Classroom