# data[].attributes.body
Class

Investigation of the Natural World

Hypothesis and understanding how things work

Others

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.  Carl Sagan

Science is simply common sense at its best.  Thomas Huxley

Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.  Edwin Powell Hubble

# data[].attributes.body
This website has already created lesson plans that can be used to teach all grades in many different social study subjects. Some plans can be used even if teaching in a different state.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Recordings Now Available!

If you missed a session because there were too many to choose from, or if you couldn't make the conference, select a presentation from the links on our 50th Annual Montana History Conference Video Recordings page.

You can also find the past conference programs or listen to session recordings here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recordings Now Available! If you missed a session because there were too many to choose from, or if you couldn't make the conference, select a presentation from the links on our 50th Annual Montana History Conference Video Recordings page. You can also find the past conference programs or listen to session recordings here.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a "science fair -like" competition for historical research projects.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National History Day forms thoughtful citizens and confident teachers by improving the teaching and learning of history.

# data[].attributes.headline
How to implement Science and Social Studies 

# data[].attributes.subject
How to implement Science and Social Studies 

# data[].attributes.body
Implement into transition periods (read aloud after recess)

Have students read non-fiction sources for their ELA

Implement into classroom rules --> Classroom Constitution (rules, culture, diversity, respect)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
History for kids - Free history network for kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learn about the ancient Egyptian civilization and what they did in their daily lives. Many things like metal work, paper making and amazing architecture all came from the Egyptians.

When where the Pyramids built check here
View All History of Egypt

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
History for kids Welcome to History for Kids the free online history network. We hope you enjoy and have fun exploring our history. The website is packed with articles, worksheets and even a quiz on each section.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about historical events and famous people from the past.

# data[].attributes.body
"We champion equitable, non-partisan civic education so that the practice of democracy is learned by each new generation. We work to inspire life-long civic engagement by providing high-quality and engaging civics resources to teachers and students across our nation." --> pulled from website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this new Private i History Detectives unit, Elementary students analyze primary sources to discover how Constitutional Amendments attempted to address slavery's wrongs, how the courts challenged unfair laws, and how individuals and groups fought for civil rights.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this new Private i History Detectives unit, Elementary students analyze primary sources to discover how Constitutional Amendments attempted to address slavery's wrongs, how the courts challenged unfair laws, and how individuals and groups fought for civil rights.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kiddle is a safe search engine, offering a safe web, image, and video search. Results are vetted by editors.

# data[].attributes.body
My annotations on College, Career, and Civic engagement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our mission is to inspire and equip youth to imagine and innovate through the creative process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about Montana history, native cultures, and artistry and introduce primary sources (including art, photographs, and documents) into your classroom through these lessons, while providing your students insight into the Essential Understandings regarding Montana Indians.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Access the 2021 Montana Content Standards for Social Studies (Official PDF).

Access the 2021 Montana Content Standards for Social Studies (Excel).

Webinar: New Standards for 2021: Overview and Planning for Implementation (February 8, 2021)

Model curriculum guides, professional development, and resources will be added as time allows.

Tech Directors: To access a machine readable version of the official Montana Content Standards for Social Studies, please visit the IMS Global CASE Network site. Create a free login, select Montana Office of Public Instruction, and view or download the standards. The CASE version of the standards can be uploaded to student information systems, curriculum mapping programs, and a variety of other uses. Learn more about the CASE Network CASE Network FAQ

Re: Short Films by Indigenous Filmmakers (with teaching guides)

The Big Sky Film Institute is once again partnering with the Montana Office of Public Instructions Indian Education Unit to share films made by and about Native people. According to their Facebook post in the Teaching Montana History Facebook group:

The 2023 season of the NFI Film Club [Native Filmmaker Initiative] presents "Celebrating Cultures & Honoring Traditional Practices," a triptych of films curated to engage Montana youth with unique and uplifting stories of Native and Indigenous individuals ... who are building strength through their communities and upholding traditional practices in the modern day. Our films are selected and ready for teacher registration, each one accompanied with an accompanied discussion guide, streaming link to view the film and an invitation to join our live filmmaker Q&A with film teams and OPI's Indian Education Specialist, Mike Jetty.

Here's more from their website:

The Native Filmmaker Initiative Film Club is a virtual youth education outreach program that screens a curated selection of Indigenous-made documentary films in classrooms across Montana. Following the screenings, filmmakers visit classrooms virtually for a live Q&A and discussion activities rooted in Montana's Indian Education for All Essential Understandings. Film Club discussions are led by the Big Sky Film Institute in collaboration with Montana Office of Public Instruction's Indian Education Specialists as well as participating filmmakers to talk in-depth about the process of filmmaking....

Running October through December, each Film Club event will focus on diverse Indigenous subjects and topics. Consult the discussion guides to help adapt the Film Club activities into social studies, science, history or other areas of study. Films are available to view in advance of Film Club discussions and each classroom will receive access to discussion guides and instructions on how to join the live Q&A.

Visit the Native Filmmaker Initiative website to register your classroom to view one or more of this year's films. Registration includes a screening link to the film with details to join a live filmmaker Q&A and accompanied discussion guides. Email Director of Education, Julia Sherman, at julia@bigskyfilmfest.org for more information, or to be added to their Youth Programs email list.

Need advice on how to incorporate Montana History or IEFA into your classroom or how to meet the new social studies standards? The Montana Historical Society's Teacher Leaders in Montana History are here to help. These Montana educators have a passion for history, collaboration, and education, and they are eager to help you find resources. Each teacher leader is ready to work with individual teachers, schools, and districts and are available to consult, mentor, and present at PIR days.

Someone asked me recently if our new fourth-grade textbook teaches Critical Race Theory (CRT). The answer is no--none of MTHS or OPI's Indian Education lessons teach Critical Race Theory. Some of them do teach about the history of discrimination. Confused about what you can and cannot teach? Here's an FAQ sheet.

Have you had parents ask if you are teaching CRT? Consider using the question as an opportunity to open a dialog. Since CRT means different things to different people, consider kindly saying, "explain to me what you are worried about, and I'll tell you if I teach it" and then address their specific concerns. (H/T to Dylan Huisken for this excellent advice.)

Teaching Montana History Is on Facebook!

If you spend time on Facebook, I hope you'll join--and actively participate--in our closed Teaching Montana History Facebook group. It's a great way to connect to other teachers.

. These programs are extremely competitive, so if one interests you, don't leave the application until the last minute (especially if the application requires a letter of recommendation.) All applications are due March 5, 2024 *NOTE* Special priority is given to applicants in their first five years of K-12 teaching.

Mark your calendars for our spring line up of online professional development, second Mondays, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Earn one OPI Renewal Unit for every session you attend.

History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme, and many of the issues we face today were pressing topics in our state's rich and robust history. Let's talk about how to use Montana history and MTHS resources to connect the past to the present and share strategies for making discussions and projects surrounding current events more deliberate and reflective. Register.

Novels, memoirs, and picture books are a great way to excite your students about history. Bring your favorite titles to share and learn what other Montana teachers are using in their classrooms to teach Indian Education for All, U.S., and Montana history. Register.

This is the third year that the National Council for History Education is offering The Rural Experience in America, a program that seems tailormade for Montana schools. It's been going on for a few years, but this year, we will be offering OPI Renewal Units when you submit your certificate of completion to MTHS ( mkohl@mt.gov). Read on to learn more, with text taken almost verbatim from the National Council for History Education's website.

Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program, National Council for History Education is offering a series of free, professional development opportunities designed to support K-12 teachers focusing on this year's theme, Change and Development in Rural America. Support will be provided throughout all three parts of this project with built-in additional collaboration opportunities with other teachers and the NCHE staff.

From December 2023 through March 2024, registered teachers will self-pace through two online courses: the Library of Congress 6-week module course, "Teaching with Primary Sources Basics," and the Right Question Institute 4-week module course, "Teaching Students to Ask their Own Primary Source Questions." If you do not have a lot of experience using primary sources in your classroom, want to learn about the Library of Congress's collection of sources, and/or want to add to your toolbox of strategies using primary sources, this professional learning is highly recommended! (12 OPI Renewal Units). Register.

Registered teachers will participate in three online synchronous Saturday professional development sessions led by historians, educational specialists, and master teachers. These sessions will be held once a month on March 23, 2024, April 20, 2024, and May 11, 2024, from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm (EST) and will focus on a variety of topics related to Change and Development in Rural America. During this time, teachers also applying for the onsite colloquium will identify a community partner to assist them with their public history project. (5 Renewal Units for each Saturday session, with a total of 15 possible.) Register.

Fifteen teachers (from those who participated in Part B) will be selected to travel to an onsite location (to be determined) along with a community partner in July 2024 (specific dates to be announced). During this two-day learning experience, teachers and community partners will learn from historians and build civic connections to develop a plan for implementing a public history project in their own community. Teachers will receive up to $850 to defray travel costs and up to $750 to support their community project. The application deadline is March 15, 2024. (10 hours of OPI Renewal Units.) Register.

Teachers who've already taken the Right Question Institute's "Teaching Students to Ask their Own Primary Source Questions" have raved about it.

Studying your own community with a partner (e.g., a local museum) can be absolutely life changing for students.

If you enroll in any of these courses and want renewal units, email me!

On a totally different subject, OPI is recruiting people to serve on the Montana ELA Standards Review Task Force, for a revision process that will include Literacy Standards for History and Social Studies.

To apply for the ELA Standards Revision Task Force and or Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, please visit the Montana OPI Standards Revision website and submit your application by January 15th.

A curriculum and professional development project designed to bring together social studies, IEFA, and computing content standards for middle school students.

MT PBS: Streaming now for a limited time, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," A Film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick & Sarah Botstein

You can learn more about Montana Conversations or book Speakers in the Schools presenter on our website, you can learn about grant opportunities.

According to Professor Uran, if tribes are "domestic dependent nations" (which is how the Supreme Court has defined them), how can they still be sovereign? (Absolute power, independence, and autonomy is not necessary for sovereignty to exist. and rights "not explicitly given up to the US Federal government are still held by the tribes.")

Aldrin Family Foundation Map Package Grant Application Aldrin Family Foundation has worked with donors to make Giant Mars and Moon Map packages available for distribution to individual schools, school districts, and informal education organizations throughout the country in areas where we believe they can do the most good, especially in under-served communities.

For High School, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) offers free, innovative classroom products. These online learning resources form the foundation of a global civics curriculum, empowering young people with the essential knowledge, skills, and perspective to be responsible citizens, take on the challenges of global competition, and steer through partisan rhetoric and disinformation. Review their resources that could be used in a science classroom. For more information contact Lori Matza, lmatza@cfr.org.

An award-winning collection of multimedia explainers for students with little or no background knowledge of international relations and foreign policy. With accessible, jargon-free language and instructor-designed teaching resources, lessons on the World101 platform are non-partisan and developed in partnership with CFR experts.
*We are soliciting applications for our CFR Education Ambassador 2022-2023 program. A great opportunity for middle school and high school social studies teachers.

: The Model Diplomacy simulation program invites high-school students to step into the shoes of decision-makers on the National Security Council or United Nations Security Council to debate the world's most pressing issues with dozens of full-length case studies, an expanding library of short-form scenarios covering current and historical events, and exclusive video content featuring commentary from foreign policy experts.

Developed in partnership with iCivics, one of the nation's leading providers of educational games, Convene the Council empowers students to understand the basics of how U.S. foreign policy gets made and the ways in which countries and international organizations can influence foreign policy priorities. Twenty gameplay scenarios reveal how foreign and domestic policy are intertwined, and how decisions made in one corner of the world can affect us all. Spanish version available.

Featured Hub Courses

Looking for free, online professional learning? Need more renewal units? Take a look at the Teacher Learning Hub for a wide variety of learning opportunities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
montana office of public instruction website

# data[].attributes.headline
Social Studies Content for Elementary and Middle School Teachers Textbook

# data[].attributes.subject
Social Studies Content for Elementary and Middle School Teachers Textbook

# data[].attributes.body
"This collection of six instructional modules integrates skills from the Common Core and C3 Framework indicators into social studies instruction. Each module features inquiry and historical sources from the Library of Congress. The instructional ideas in these modules follow the Literacy Design Collaborative task-based approach. The modules provide students with opportunities to build their social studies content knowledge as well as their reading, writing, and inquiry skills.  C3 Teachers have collaborated with North Carolina State University, with support from the Teaching with Primary Sources Regional Program, to produce these modules." -- taken from the website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This collection of six instructional modules integrates skills from the Common Core and C3 Framework indicators into social studies instruction. Each module features inquiry and historical sources from the Library of Congress. The instructional ideas in these modules follow the Literacy Design Colla…

# data[].attributes.headline
Good Student Textbook Created to Student Level 

# data[].attributes.subject
Good Student Textbook Created to Student Level 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
About Montana: A History of Our Home*

AUTHOR: Martha Kohl
RELEASE DATE: May 2022
SPECS: 96 pages, 8.5" x 11", hardcover with library binding, 82 color illustrations, and 4 maps
ISBN 13: 978-1-94052-799-4
PRICE: $35.00
AGES: 8-12

Designed to meet the needs of Montana teachers and students in grades 4-6, this accurate, inclusive, engaging, and up-to-date textbook offers a quick tour through 13,000 years of Montana history.

Classroom sets of Montana: A History of Our Home can be ordered by contacting our distributor, Farcountry Press, 800-821-3874 fax 406-443-5480 or sales@farcountrypress.com. Schools receive a 30 percent discount and a free teacher's guide with every classroom set.

Montana: A History of Our Home is available as an audiobook for students with learning disabilities through Learning Ally.

Download a PDF of Montana: A History of Our Home.

Listen to an audio version of Montana: A History of Our Home.

*Funding for Montana: A History of Our Home was provided by the Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation, the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation, Rick and Jane Hays, and donations from many individuals too numerous to name.

About the Montana: A History of Our Home Teacher's Guide

To accompany the student textbook, Montana: A History of Our Home Teacher's Guide offers engaging lessons on Montana history, geography, civics and government, and economics. These activity-based lessons integrate readings from the student textbook and align with Montana content standards and the Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians. Purchase a spiral-bound copy of the Montana: A History of Our Home Teacher's Guide from the Montana Historical Society Museum Store by calling 406-444-2890 or download the materials from the links below.

Unit 1: This is Montana

Students will investigate how climate, geology, and geography affect the lives of Montanans. In Part 1, they will construct population maps, look for patterns, and read about Montana's three regions. In Part 2, they will learn about Montana's reservations and tribal nations. In Part 3, they will plan a route across the state, improving their map-reading skills while learning about the places they choose to visit. In Part 4, they will learn about Montana's economy. In Part 5, they will tie what they learned to answer the unit's guiding questions. Find the student narrative here.

Unit 4: Montana in the Twentieth Century

In this unit, students will learn about the homesteading period, which brought tens of thousands of newcomers to Montana. They will also learn about the policies of forced assimilation (boarding schools and allotment) and their effects on Montana Indians. They will also explore post-1920 immigration and research why the families of people they know came (and stayed) in Montana. They will conclude the unit by writing a biographical poem celebrating an amazing Montanan. Find the student narrative here.

Timeline: Find an illustrated timeline of Montana history here.

Glossary: Find the Montana: A History of Our Home Glossary here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
About Montana: A History of Our Home* AUTHOR: Martha Kohl RELEASE DATE: May 2022 SPECS: 96 pages, 8.5" x 11", hardcover with library binding, 82 color illustrations, and 4 maps ISBN 13: 978-1-94052-799-4 PRICE: $35.00 AGES: 8-12 Designed to meet the needs of Montana teachers and students in grades 4-6, this accurate, inclusive, engaging, and up-to-date textbook offers a quick tour through 13,000 years of Montana history.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A folktale (also spelled folk tale) is a story or legend forming part of an oral tradition. Folktales are generally passed down from one generation to another and often take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told. Folktales speak to universal and timeless themes, and help folks make sense of their existence or cope with the world in which they live.
Choose a letter to read a summary of the American folktales & stories beginning with that letter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Retellings of American folktales and legends, Native American myths, weather folklore, ghost stories and more from each of the 50 United States of America. Great for school children and teachers.

# data[].attributes.body
Newspaper Archive

# data[].attributes.headline
Social Studies Essential Questions and Understandings

# data[].attributes.subject
Social Studies Essential Questions and Understandings

# data[].attributes.body
Other Weblinks:

3 Interactive Virtual Field Trips for Social Studies Students

45 Best Websites for Taking a Virtual Fieldtrip

# data[].attributes.body
These are my annotations on Questions, Tasks, and Sources: Focusing on the Essence of Inquiry journal article published in Social Education.

What does Inquiry do:

Inquiry strategies provide students with the chance to strengthen their critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills.

Students will be asked a compelling question (hook) about history which could be argumentative then be assigned to research it (motivator; students will want to find evidence to prove their initial reasoning for the argument) through carefully chosen sources by the teacher.

Uses in the Classroom

Web Quest --> I could see myself doing this through Google Sites and creating similar Webquests for different students altering the research articles they will read to fit their reading level. I could see the task being to "fill out a graphic organizer then write a mini research paper" to not only fill our social studies content but also ELA. We could then close the lesson by leaving a class discussion and having the students share their arguments and reasoning. This could be a tie in to social-emotional learning.

Teaching With Inquiry Modules

# data[].attributes.body
EDUTopia Link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tools for

Ambitious
Science
Teaching

Companion Book available now on Harvard Ed Press

Pressing for evidence- based explanations

Planning for engagement with important science ideas

Supporting on-going changes in thinking

Eliciting students' ideas

What is Ambitious Science Teaching?

Great teaching can be learned. This web site provides a vision of ambitious science instruction for elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. Ambitious teaching deliberately aims to support students of all backgrounds to deeply understand science ideas, participate in the activities of the discipline, and solve authentic problems.

We feature 4 core sets of teaching practices that support these goals. These core sets make up the Ambitious Science Teaching Framework. The framework has been based on classroom research from the past 30 years-research that has asked, "What kinds of talk, tasks, and tools do students need in order to fully engage in meaningful forms of science learning?"

If you are a member of a group of science educators committed to the improvement of teaching, the vision, practices, and tools here will furnish a common language for you about teaching. You will be able to identify "what we will get better at" and how to get started.

Become Part of a Community That Shares a Common Vision of Excellence in Teaching.

Because ambitious science teaching focuses on doing four things really well in the classroom (the core practices), members of our community can speak a common language about how to continually improve instruction and support student learning. We can frame problems together and work towards solutions with help from each other. The expertise of our community comes from our members (teachers, instructional coaches, teacher educators) as well as from extensive empirical classroom research. On this site you can explore how other professionals are using core practices and the tools that go with them.

Explore New Tools That Support Student Learning

This site provides a constantly evolving set of tools to help improve student participation and learning. Some of these tools will help you plan for student engagement with "big" science ideas. Some will help students reason publicly with each other about science ideas. Others will help students engage in scientific modeling, explanation and argument with evidence. Still others will scaffold science-specific writing and talk. We have unique sets of tools for teachers, instructional coaches, and teacher educators.

But here's what is really important about our tools-they belong to the community, meaning that they need to be continually tested under different classroom conditions in order to be improved and diversified.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pressing for evidence- based explanations Planning for engagement with important science ideas Supporting on-going changes in thinking Eliciting students' ideas Great teaching can be learned.

# data[].attributes.body
"But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small. From why flamingos stand on one leg to how circuits work to whether it’s ever okay to lie. No question is off limits, and we let your curiosity guide us!" --> taken from the website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small. From why flamingos stand on one leg to how circuits work to whether it's ever okay to lie. No question is off limits, and we let your curiosity guide us!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there. On But Why we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Reports (reading and writing)

Predictions (all)

Calculations (math)

Sound (art)

Borax crystals

Electricity (Social Studies)

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Read NextGeneration Science Standards

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Read NextGeneration Science Standards

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Read the Next Generation Science Standards

# data[].attributes.body
Has explained standards, progressions, and integrated standards with other content areas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Home Page | Next Generation Science Standards

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about science and play games with your favorite PBS KIDS characters like Wild Kratts, Hero Elementary, Dinosaur Train, Nature Cat, and Sid the Science Kid!

# data[].attributes.body
rewrite to age appropriate content

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rewordify.com | Understand what you read

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rewordify.com helps you read more, understand better, learn new words, and teach more effectively.

# data[].attributes.body
Assign roles for groups

Probing with open-ended questions

Ask specific guiding questions

Provide feedback

Create Benchmarks/ Checkpoints / Rubrics

Think-Ink-Pair-Share

# data[].attributes.body
Learning goal --> broad science concepts and practices that guide a unit of study (unit)

Learning target --> daily, student-friendly learning expectations (pieces chunked out)

discrepant event --> a scientific phenomenon that surprises the observer

# data[].attributes.body
Good Teacher Facilitator Lessons

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mystery Science offers open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science. The hook, visuals, and activity have all been prepared for you. Less prep, more learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small. From why flamingos stand on one leg to how circuits work to whether it's ever okay to lie. No question is off limits, and we let your curiosity guide us!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there. On But Why we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
While the African-American population in Montana has consistently remained small throughout its history, black Montanans have participated in virtually every aspect of community life. For the most part, however, their stories have remained unheard. This is changing.

The resources collected as part of the Montana Historical Society's Montana's African American Heritage Resources Project provide a tremendous opportunity to explore the experiences of African American Montanans throughout history.

The project provides teachers and students easy access to primary and secondary source materials, which they can use to develop a better understanding of this important cultural group whose achievements and impact on Montana were greater than their small number.

Two Model Lesson Plans-one for fourth grade and one for eighth grade-suggest ways to approach the rich collections found on this website. In addition, the PowerPoint-based lesson plan, "Profiles of African American Montanans," offers an introduction to some of Montana's African American citizens. Find links to all of these lessons below.

If you are a teacher and you use any of the material from the Montana's African American Heritage Resources Project-from any part of the site-please tell us about your experience by contacting us at MHSEducation@mt.gov.

Overcoming Prejudice (.pdf), a Model Lesson Plan for fourth through sixth grade, suggests one way you can use the material on this site in your elementary classroom.

Creation of a Community (.pdf), a Model Lesson Plan for seventh through ninth grade, suggests one way you can can use the material on this site in your middle school classroom. This lesson plan can also be adapted to high school.

Profiles of African American Montanans (.pdf) is a lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation to introduce students to some of the African Americans who contributed to Montana history.

Hidden Stories: Montana's Black Past Appropriate for use in high school Montana and American history classes, this 57-minute movie traces Montana's African American history from the Civil War to the present day. It foregrounds Montana's pioneering Black residents and frames their experiences within the greater context of Montana history across space and time. The teaching guide divides the film into three parts and provides discussion questions for each segment.
This material is based upon work assisted by grants from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service and the Montana History Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior nor the Montana History Foundation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While the African-American population in Montana has consistently remained small throughout its history, black Montanans have participated in virtually every aspect of community life. For the most part, however, their stories have remained unheard. This is changing.

# data[].attributes.body
Curriculum and Lessons

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Home - OpenSciEd

Home - OpenSciEd

Our curriculum fosters deep, engaging science learning and is the only curriculum designed for the NGSS that has had every unit rated as quality -and it's freely available to anyone.

MAKING HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS

TEACHERS TESTED & APPROVED

GROWING NETWORK OF TEACHERS

What Educators Say

"My students have begun to realize they have the power and knowledge to plan and investigate how the world works around them."

-Kym Whitney, 7th Grade Teacher

"My students are more excited about science than ever, and they're connecting what they're learning to their lives and experiences."

-Megan Euler, 7th Grade Teacher

"OpenSciEd lessons are a lifesaver. They are standards-based, easy to implement, and, best of all, my kids LOVE them!"

-Taylor Halliday, Gifted Intervention Specialist

Adopt the Curriculum.

To make the shifts in science education that today's science standards demand, we've created high quality instructional materials paired with transformative professional learning. Tied to our mission of providing high quality science learning for all students, we also have partnered with a variety of organizations that can offer additional materials and support to ensure the long-term success of your implementation. Learn more about the different paths for adopting our instructional materials.

Learn More

Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

# data[].attributes.body
Middle School Focus

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Instructional Model Walk-Through
References
Reiser, B. J., Novak, M., McGill, T. A. W., & Penuel, W. A. (2021). Storyline units: An instructional model to support coherence from the students' perspective. Journal of Science Teacher Learning, 32(7), 805-829. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2021.1884784

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
References Reiser, B. J., Novak, M., McGill, T. A. W., & Penuel, W. A. (2021). Storyline units: An instructional model to support coherence from the students' perspective. Journal of Science Teacher Learning, 32(7), 805-829. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2021.1884784

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.plt.org/

Hands-on Curriculum

Early Childhood - high school

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many activities in the FireWorks curricula are applicable wherever wildland fires occur (particularly activities in Units II and III), while activities about fire ecology and fire history (Units I, V, and VI) are applicable only in specific regions. We offer FireWorks curricula applicable to select regions:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to main content

Welcome to Natural Inquirer

Watch this short video to learn more about all the wonderful, free products that Natural Inquirer offers!

Latest From Our Resource Library

We have FREE lesson plans, activities, science education materials & more for PreK-12th grade. Here are a few of our latest! Enjoy!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Natural Inquirer program produces free science education materials for students from preK through 12th grade. Working in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and FIND Outdoors, the Natural Inquirer hopes to inspire the next generation of natural resource scientists and engineers.

# data[].attributes.body
This playlist includes instructional videos on fish and water related activities made by employees of FWP.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Montana Field Guide contains a wealth of information about Montana's diverse species.

# data[].attributes.body
Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program that focuses on wildlife and habitat. The goal of Project WILD is to develop awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment resulting in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment. Contact your Project WILD State Coordinator today!

Field Investigation Activities

In Step with STEM Activity Extensions

WILD Work Career Connections

Outdoor Components

-taken from website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Project WILD K12 Guide :: Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program that focuses on wildlife and habitat. The goal of Project WILD is to develop awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment resulting in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment. Contact your Project WILD State Coordinator today!