Science Curriculum

1. List of relevant professional and/or governmental organizations, with URLs:

• National Science Teachers' Association (NSTA)
• National Academy of Sciences - National Science Education Standards
• The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century
• US Dept of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education (2001)

2. Literature containing meta-studies comparing curricula based on quality of content coverage, best practice recommendations, alignment with state or federal standards:

• Link to NSTA Position Papers
• The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century See executive summary of 2000 report
• US Dept of Education's list of Exemplary and Promising Science Programs, 2001
• AAAS Project 2061 Middle School Science Textbook Evaluation
  

3. Literature assessing curricular effectiveness (in terms of student outcomes):

George Washington University's NSF-funded ScaleUp project for middle school science. See the curriculum units under review.

4. Textbook adoption recommendations of relevant professional and/or governmental organizations

• (Exemplary) Foundational Approaches in Science Teaching (FAST), Middle school curriculum recommended by the US Dept of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education (2001)
• Link to FAST textbook publisher
• Also see attached PDF below.
• Link to PD workshop schedule for FAST curriculum
• (Promising) Event-Based Science Middle school curriculum recommended by the US Dept of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education (2001)
• Link to Event Based Science
• (Promising) Great Explorations in Math and Science, Middle school curriculum recommended by the US Dept of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education (2001)
• Link to GEMS
  
• (Promising) Habitat Ecology Learning Program (HELP) Grades 4-6 curriculum recommended by the US Dept of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education (2001)
• Link to HELP
• (Promising) Science 2000+ Grades 6-8 curriculum recommended by the US Dept of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education (2001)
• Link to Science 2000+
  

5. Copy policy position statements from professional organizations regarding relevant professional standards and curricular standards.

6. Links to state and national standards in content area.

7. Reviews/comparisons of units/chapters addressing similar topics.