I am here to support you in teaching science!

As a science teacher PD professional for 30+ years, I understand how challenging the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are for you, the elementary classroom teachers!

Have you received very little training and support to understand and implement the NGSS?

What I learned from the hundreds of elementary teachers I worked with is how stressed and frustrated they are! During my workshops, I even noticed elementary teachers beginning to cry!!

When I asked the teachers why they were so upset, they explained how incredibly difficult it is for them because of the lack of support and resources available to teach the new vision of science education. They told me they needed resources designed specifically to support elementary teachers and students!

I decided then and there to support YOU by designing elementary science resources specifically to decrease your stress, save you time, and support you on a journey to increase your confidence and joy in teaching science to your students!

I decided to start my own business supporting elementary teachers called

The Science Support Station!

RESOURCE WAYSTATIONS

Waystation stops along your journey support you with valuable expertise, tips, and resources to support your science teaching!

I understand that the new national Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and custom state science standards can be very challenging to understand and implement.

Elementary teachers build the foundation for a successful science education for all students. Your science teaching is incredibly important!

In a recent national survey, more than two-thirds of elementary teachers reported a substantial need for excellent resources especially designed for the elementary grades. Teachers need help!!

I HEAR YOU AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!

What are the BIG IDEAS in Science??

I am unlocking the secret to effective elementary science teaching! The Big Ideas, or crosscutting concepts, are common themes that are integrated into the NGSS. They are common themes that support students in making connections across academic disciplines. There are 7 crosscutting concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter; Structure and Function; and Stability and Change.

Teaching these big ideas to young students is an equitable, accessible approach to science! WHY?

Because these BIG IDEAS are not only foundational in science, but also in literacy and math!

As students use these foundational ideas across disciplines, they begin to see them as familiar building blocks, making learning more accessible.

What if... you had teaching resources that supported you in teaching these BIG IDEAS, not only in science, but also during literacy and math lessons?!

These one-of-a-kind Big Idea Alignment Planning Charts will save you time and stress!! Start building the foundational knowledge that is essential for future science learning by teaching the BIG IDEAS during instructional time for science, literacy and math!

Each charts includes:

All the Next Generation Science Standards for the specific grade band (K-2) or (3-5)
The recommended CCSS ELA/Literacy and Math standards that complements each science standard
Links from the Next Generation Science Standards to Evidence Statements, providing additional details on what students should know and be able to do to meet the science standards (Performance Expectations).
Teacher Tips for saving time and stress while using the chart for lesson planning

These Big Idea Card Sets will make teaching science accessible, equitable, and fun!

Each card set includes:

All seven crosscutting concepts, BIG IDEA themes from the Next Generation Science Standards
Seven versatile, engaging two-sided cards representing each of the BIG IDEAS. Accessible, engaging descriptions of each of the BIG IDEAS using equitable language and visuals appropriate for the K-2 and 3-5 grade band
Teaching tips for fun, engaging ways to support student learning of the BIG IDEAS and making foundational connections to science during literacy and math lessons

These Big Idea Graphic Organizers will give your students an accessible, equitable approach to organizing and retaining the BIG IDEAS!

Each Big Idea Graphic Organizer Set includes:

Critical thinking questions related to each BIG IDEA designed to support students in making connections across science, literacy and math specific to the K-2 and 3-5 grade band
Accessible, equitable language and visuals appropriate for the K-2 and 3-5 grade band
Structures supporting the organization of information for effective sensemaking
Teacher tips for fun, engaging, versatile ways to support critical thinking and sensemaking across science, literacy and math

As a science PD instructor at the Museum of Science and Industry, my team and I were awarded a competitive Carnegie grant to develop and teach a "Foundations in the NGSS Curriculum Alignment" course for teachers and administrators. We researched and implemented the course understanding the importance of the crosscutting concepts, or BIG IDEAS, as an effective, equitable, and accessible approach to the NGSS vision of science learning.

We saw firsthand how distressed and overwhelmed the elementary teachers were with how to approach teaching the new science standards in this and other courses. We asked them to trust our approach to science learning and spent time developing resources and modeling how to connect students to the big ideas of the crosscutting concepts.

What teachers had to say...

A change in my teaching practice includes the ability to identify and use crosscutting concepts. I actually take time to read them and see how I can implement them in my lessons. I plan to continue to work with my colleagues and help them understand why it is important to work with the crosscutting concepts.

-MSI Workshop Teacher

I think personally, I would like to have a better understanding of the big ideas in science now more than ever. I am planning to make my lessons more engaging and link the learning activities to the science standards. I want to see the big ideas constantly rolling around and around my classroom so students learn there are a specific set of big ideas that all scientists have that will be used throughout their science education.

-MSI Workshop Teacher

We are very grateful for the professional guidance offered to our school throughout the school year. We have gained an abundant amount of knowledge that will change the way we examine the NGSS standards, which will in turn, change the way we teach science. Thank You!

-MSI Workshop Teacher

Here are 3 simple steps to get started with the Big Idea Resources:

Consider which students need the most support in science - how will you use the Big Idea Resources across science, literacy, and math to help them?
Explore the suggested Teacher Tips to decide how you will implement the Big Idea Resources to maximize student critical thinking and confidence in their science learning?
Reflect on your teacher strengths including your imagination and creativity! How can you leverage your strengths to get the most out of the Big Idea Resources for your students?

Ok, teachers! Ready to stop searching the internet for what you hope are high-quality, standards-based elementary science lessons and activities?

Investing in these unique high-quality Big Idea Resources will give you peace of mind knowing that you are supporting your students by building a strong foundation in their science learning!

Use These Resources for Science Success!

Resource #1

Choose a grade-level science standard that includes a BIG IDEA for your students to focus on from a Big Idea Alignment Planning Chart:

1. Choose an NGSS Standard:

Let's use the NGSS Science standard (also called Performence Expectation):

K-LS1-1 Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Follow the link to the Evidence Statement providing additional details on what students should know and be able to do to meet the standard. Here we see the crosscutting concept, or BIG IDEA, for this standard is Patterns.
A suggested lesson activity is for students to observe patterns of the effects on plants when they are not watered.

2. Use the Big Idea Alignment Planning Chart to find literacy and math standards that are recommended to connect well with science standard K-LS1-1.

Literacy: W.K.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g. explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).

In collaborative groups, students record their observations by writing or drawing what they see happening to plants that are watered compared to unwatered plants. Students can then identify patterns they see in the growth of the plants.

Math: K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute and describe the difference.

Students can measure the amount of water given to each plant - more or less water - and describe how it affects their growth. Again, students identify patterns they see in comparing the watered plants to the unwatered plants.

3. Review the concepts on the K-2 Big Idea Patterns Card with students.

Patterns are "something that happens over and over again."

e.g., In our plant investigation, what did you see happen over and over again to the plants that were watered? What did you see happen over and over again to the plants that were not watered?

Patterns help us understand what comes next.

e.g., What do you think will happen to Plant A and Plant B if we water Plant A, but we do not water Plant B?

Patterns are found in many places.

e.g., If a pattern is something that happens over and over again and helps us understand what comes next, where else can we look for patterns? (This could lead to a discussion about any other patterns that are relevant to the students).

The Big Idea Patterns Card can be used repeatedly during lessons in any subject matter where students are observing a pattern. This will reinforce what is meant by the BIG IDEA of a pattern and will support students in building this foundational idea for use in later grades.

4. Towards the end of their plant investigation, students can use their Patterns Big Idea Graphic Organizer to solidify their ideas about patterns by drawing or writing their answers to their critical thinking questions:

What pattern do you see?
What comes next in the pattern?
What other patterns do you know?

The Patterns Big Idea Graphic Organizer can be used repeatedly during lessons in any subject matter where they are observing a pattern. This will reinforce critical thinking about the BIG IDEA of patterns across subject areas and support students in building this foundational idea for use in later grades.

How do I get my Big Idea Resources?

All you have to do is choose which Big Idea Resources are best for you and your students and BUY NOW to get the introductory price! Don't forget that the best deal is the Big Idea Resources Kit where you can get a Big Idea Card Set; and a Big Idea Graphic Organizer Set all for just $8.99 (and save!)

Once you purchase your Big Idea Resources, they will be emailed to you digitally as PDFs. You can then print and use these unique, high-quality science resources with your students.

Elementary Teachers!

I'm here to SUPPORT you!

Hi! I'm Patty and I'm so glad you are here!

I am here to support you in teaching science!

As a science teacher PD professional for 30+ years, I understand how challenging the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are for you, the elementary classroom teachers!

Have you received very little training and support to understand and implement the NGSS?

What I learned from the hundreds of elementary teachers I worked with is how stressed and frustrated they are! During my workshops, I even noticed elementary teachers beginning to cry!!

Remember...these Big Idea Resources are One-Of-A-Kind and designed especially for the elementary grades!

1

Give you back all the time you spent

2

Save stress by providing accessible, equitable, and engaging resources

3

Support you in equitable teaching practices

4

Provide you with engaging, interactive science resources

5

Engage your students in foundational learning

YOU ARE AMAZING AND YOU ARE READY TO EMBARK ON YOUR ELEMENTARY SCIENCE JOURNEY!!

THIS INTRODUCTORY OFFER WILL NOT LAST LONG!