OpenSciEd K-12 Offerings
Our professional learning uses the OpenSciEd-developed training model and is delivered by OSE-certified facilitators, ensuring teachers experience the curriculum exactly as intended by its designers. Sessions are grounded in the OpenSciEd instructional model and focus on supporting strong classroom implementation, teacher confidence, and student sensemaking.
We work closely with each school or district to design a custom, curriculum-based professional learning plan that reflects your implementation timeline, teacher experience levels, and instructional goals. Complimentary consultations are available to help identify the right learning pathway and ensure your investment in OpenSciEd leads to a meaningful, sustainable impact for both teachers and students.
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Notes:
Each PL offering is grade band specific and priced separately.
The max number of participants is 30 for on-site and 20 for virtual.
A full day is 6 hours (3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon) and a half-day is 3 hours.
Virtual Curriculum Overview
Classroom teachers, coaches and administrators new to the curriculum will receive instructional training to introduce the curriculum’s philosophy and components. This training also includes a walkthrough of digital content and a review of the teacher materials.
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Duration: 1.5 Hours
Pilot Launch
The OpenSciEd Pilot Launch is a one-day professional learning experience
designed to support districts beginning their OpenSciEd implementation
through a focused, hands-on introduction to the curriculum. This experience is
ideal for districts piloting OpenSciEd at any level and provides a shared foundation for teachers, coaches, and administrators.
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The Pilot Launch supports aligned expectations, instructional coherence,
and readiness for implementation, helping districts make informed
decisions as they plan for broader adoption.
Participants will:
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Engage in the actual lessons of a unit as a student
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Deepen their understanding of three-dimensional instruction and sensemaking.
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Outline the instructional storyline for a unit.
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Dig into a summative assessment for a unit
Elementary Focal Unit options: Some units available.
Middle School Focal Unit options: All units available.
High School Focal Unit options: All units available.
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Length Options:
1 Day Onsite (recommended for best start) OR
1/2 Day Virtual (3 hours)
Curriculum Launch
The Curriculum Launch is essential to a successful OpenSciEd implementation. This immersive, curriculum-based professional learning prepares teachers to confidently begin teaching their first unit while deeply understanding the instructional shifts called for by the NGSS and the Framework for K–12 Science Education. All sessions are led by OpenSciEd Certified Facilitators.
Teachers experience OpenSciEd materials from the student perspective, by actively doing the science themselves using the unit’s hands-on materials, investigations, and routines. This approach empowers educators to recognize, leverage, and build upon the ideas, questions, and experiences students bring into the classroom. When offered in person, the experience is especially powerful, allowing educators to fully engage with hands-on materials, collaborate face-to-face, and experience the sensemaking routines and discussions as they would unfold in a classroom.
These professional learning experiences will be explicitly linked to teachers’ MS science curriculum. They will be grounded in the 3-dimensional learning goals in the curriculum and connected to teachers’ classroom instruction. Each session will offer an opportunity to support teacher learning and build capacity to transform classroom instruction.
Highly Recommended: Pre-order the OSE unit kit to support hands-on, immersive learning during the session. These kits may also be reused for classroom instruction and used throughout your OSE implementation. In most cases districts will schedule Professional Learning events prior to the start of school, therefore unit work centers on Unit One for the grade level. Accommodations for unit to apply to Launch can be made if district has an alternate start date.
Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/consecutive days with one hour for lunch
Available for elementary, middle school, high school
The 2-Day Curriculum Launch is intended for teachers who are familiar with inquiry-driven, storyline instruction and are looking to orient specifically to OpenSciEd unit materials, routines, and structures. This launch prioritizes unit-specific content, allowing participants to focus on the elements unique to OpenSciEd rather than foundational pedagogical shifts.
Due to the abbreviated schedule, there is limited time to explore each component of the OpenSciEd instructional approach in depth. Districts new to OpenSciEd or teachers who are new to storyline instruction, a longer Curriculum Launch is recommended. Districts selecting this option should also plan for additional alearning to ensure educators have adaquate learning to support strong, sustainable implementation.
Participants will:
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Watch videos of students engaging with the OpenSciEd units
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Hear teachers reflect on shifting their instruction with support from the units
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Engage in the actual lesson of the unit as a student
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Inform their understanding of three-dimensional instruction
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Focus on a different element of OpenSciEd’s approach each day:
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Day 1: Anchoring Phenomena & Questioning
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Day 2: Coherence and Navigation Storylines
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Middle School Focal Unit options:
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Unit 6.1 Light & Matter
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Unit 7.1 Chemical Reactions & Matter
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Unit 8.1 Contact Forces
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Unit 6.2 Thermal Energy
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Unit 7.3 Metabolic Reactions
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Unit 8.2 Sound Waves
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High School Focal Unit options:
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Unit B.1 Ecosystem Interactions & Dynamics
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Unit C.1 Thermodynamics in Earth’s Systems
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Unit P.1 Energy Flow from Earth’s Systems
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Onsite or Virtual
Three 6 hour/consecutive days with one hour for lunch
Available for elementary, middle school, high school
The 3-Day Curriculum Launch (abbreviated) is designed for Middle School teachers who have already been doing a fair amount of professional learning to support equitable student sensemaking in the science classroom. This is an appropriate launch sequence for where these teachers are at. If teachers do not have this background, planning for future professional learning is recommended to support impactful implementation.
Teachers, coaches, and administrators build a solid foundation in OpenSciEd’s instructional approach while preparing to teach a unit with confidence.
Participants will:
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Watch videos of students engaging with the OpenSciEd units
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Hear teachers reflect on shifting their instruction with support from the units
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Engage in the actual lessons of the unit as a student
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Deepen their understanding of three-dimensional instruction
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Focus on a different element of OpenSciEd’s approach each day:
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Day 1: Anchoring Phenomena & Questioning
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Day 2: Coherence and Navigation Storylines
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Day 3: Equitable Discussions and Productive Talk OR - Assessment & Growth
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​MS Focal Unit Options:
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Unit 6.1 Light & Matter
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Unit 6.2 Thermal
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Unit 7.1 Chemical Reactions & Matter
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Unit 8.1 Contact Forces
​HS Focal Unit Options:
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Unit B.1 Ecosystem Interactions & Dynamics
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Unit C.1 Thermodynamics in Earth’s Systems
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Unit P.1 Energy Flow from Earth’s Systems​​
Onsite or Virtual
Four 6 hour/consecutive days with one hour for lunch
Available for elementary, middle school, high school
The 4-Day Curriculum Launch offers a comprehensive, immersive professional learning experience to introduce teachers to OpenSciEd and is designed to support strong, sustained implementation.
Across four days, participants experience the full scope of the unit and the instructional shifts it supports. Teachers, coaches, and administrators engage deeply with OpenSciEd’s instructional approach while building confidence to teach a unit with fidelity.
Participants will:
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Watch videos of students engaging with the OpenSciEd units.
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Hear teachers reflect on shifting their instruction with support from the units.
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Engage in the actual lessons of the unit as a student.
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Deepen their understanding of three-dimensional instruction and assessment.
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Focus on a different element of OpenSciEd’s approach each day:
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Day 1 - Anchoring Phenomena and Questioning
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Day 2 - Coherence and Navigation Storylines
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Day 3 - Equitable Discussions and Productive Talk
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Day 4 - Assessment & Growth
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MS Focal Unit Options:
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6.1 Light & Matter
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6.2 Thermal
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7.1 Chemical Reactions & Matter
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8.1 Contact Forces
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HS Focal Unit Options:
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B.1 Ecosystem Interactions & Dynamics
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C.1 Thermodynamics in Earth’s Systems
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P.1 Energy Flow from Earth’s Systems
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Ongoing Support with Dive Deeper Modules
OpenSciEd Dive Deeper Modules are designed for districts ready to move beyond initial implementation and deepen instructional impact. After completing a 4 or 3-Day Curriculum Launch and teaching initial units, educators may choose from any of the Dive Deeper Modules to align with their instructional learning goals, student needs, and implementation priorities.
Each Dive Deeper Module offers focused, curriculum-based professional learning centered on a specific OpenSciEd to help teachers rethink their instructional approach to science instruction and think critically about shifts called for in NGSS.
Available Standard MODULE options are described below. Select the module that best aligns with your district instructional priorities and goals.
Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Equitable Discussions Workshop supports teachers, coaches, and administrators in strengthening classroom discussions to promote equitable student participation and sensemaking in OpenSciEd Science classrooms.
Participants will:
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Reflect on implementation experiences to examine how classroom discussions support student sensemaking.
Analyze classroom video and learning scenarios to better understand the diverse resources students bring to science learning. -
Explore strategies for building an inclusive classroom culture that supports equitable participation.
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Examine and practice the three main discussion types used in OpenSciEd to support idea development and student engagement.
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Use a Discussion Planning Tool to plan, rehearse, and refine discussions that promote equitable talk and participation.
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Engage in actual lessons from a focal unit as a student to experience the curriculum from the learner’s perspective.
MS Focal Unit options:
Unit 6.3 Weather, Climate & Water Cycling
Unit 7.3 Metabolic Reactions & Energy
Unit 8.3 Forces at a Distance.
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Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Coherent 3D Assessments Workshop supports high school teachers, coaches, and administrators in designing and implementing assessment practices that are coherent, three-dimensional, and aligned to OpenSciEd units in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Participants will:
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Analyze the OpenSciEd assessment system for a selected unit.
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Reflect on the three-dimensional elements embedded within each assessment.
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Examine authentic student work to identify evidence of student sensemaking and learning.
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Experience the anchoring phenomenon and other key lessons from the unit as learners.
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Co-construct the unit storyline to understand coherence across lessons and assessments.
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Discuss the relationship between assessment and grading and develop a grading plan aligned to the unit.
HS Focal Unit options:
Unit B.4 Natural Selection & Evolution of Populations
Unit C.4 Chemical Reactions in our World
Unit P.4 Meteors, Orbits, & Gravity
Unit P.5 Electromagnetic Radiation
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Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Equitable Culture for Sensemaking Workshop supports high school teachers, coaches, and administrators in building classroom cultures that promote equitable participation, community building, and student sensemaking across biology, chemistry, and physics classrooms.
Participants will:
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Reflect on key instructional elements for teaching and learning embedded within OpenSciEd.
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Examine how equitable classroom culture supports student sensemaking and engagement.
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Discuss the purpose of assessment and what it means to shift toward three-dimensional assessment practices.
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Reflect on instructional strategies and set goals to support inclusive classroom culture and community building.
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Experience the anchoring phenomenon and engage in sensemaking routines from the student perspective.
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Connect classroom culture, instructional decisions, and assessment practices to student learning outcomes.
HS Focal Unit options:
Unit B.2 Ecosystems: Matter & Energy
Unit C.2 Structure & Properties of Matter
Unit P.2 Energy, Forces, & Earth’s Crust
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Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Innovative Assessments Workshop supports teachers, coaches, and administrators in strengthening assessment practices that align with three-dimensional science learning.
Participants will:
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Analyze OpenSciEd assessments using key criteria for high-quality three-dimensional assessment.
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Explore the full assessment system embedded within OpenSciEd units, including formative and summative components.
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Examine authentic student work to determine evidence of student sensemaking.
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Practice providing meaningful feedback that supports student learning and growth.
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Use assessment guidance to inform instructional decisions and lesson planning.
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Engage in actual lessons from a selected focal unit as a student to experience the curriculum from the learner’s perspective.
MS Focal Unit options:
Unit 6.4 Plate Tectonics & Rock Cycling
Unit 6.5 Natural Hazards
Unit 7.5 Ecosystem Dynamics & Biodiversity
Unit 8.5 Genetics
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Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Making Thinking Visible Workshop supports teachers, coaches, and administrators in leveraging student writing and drawing as tools for sensemaking in science.
Participants will:
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Reflect on student work to identify opportunities and potential barriers to meaningful expression of ideas.
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Analyze OpenSciEd lessons and student examples to understand how writing and drawing support the progression of student thinking and science practices over time.
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Examine how writing and drawing are used across lessons to support sensemaking and idea development.
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Explore instructional strategies that help all students use writing and drawing to make their thinking visible.
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Identify ways to reduce barriers and increase access to expressing ideas through multiple modalities.
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Engage in actual lessons from a selected focal unit as a student to experience the curriculum from the learner’s perspective.
MS Focal Unit options:
Unit 6.6 Cells & Systems
Unit 7.6 Earth’s Resources & Human Impact
Unit 8.6 Natural Selection & Common Ancestry
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Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Student Sensemaking Workshop supports teachers, coaches, and administrators in strengthening implementation through reflection, analysis, and hands-on engagement with OpenSciEd curriculum and instructional practices.
Participants will:
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Reflect on classroom implementation experiences to identify successes and ongoing challenges.
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Examine key instructional elements that support student sensemaking and three-dimensional learning.
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Engage directly in lessons from a selected focal unit using authentic OpenSciEd materials, routines, and sensemaking practices.
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Experience the curriculum from a student perspective to better understand instructional flow and coherence.
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Analyze classroom video to connect instructional decisions to student engagement and learning.
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Examine student artifacts to identify evidence of sensemaking and growth over time.
MS Focal Unit options:
Unit 6.2 Thermal Energy
Unit 7.2 Chemical Reactions & Energy
Unit 8.2 Sound Waves
Unit 7.4 Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis
Unit 8.3 Forces at a Distance.
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Onsite or Virtual
Two 6 hour/days with one hour for lunch
Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
This two-day OpenSciEd Universal Design for Learning Workshop supports teachers, coaches, and administrators in using UDL principles to increase access and flexibility within OpenSciEd Science classrooms.
Participants will:
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Identify ways that OpenSciEd lessons are designed to address the principles of UDL.
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Identify instructional strategies that align with the UDL Principles to support student learning.
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Analyze lessons to identify goals, potential barriers, and ways to use the UDL Principles to remove barriers and create flexible paths to learning.
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Identify strategies for Emergent Multilingual Learners (EML) that align with the UDL principles.
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Engage in the actual lessons of the unit as a student.
MS Focal Unit options:
Unit 6.4 Plate Tectonics & Rock Cycling
Unit 7.4 Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis
Unit 8.4 Earth in Space
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HS Focal Unit options:
Unit B.3 Inheritance & Variation of Traits
Unit C.3 Molecular Processes in Earth’s Systems
Unit P.3 Collisions & Momentum
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Virtual Q&A
In this one-hour virtual Q&A session, teachers will meet with an OpenSciEd-certified facilitator to reflect on implementation progress and address questions related to the OpenSciEd program. The session provides dedicated time for participants to ask questions, clarify instructional practices, and receive targeted guidance to support continued success with implementation.
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Duration: 1 Hour
Implementation Models
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Three-Year Implementation Timeline
Navigating a new curricular resource can be a challenging transition. Additionally, the instructional shifts called for in OpenSciEd can look different than previous science instruction. In order to provide the support and time teachers deserve
to make these shifts, OpenSciEd recommends a multi-year rollout. In the three-year example above, teachers teach two new units per year with professional learning to support each new unit. New teacher hires can attend one of OpenSciEd’s ticketed virtual events offered in the summers each year.
Two-Year Implementation Timeline
In the two-year implementation mode above, teachers teach three new units each year. Year 1 includes a greaterinvestment of time for professional learning than the three-year model. An OpenSciEd representative is happy to talkthrough different implementation models to help you make the best decision for you setting and constraints.
Looking for pricing, quotes, or tailored professional learning support?
Our goal is to help you build a successful learning environment in your classrooms.​