Making Sense of SCIENCE

Making Sense of SCIENCE is a professional learning model for elementary school teachers (grades 4-5) aimed at raising students' science achievement in Earth and space science and physical science through improving science instruction. The model focuses on connections between science understanding, classroom practice, and literacy integration to support implementation of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The professional learning consists of six components delivered over two years: site coordinator professional learning, Leadership Cadre professional learning, administrator professional learning, and teacher professional learning (including 35-hour summer courses each year and 12 hours of school-year Professional Learning Community meetings each year). Teachers participate in courses focused on Dynamic Earth (Year 1) and Planet Earth (Year 2), which emphasize three-dimensional learning (Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts) aligned with NGSS. The model requires building leadership capacity at school and district levels, with site coordinators, Leadership Cadre members (including teacher leaders and district staff), and administrators receiving targeted professional development to support teachers and implementation.