NextGenScience
@nextgenscience.bsky.social
Empowering educators to transform science teaching, learning, and leadership through research-based professional learning, technical assistance, and curriculum review services. Former Achieve Science team now housed at WestEd.
Have you seen this month's NGSS Now newsletter?
See the most recent edition here: ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
And subscribe to get them in your inbox here: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
See the most recent edition here: ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
And subscribe to get them in your inbox here: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
July 23, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Have you seen this month's NGSS Now newsletter?
See the most recent edition here: ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
And subscribe to get them in your inbox here: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
See the most recent edition here: ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
And subscribe to get them in your inbox here: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
An important skill for students will be detecting errors and misleading models when looking at AI results. See some considerations in the NSTA blog post here:
www.nsta.org/blog/what-if...
www.nsta.org/blog/what-if...
July 14, 2026 at 7:37 PM
An important skill for students will be detecting errors and misleading models when looking at AI results. See some considerations in the NSTA blog post here:
www.nsta.org/blog/what-if...
www.nsta.org/blog/what-if...
The Phenomena Lab Board of Curiosities provides a structure to pique students' curiosity in science and engage in informal investigations over the summer.
While not formally aligned to standards, this resource can strengthen at-home sensemaking: lab.ngssphenomena.com
While not formally aligned to standards, this resource can strengthen at-home sensemaking: lab.ngssphenomena.com
Phenomena Lab — Board of Curiosities
Tap a real science mystery and become the scientist — the screen time that gets kids off the screen and out into the real world. No chatbot, free.
lab.ngssphenomena.com
June 25, 2026 at 6:05 PM
The Phenomena Lab Board of Curiosities provides a structure to pique students' curiosity in science and engage in informal investigations over the summer.
While not formally aligned to standards, this resource can strengthen at-home sensemaking: lab.ngssphenomena.com
While not formally aligned to standards, this resource can strengthen at-home sensemaking: lab.ngssphenomena.com
The STEM Teaching Tools website recently compiled and expanded its collection of Climate Education resources.
See the modules, practice briefs, and webinars here: stemteachingtools.org/sp/climate-l...
See the modules, practice briefs, and webinars here: stemteachingtools.org/sp/climate-l...
Climate Learning Resources : StemTeachingTools (en-US)
stemteachingtools.org
June 12, 2026 at 7:32 PM
The STEM Teaching Tools website recently compiled and expanded its collection of Climate Education resources.
See the modules, practice briefs, and webinars here: stemteachingtools.org/sp/climate-l...
See the modules, practice briefs, and webinars here: stemteachingtools.org/sp/climate-l...
Are you signed up to receive the monthly NGSS Now newsletter?
Subscribe here to get the latest news and success stories along with proven resources to inspire, support, and improve science educator and leader practice: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
Subscribe here to get the latest news and success stories along with proven resources to inspire, support, and improve science educator and leader practice: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
NGSS Now
NGSS Now, our monthly newsletter, focuses on the why and how of science teaching, learning, and leadership.
ngs.wested.org
May 12, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Are you signed up to receive the monthly NGSS Now newsletter?
Subscribe here to get the latest news and success stories along with proven resources to inspire, support, and improve science educator and leader practice: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
Subscribe here to get the latest news and success stories along with proven resources to inspire, support, and improve science educator and leader practice: ngs.wested.org/ngss-now/
How can we support teachers in sparking and sustaining motivation and engagement in a manner that will enable all students to feel included, empowered, and interested to learn science? Read some design principles here:
ngs.wested.org/motivation-m...
ngs.wested.org/motivation-m...
Motivation Matters
Five Design Principles for Supporting Student Motivation and Engagement in Science Classrooms
By Christopher Harris and David McKinney | April 4, 2023
This is an exciting time for science education. S...
ngs.wested.org
May 5, 2026 at 1:30 PM
How can we support teachers in sparking and sustaining motivation and engagement in a manner that will enable all students to feel included, empowered, and interested to learn science? Read some design principles here:
ngs.wested.org/motivation-m...
ngs.wested.org/motivation-m...
Read about how one Oregon school district’s teachers made the case for improving science:
lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/educat...
lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/educat...
April 22, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Read about how one Oregon school district’s teachers made the case for improving science:
lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/educat...
lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/educat...
Come see us at NSTA next week!
NextGenScience will be presenting on raising the bar for culturally responsive STEM curricula.
See more information here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
NextGenScience will be presenting on raising the bar for culturally responsive STEM curricula.
See more information here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
April 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Come see us at NSTA next week!
NextGenScience will be presenting on raising the bar for culturally responsive STEM curricula.
See more information here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
NextGenScience will be presenting on raising the bar for culturally responsive STEM curricula.
See more information here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Will you be at the NSELA Summit this year in Anaheim?
Join NextGenScience to talk about effective curriculum implementation for science!
www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Join NextGenScience to talk about effective curriculum implementation for science!
www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Join WestEd at the 2026 National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA) Summit
WestEd science education experts will present at the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA) 2026 Leadership Summit in Anaheim, California, on April 15, 2026.
www.wested.org
April 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Will you be at the NSELA Summit this year in Anaheim?
Join NextGenScience to talk about effective curriculum implementation for science!
www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Join NextGenScience to talk about effective curriculum implementation for science!
www.wested.org/event/join-w...
NextGenScience will be presenting at the Council of State Science Supervisors Conference next week!
Check out our session descriptions here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Check out our session descriptions here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Join WestEd at the 2026 Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS) Annual Conference
Join WestEd science education experts as they present at the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS) Annual Conference, held April 12–15, 2026, in Anaheim, California.
www.wested.org
April 7, 2026 at 12:35 AM
NextGenScience will be presenting at the Council of State Science Supervisors Conference next week!
Check out our session descriptions here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
Check out our session descriptions here: www.wested.org/event/join-w...
The PA Department of Education recently posted a STEELS Communications Toolkit, which provides ready-to-use resources about the vision for and implementation of the new Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability Standards.
See it here: www.pdesas.org/Page/Viewer/...
See it here: www.pdesas.org/Page/Viewer/...
June 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The PA Department of Education recently posted a STEELS Communications Toolkit, which provides ready-to-use resources about the vision for and implementation of the new Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability Standards.
See it here: www.pdesas.org/Page/Viewer/...
See it here: www.pdesas.org/Page/Viewer/...
A new STEM Teaching Tool focuses on findings from a National Academies report on supporting all students to thrive in STEM education.
See it here: stemteachingtools.org/brief/101
See it here: stemteachingtools.org/brief/101
How can we better understand and work toward equity in STEM education? : StemTeachingTools (en-US)
stemteachingtools.org
March 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A new STEM Teaching Tool focuses on findings from a National Academies report on supporting all students to thrive in STEM education.
See it here: stemteachingtools.org/brief/101
See it here: stemteachingtools.org/brief/101
Did you know there are almost 50 science units that have earned the #NGSSDesignBadge?
These high-quality materials can be accessed here: www.nextgenscience.org/badgeunits
These high-quality materials can be accessed here: www.nextgenscience.org/badgeunits
March 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Did you know there are almost 50 science units that have earned the #NGSSDesignBadge?
These high-quality materials can be accessed here: www.nextgenscience.org/badgeunits
These high-quality materials can be accessed here: www.nextgenscience.org/badgeunits
A big challenge when designing science instruction is supporting students who miss a class.
What are some strategies to catch students up quickly on the class's progress explaining a phenomenon?
See some ideas in our blog post here: ngs.wested.org/instructiona...
What are some strategies to catch students up quickly on the class's progress explaining a phenomenon?
See some ideas in our blog post here: ngs.wested.org/instructiona...
Missed an Episode? No Problem!
How might instructional recap strategies support student learning?
By Neelo Soltanzadeh | March 6, 2024
My friends and I have a tradition of getting together every Wednesday night to watch one of our ...
ngs.wested.org
March 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
A big challenge when designing science instruction is supporting students who miss a class.
What are some strategies to catch students up quickly on the class's progress explaining a phenomenon?
See some ideas in our blog post here: ngs.wested.org/instructiona...
What are some strategies to catch students up quickly on the class's progress explaining a phenomenon?
See some ideas in our blog post here: ngs.wested.org/instructiona...
This vignette shares a curriculum developer’s lessons learned from designing materials for today’s science standards along with advice for educators on how to determine which existing lessons and activities can be adapted for new standards:
ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
December 10, 2024 at 8:47 PM
This vignette shares a curriculum developer’s lessons learned from designing materials for today’s science standards along with advice for educators on how to determine which existing lessons and activities can be adapted for new standards:
ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
ngs.wested.org/wp-content/u...
While there are many different policies, resources, and people who play a role in NGSS implementation, ultimately, the task of realizing this vision in the classroom rests with teachers.
Thanks to all the educators across the country working to give their students a meaningful science education.
Thanks to all the educators across the country working to give their students a meaningful science education.
November 28, 2024 at 1:41 AM
While there are many different policies, resources, and people who play a role in NGSS implementation, ultimately, the task of realizing this vision in the classroom rests with teachers.
Thanks to all the educators across the country working to give their students a meaningful science education.
Thanks to all the educators across the country working to give their students a meaningful science education.
Blog Post: How Can I Find the Lesson Plans I Need to Use?
This blog post by @jenniferedu.bsky.social shares tips for ensuring that the instructional plan for students is coherent and effective.
See it here: ngs.wested.org/curating_cur...
This blog post by @jenniferedu.bsky.social shares tips for ensuring that the instructional plan for students is coherent and effective.
See it here: ngs.wested.org/curating_cur...
Curating Curriculum
How can I find the NGSS lesson plans I need to use?
By Jennifer Childress Self | July 10, 2024
Although the school year just ended, it feels like the summer is already flying by. Some teachers are
ngs.wested.org
November 21, 2024 at 6:37 PM
Blog Post: How Can I Find the Lesson Plans I Need to Use?
This blog post by @jenniferedu.bsky.social shares tips for ensuring that the instructional plan for students is coherent and effective.
See it here: ngs.wested.org/curating_cur...
This blog post by @jenniferedu.bsky.social shares tips for ensuring that the instructional plan for students is coherent and effective.
See it here: ngs.wested.org/curating_cur...
Our "On the Same Wavelength" blog dives into areas of instructional design not explored elsewhere – questions that arise in our materials review work, topics debated in the field, and anything else on our mind.
Check out all the posts here: ngs.wested.org/blog/
Check out all the posts here: ngs.wested.org/blog/
November 18, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Our "On the Same Wavelength" blog dives into areas of instructional design not explored elsewhere – questions that arise in our materials review work, topics debated in the field, and anything else on our mind.
Check out all the posts here: ngs.wested.org/blog/
Check out all the posts here: ngs.wested.org/blog/
In our work supporting states and districts to move toward equitable #science instruction for all students, we worked with leaders and experts in the field to identify five key takeaways important to making a big impact.
Read about those takeaways here: ngs.wested.org/key-takeaway...
Read about those takeaways here: ngs.wested.org/key-takeaway...
Key Takeaways for Transforming Science Education
Jump to the Five Key Takeaways below.
Download the Five Takeaways as a PDF. (860KB)
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and similar science standards based on A Framework for K–12 Science...
ngs.wested.org
November 15, 2024 at 3:25 PM
In our work supporting states and districts to move toward equitable #science instruction for all students, we worked with leaders and experts in the field to identify five key takeaways important to making a big impact.
Read about those takeaways here: ngs.wested.org/key-takeaway...
Read about those takeaways here: ngs.wested.org/key-takeaway...