Collaborative Research: Developing the Next Generation of Middle School Science Materials--Investigating and Questioning Our World through Science and Technology

在第一阶段完成的“通过科学和技术调查和质疑我们的世界”工作的基础上，第二阶段为6-8年级制定了综合科学课程。 采用学习目标驱动的设计，其中驱动活动和评估设计的学习表现指定学生应该如何能够使用标准中概述的科学思想和技能。这些材料是围绕驱动问题组织的，这些问题提供了一个背景，以激励学生在科学实践中使用他们的知识和技能-例如建模、设计调查、解释和论证以及数据收集、分析和解释-以获得对国家科学标准中阐述的概念、原则和思维习惯的理解。 这些材料包括实践经验、技术工具和阅读材料，可扩展学生对现象的第一手经验，并支持科学素养。 所有四个科学学科每年大约有四分之一的时间被研究。 六、七、八年级的物理学主题分别是运动的描述、能量的守恒和转化以及运动定律;地球科学主题是地球表面过程、气候和天气以及空间物体;生物学主题是生物体和系统、遗传学和环境以及生态系统和自然选择;还有化学，物质的微粒性质，物质的化学反应，以及我们周围的化学反应。 教师教材支持教师学习科学内容和教学方法。 这些材料包括一个在线系统，提供学生作业和实际教学法的录像范例。 该项目还包括为社区开发资源，以便在校外提供与课堂活动有关的学习机会。 特别注意发展阅读能力。

Building on the work that "Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology (IQWST)" completed in Phase I, a comprehensive science curriculum for grades 6-8 is developed in Phase II. A learning-goals-driven design is used in which learning performances that drive the design of activities and assessments specify how students should be able to use the scientific ideas and skills outlined in standards. The materials are organized around driving questions that provide a context to motivate students as they use their knowledge and skills in scientific practices -- such as modeling, designing investigations, explanation and argumentation and data gathering, analysis and interpretation -- to acquire understandings of the concepts, principles and habits of mind articulated in national science standards. The materials contain hands-on experiences, technology tools and reading materials that extend students' first-hand experiences of phenomena and support science literacy. All four science disciplines are studied for about one-quarter of each year. The physics topics for grades 6, 7 and 8 are description of motion, conservation and transformation of energy, and laws of motion respectively; in Earth science, the topics are Earth surface processes, climate and weather and objects in space; for biology, organisms and systems, genetics and the environment, and ecosystems and natural selection; and for chemistry, particulate nature of matter, chemical reactions of substances, and chemical reactions all around us. Teacher materials support teacher learning of the science content and pedagogical approaches. The materials include an on-line system that provides video examples of student work and pedagogy in action. The project also includes development of resources for the community so that learning opportunities linked to classroom activities can occur outside of school. Particular attention is paid to developing reading literacy.