Leading Science: Rigor Through Standards

Leading Science: Rigor Through Standards

A Leadership Conference for Principals 5th Grade NGSS Implementation Building Excellence Through Instructional Practice

Why Science Leadership Matters

Science literacy drives innovation and economic growth NGSS prepares students for 21st century careers Principals shape instructional culture and expectations Quality science education builds critical thinking skills

Redefining Rigor

"Rigor is not about giving students harder work and more of it. It's actually what comes after the verb - the content - and the cognitive engagement of the content that determines overall complexity of a task."

NGSS: Three-Dimensional Learning

Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) Integration of all three dimensions for deep understanding

5th Grade NGSS Performance Expectations

Phenomena-Based Learning

Anchoring phenomena drive student questions Observable events students can explain or predict Connects science to real-world experiences Promotes student sensemaking and curiosity

Identifying Quality Phenomena

Work in table groups Review the phenomena examples provided Discuss: What makes each phenomenon engaging for 5th graders? Share one example with the whole group

Depth of Knowledge in Science

DOK 1: Recall facts and basic procedures DOK 2: Apply skills and concepts DOK 3: Strategic thinking and reasoning DOK 4: Extended thinking and real-world application

DOK Levels in 5th Grade Science

{"left":"DOK 1: Name the parts of a plant cell\nDOK 2: Compare plant and animal cells\nDOK 3: Analyze how cell structures support organism survival\nDOK 4: Design an investigation to test plant growth factors","right":"Identify a mineral's properties\nClassify rocks by formation process\nEvaluate evidence for rock cycle processes\nCreate a model showing geological time"}

Reflection Question

Think about a recent science lesson observation in your school. What DOK level were most student activities? How might you coach the teacher to increase rigor?

High-Level Questioning Strategies

Questions that drive student thinking and sensemaking Support Science and Engineering Practices Help students reason with evidence Guide deeper understanding of phenomena

Types of High-Level Questions

Analyzing: 'What patterns do you notice in the data?' Evaluating: 'What evidence supports your claim?' Creating: 'How could you design a test for that?' Connecting: 'How does this relate to what we learned about...?'