Overview for Families
What will my student study in Level 4?
Module 1 - Earth Features - Formation of the Grand Canyon’s Features
Module 2 - Energy - Windmills at Work
Module 3 - Sense and Response - Elephants Sensing Distant Rainstorms
Module 4 - Light - Visibility of and Communication to Howland Island
What is PhD Science?
PhD Science™ is a knowledge-building, phenomenon-driven curriculum. By using an observable event that can be explained or predicted—the anchor phenomenon—students have a real-world context for their learning. Students explore these compelling phenomena through observation, questioning, modeling, and investigation. The year will be divided into four units of study called modules. Each module weaves a coherent storyline of science concepts that helps students make sense of the phenomena they are exploring. Students then apply their new knowledge to an authentic situation or problem.
What will my student do in class?
Students will be working, thinking, and experimenting just like real scientists. Science will not be about memorizing facts or reading from a textbook. Instead, the science curriculum will involve hands-on investigations that allow students to develop a deep understanding of science concepts. As students uncover information about the anchor phenomenon, they will ask questions, discover evidence, generate new ideas, and come up with solutions.
Throughout the module, students generate questions about the phenomenon that will be recorded on the driving question board. The driving question board is a chart we will use to organize our questions and guide our learning. We will also create an anchor model and chart to visually express our ideas. These tools help us see how different concepts fit together and how our understanding of the phenomena is deepening.
Each module has opportunities for students to use the engineering design process, apply what they learned to solve real-world problems, and present their ideas. For example, in a module on energy, students will design their own light-generating device.
Discussion and debate will be part of many lessons, as students will state and defend their claims with evidence and ask questions about others’ claims. At the end of each module, students will participate in a Socratic Seminar that focuses on the importance of questioning. During the seminar, students will be presented with a rigorous question that encourages them to think critically and apply their learning from the module.
What will be different?
If you stop by the classroom during science instruction, you won’t see students answering questions from a textbook or listening to a lecture. Instead, you’ll find students in small groups discussing ideas, doing experiments, or reporting their findings. PhD Science lessons are designed to allow students to drive their own learning. Students uncover key concepts by actively engaging in science and engineering practices. They read high-quality, age-appropriate books in class that spark curiosity, introduce phenomena, and support the development of scientific understandings. Further, students document their learning in a Science Logbook that allows them to reflect, review, and track how their knowledge has progressed.
How is science connected to other disciplines?
All PhD Science modules make connections across science fields and academic disciplines. The curriculum highlights connections to math, literacy, and history so students can practice using the interdisciplinary approach necessary for real-world tasks. For example, in a module about Earth’s features, students read historical accounts of the exploration of the Grand Canyon and use world maps to better understand where different land features are located. In addition to cross-curricular connections, all modules have lessons devoted to the application of concepts. In these lessons, students apply science and engineering practices to solve an authentic problem.
How can I help?
With each module you will receive a Family Tip Sheet that outlines the module concepts and includes ideas on how you can support your student at home. The goal of these suggestions is to help students see science everywhere and not just at school. Talking about science, watching science videos, or visiting a museum, park, or zoo are all ways to support your student’s learning. For more information about what you can do to help facilitate your student’s understanding of science, visit NSTA Science Matters: Tips for Busy Parents at https://www.nsta.org/sciencematters/tips.aspx.
Is there homework?
PhD Science modules have informal homework assignments to reinforce learning and connect students’ understandings to their everyday lives. These assignments often include ideas to discuss with family members or questions that prompt a simple exploration. Students are encouraged to report their findings to the class.
How are students assessed?
Student learning is assessed in informal and formal ways. Through questions and classwork, students will be informally assessed. At the end of the module, tasks to measure learning include a science or engineering challenge, an End-of-Module Assessment, and the Socratic Seminar. The balance of ongoing and cumulative assessments allows instruction to be adjusted throughout the module to ensure that students are progressing.