Bring Science Alive! for Minnesota

Designed for Minnesota NGSS

A Minnesota program built by Minnesota teachers.

Explaining Phenomena

Phenomenon-based storylines provide real-world problems for students to connect their learning with their own experiences. Investigations, reading notes, and key science concepts enable students to explore, explain, and make sense of phenomena.

Designing Solutions

Engineering Challenges and investigations engage students to design solutions directly relating to Disciplinary Core Ideas.

Three Dimensional Learning

Each and every lesson focuses on at least one Science and Engineering Practice, one Disciplinary Core Idea, and one Crosscutting Concept. Each dimension is selected to support learning as it relates to the Performance Expectation.

Anchoring Phenomena and Storylines

Anchoring phenomena prompts engagement by encouraging students to make connections with the world around them, then later ties back during the Performance Assessment.

Additionally, each lesson has its own phenomena which work together as part of the storyline to build conceptual understanding of the anchoring phenomenon. Anchoring phenomena are introduced with an embedded video, such as this example.

Space-The Solar System: Performance Assessment Storyline

Lesson-Level Phenomena

Each lesson begins with an investigative phenomenon to pique students’ interest and drive instruction throughout the investigation. This lesson-level phenomena is linked back to the anchoring phenomenon.

In Grade 3, students observe why your hair might stick up when sliding down a slide

In Cells and Genetics, students observe why humans have opposable thumbs, but turtles do not.

In the Matter program, students observe the phenomenon why some liquids do not mix with other liquids.

3-Dimensional Lesson Investigations

Hands-on investigations in every lesson provide students opportunities to practice all three dimensions. Teachers are given support within the lesson guides to see exactly where that three-dimensional learning happens.

Bead a bracelet to replicate how mutations can change the structure and thus the function of a protein.

Grow plants with and without water or light to determine what plants need to grow.

Develop a model that shows the relationship between particle motion and states of matter.

Engineering Challenges

Engineering Challenges and investigations encourage students to design solutions directly relating to Disciplinary Core Ideas.

Design, build, test, and modify a structure for dispersing seeds that mimic how plants disperse seeds in nature.

Build an earthquake table and then design the tallest structure possible while still being quake-resistant.

Lesson-Level Assessment

NGSS has changed how students are assessed.

Lesson Assessments include a variety of selected response and constructed response questions that incorporate the 3-Dimensions, core ideas, practices, and crosscutting concepts. You’ll be provided with completed answer guides and rubrics. View how tightly we align with the NGSS correlations.

Questions are designed to mimic the CAST format. Students practice taking assessments online to prepare for state tests.

Performance Assessment

Each unit of Bring Science Alive! includes a Performance Assessment. The activities, written and oral assignments allow teachers to assess student understanding of science contents within the context of the phenomenon discussed during the unit storyline.

By using a performance task, teachers can assess across three-dimensions a student’s ability to engage in Science and Engineering Practices, apply Crosscutting Concepts and to understand Disciplinary Core Ideas.

The Performance Assessment not only allows teachers to assess student learning but gives students a chance to demonstrate their learning in a meaningful way.

Everything You Need in One Place

Teacher Resources

Ready-to-teach lesson presentations, complete student resources, customizable 3-Dimensional assessments, and more are at your fingertips.

Student Resources: Print and Digital

We know sometimes it’s easier to have a physical copy. Our bundle makes it easy to keep a 21st-century classroom while using our textbook.

Materials

It can get busy preparing lessons and activities, grading, and staying ahead of your plans. This is why our Bring Science Alive! Materials Kits are prepared in advance for you, neatly organized to be integrated into each lesson.

See Our Science Programs

Make sure to check out all of our science programs for elementary and middle school students. Keeping students engaged and challenged by the lessons is a great way to help them develop a curiosity for the sciences. It’s also a great way to get students to look forward to your classes!

Teaching for the 21st-Century

Our digital resources make preparing, teaching, assigning and grading easier and more convenient than ever. We help you take the legwork out of prepping and planning so that you can spend more of your time helping students succeed. Sneak a peek all our features.

Science Features

Our Advisory Board

Our advisory board consists of nationally-known experts in science and individuals passionate about improving the educational experience for students, teachers, and school administrators. We are fortunate that our board of advisors are forward-thinking educators who help our team curate the best content possible for your school and students. What they help to guide is in creating the best educational platform and path for a child’s first days in education until their last, before they pursue higher education or step into the real world to pursue their careers and passions. With our advisory board at our side, TCI continues to push forward to create a larger impact in the education we provide for all of our students across the country.

Andrew Shouse

Angelo Collins

Donald B. Young

Jerome Shaw

Kathy Peasley

Marilyn Chambliss

Nancy Butler Songer

Ronald J. Korenich, Ed.D.

Steven Schneider

Minnesota Science Curriculum by TCI

TCI offers interactive online science textbooks and curriculums that students will love. Our K-8 science curriculums make the classroom a fun experience that students not only enjoy but look forward to every day.

When classroom lessons and activities are prepared with the right resources, students will better understand course material and perform more favorably in their academics. Our online science textbook makes it easier than ever to prepare classroom lessons and keep students engaged in their learning.

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