Deeper Dive: Middle School
ASTA’s A Deeper Dive: Constructing 3-Dimensional Units
…was a partnership with Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and BSCS Science Learning (BSCS) financially supported by APS Foundation.
The Five Tools is a set of tools and processes to support educators to translate science concepts, practices and performance expectations into multiple instructional sequences that form an Arizona Science Standards (AzSS) unit, create an in-depth plan for one instructional sequence and assessment task, and provide an in-depth professional learning experience focused on the 3-dimensions.
These tools and processes establish a meaningful context for science teachers to develop an understanding of The Framework, Working with Big Ideas of Science Education, and the AzSS, as well as to begin implementing critical instructional shifts in their classrooms.
The Five Tools and Processes consist of:
- Tool 1: Using the AzSS to plan a unit of instruction
- Tool 2: Using performance expectations to plan classroom assessments
- Tool 3: Using the 5E instructional model to develop a conceptual flow
- Tool 4: Using the 5E instructional model to design learning sequences
- Tool 5: Using evidence of learning specifications to develop performance tasks
Through an intense professional learning opportunity, 60 middle level teachers working in teams learned how to utilize Five Tools and Processes for Implementing AzSS. Participants created a 3D unit blueprint (Tool 1) and developed multiple instructional sequences (Tool 4) that formed a 3D science instructional unit utilizing the 5E instructional model. These draft units that are published are sample models of how AzSS can be bundled together to form an instructional unit. With the support of the Thomas R Brown Family Foundation, teams developed a webinar that provides an overview of their unit.
6th Grade Deeper Dive Units
Developed By
Mesa Public School Team Members: Mandy Heal, Kaylynn Gallardo, Jamie Rapkiewcz, and Sandi Anderson
Flagstaff USD Team Members: Cynthia Messieha, Maggie McCorkle, and Kristine Penca
Higley USD Team Members: Leslie Home, Amanda Cain, Amy Gossard, and Gibb Stailey
Grand Canyon USD, Blue Ridge USD, and Academy of Math & Science-Tucson Team Members: Adrian Alvarez, Stephanie Condojani, Michele Gagnon, and Kathy Hartley
7th Grade Deeper Dive Units
Developed By
Amphitheater USD Team Members: Pamela Vandivort, Lauren Marlatt, Kyle Sutton, and Leslie Ferre
Sonoita, Santa Cruz, and Fort Huachuca Team Members: Annette Koweek, Mable Shaju, Lee Ann Howell, and Lisa Graeme
Marana USD Team Members: Beth Deweerdt, Krisha Leyva, Adam Scafede, and Shelley Wermuth
Gilbert USD Team Members: Mick Filloon, Kathleen Foley, Susan Ferguson, and Amanda Sibley
Cottonwood Oak Creek SD and JO Combs District Team Members: Jayne Lee, Theresa Romey, Barbara Rogers, and Kristen Holland
8th Grade Deeper Dive Units
Developed By
Roosevelt Elementary School District Team Members: Caroline Estrada, Monique Franco, and Lisa Herrmann
Litchfield Elementary School District Team Members: Loren McCullers, Alison Rodeheffer, Linda Hazelett, Frances Siler, and Yolanda Strachan
Alhambra Elementary School District Team Members: Carrie Repp, Tamara Waller, Dustin Butler, Samantha Tallman, Kelley Parsons, and Charissa Watkins
Peoria USD Team Members: Judy Meredith, Raymond Wilson,Amy Lewis, Christina Cox, and Michael Guffy
Besides creating a webinar about their unit of instruction, some teams also developed webinars about their learning process which can be found below. These webinars were made possible due to the funding from the Thomas R Brown Family Foundation.
- Tool 0 = Embracing Inquiry; it looks different, but that’s ok!
- by Amphitheater USD Team
- Vetting Resources for 3-Dimensional Instruction
- by Mesa Public School Team
- Exploring Phenomena
- by Roosevelt ESD Team
- 3-Dimensional Curriculum Design
- by Higley USD Team
