ERIC Number: EJ977348
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Feb
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8555
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Second Dimension--Crosscutting Concepts
Duschl, Richard A.
Science Teacher, v79 n2 p34-38 Feb 2012
The recently published National Research Council (NRC) report "A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas" (NRC 2011) offers a thoughtful research-based agenda that helps guide teachers in making the shift to a doing-led agenda in K-12 science education. In the December 2011 editions of the NSTA journals, Rodger Bybee focused on Science and Engineering Practices, Dimension One of the "Framework." Here the focus is on the "Framework's" Crosscutting Concepts--Dimension Two. The "Framework" makes very clear that science learning needs to be coordinated around generative conceptual ideas and scientific practices. The author begins with the seven Crosscutting Concepts, highlighting features within each that reveal the components of progressions. A big challenge for teachers is thinking about planning lessons and units across grade bands as student learning progresses within a grade and across grades. This will require more work, but designing lessons that move students through the Crosscutting Concept progression while teaching the Core Ideas and engaging students in the appropriate Scientific Practices will help ensure that students are doing science in grades K-12. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Elementary Secondary Education, Science Education, Educational Practices, Scientific Concepts, Flexible Progression, Articulation (Education), Lesson Plans, Instructional Design, Teaching Methods, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Science Course Improvement Projects
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A