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PhD Science TEKS Edition Components

 
In this article:
 


Implementation Guide

The Implementation Guide is a teacher resource that explains the philosophy and curriculum design of PhD Science TEKS Edition. It also provides additional resources to help make instruction more efficient and effective.

Teacher Edition

Module Overview and Appendices

The Teacher Edition begins with a module overview, which contains an introduction to the anchor phenomenon, an explanation of how the module lessons address the phenomenon, a module map, focus TEKS, key terms, information about the preparation of materials, safety considerations, a summary of knowledge built across levels, and professional resources for teachers.
Each module contains approximately 25–30 lessons organized into three or four concepts that help students make sense of an anchor phenomenon. Each concept contains lesson sets that develop key conceptual understandings.
At the end of each module’s Teacher Edition, appendices provide support for teachers before and during instruction.
  • Appendix A: Module Resources—a set of lesson-specific resources to aid instruction: full-size photographs, informational texts, investigation procedure sheets, materials preparation, and supplemental information
  • Appendix B: Module Storyline—a more detailed version of the Module Map section in the Module Overview that summarizes the progression of concepts in the module
  • Appendix C: Module Glossary—level-appropriate definitions for new terms in the module and the lesson in which the definition appears
  • Appendix D: Content-Specific Words, General Academic Words, and Spanish Cognates—a list of key terms in the module and their Spanish cognates to support English language development

Lesson Sets

Lesson sets consist of 35-minute (Grades K–2) or 45-minute (Grades 3–5) lessons grouped by specific phenomena. This structure and the pacing suggestions in each lesson’s Agenda give students flexibility to explore phenomena and analyze their findings to arrive at conceptual understandings.
All lesson sets have a Prepare section, which contains the following information:
  • Opening Paragraph: a brief introduction to the lesson set
  • Focus Question: a question that guides learning throughout the concept (remains the same throughout a concept)
  • Phenomenon Question: a question that guides learning throughout the lesson set (changes with each lesson set)
  • Knowledge Statement: a statement that reflects the scientific understanding students will develop during a lesson set (to guide teachers, not to post for students)
  • Objectives: learning outcomes for each lesson
  • Standards Addressed: a summary of the focus standards (TEKS and ELPS) the lesson set addresses
  • Materials: a list of materials needed for each lesson, including necessary preparation (includes optional materials and substitutions where applicable)

Lessons

Each lesson is organized into these sections:
  • Launch: the lesson opening, which engages students as they begin thinking about the lesson phenomenon
  • Learn: the heart of the lesson, during which students develop new knowledge and apply prior knowledge to explore phenomena
  • Land: the lesson closing, in which students reflect on what they have learned
  • Optional Homework: suggestions for applying and extending science learning in students’ homes and communities (does not occur in every lesson)

PhD Projected

A slide resource to aid teachers in classroom presentations. PhD Science in Sync teachers can use this resource when they host virtual class meetings and facilitate science discourse. Also available in Spanish.


Knowledge Deck™

Carefully crafted informational text combined with visually arresting images cards for the students and posters for the classroom. Students interact with the cards during lessons, collecting a deck of knowledge about different phenomena. Available only in K–2. PDFs of the cards and posters are available to download on the platform. 

Family Tip Sheet

Provide students’ families and caregivers a high-level introduction to the PhD Science TEKS Edition curriculum with overview and ways to extend learning outside the classroom.


Science Logbook

The Science Logbook is a consumable student resource. It enables students to record evidence and document their learning in the logbook. In most lessons, students use their logbooks to develop models or record observations, predictions, data analysis, explanations, claims, and other information as they complete scientific tasks.

Materials Kits

PhD Science provides hands-on experiences that enable students to engage in science activities. Materials kits that support these experiences are available for purchase through Great Minds and sourced by an external supplier. These specially designed kits contain the supplies needed to implement the PhD Science investigations and activities in all modules of each level. Organized by module, the materials kits arrive in bins that can store reusable materials from year to year. Refill kits are available to replace consumable supplies. Optional safety kits containing goggles and latex-free gloves are also recommended and available for purchase. Each lesson set contains a list of necessary materials and a summary of required materials preparation.

Core Texts

Authentic, content-rich texts that support or explain the science while giving students an opportunity to practice and strengthen literacy skills.