K-12 NGSS Teacher Professional Learning

Enrich your teaching practice this Summer with an extended professional learning experience

Explore ways to engage your students more fully and equitably in the robust sense-making that drives deep science learning. Research shows that multi-session professional learning is the best way to effect meaningful change in teacher practice*. 

• June 16-19, 2025! Extended OpenSciEd High School Professional Learning Plan ahead to be ready to implement highly-rated OpenSciEd units in your High School classroom with professional learning! The OpenSciEd 4-Day Launch typically includes whole group time, and breakout sessions for these units:
  • B.1 Biology: Ecosystems Interactions and Dynamics
  • C.1 Chemistry: Thermodynamics in Earth's Systems
  • P.1 Physics: Energy Flow from Earth's Systems
  • Click here to learn more about all OpenSciEd High School curriculum units
• June 16-19, 2025! Extended OpenSciEd Middle School Professional Learning  Plan ahead to be ready to implement highly-rated OpenSciEd in your Middle School classroom with professional learning. The OpenSciEd 4-Day Launch typically includes whole group time, and breakout sessions for these units:
  • Unit 6.1: Light and Matter
  • Unit 7.1: Chemical Reactions and Matter
  • Unit 8.1: Contact Forces
  • Click here to learn more about all OpenSciEd Middle School curriculum units
• June 20, 2025! Making Sense of Sensemaking in K-12 Science Collaborate to focus on building evidence-based instructional moves into your teacher practice, to support robust student sensemaking. A one-day teacher professional learning program, with the opportunity to earn additional PD hours for collaborative activities during the school year. Bring a colleague and get started planning your collaboration!
• June 20, 2025! OpenSciEd Information Session for Administrators For District and School Administrators and Science and STEM Decision-Makers. If your school or district is considering High Quality Instructional Materials like OpenSciEd, join us for this morning session to find out more and have all your questions answered. This open source curriculum for K-12 is highly rated and NGSS aligned.  
• June 23-26, 2025! Extended OpenSciEd Elementary Professional Learning  Prepare to implement these newly-released OpenSciEd units in your Elementary classroom with Summer 2025 professional learning! The OpenSciEd 4-Day Launch typically includes whole group time, and breakout sessions for these units:
  • Unit K.1 Energy: Sunlight (K-PS3-1, K-PS3-2, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2)
  • Unit 1.1 Waves: Light (1-PS4-2, 1-PS4-3)
  • Unit 2.1 Earth: Land Changing Shape (2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, K-2-ETS1-3)
  • Unit 3.1 Forces and Interactions (3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-3)
  • Unit 4.1 Energy Transfer: Collisions (4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-3)
  • Unit 5.1 Ecosystems and Matter Cycling (5-PS1-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1)
  • Click here to learn more about all OpenSciEd Elementary curriculum units

Click here to inquire about bringing certified OpenSciEd professional learning to your school!

Click here to see what extended OpenSciEd Professional Learning with Extension looks like

Build dynamic STEM learning environments across your school or district

Partner with Extension to bring collaborative, cutting-edge science professional learning to all teachers in your school or district. Our programs support your team as you adopt highly rated open source materials, or build teacher expertise in NGSS and 3-dimensional teaching and learning. 

• Thinking about adopting OpenSciEd in your school or district? High quality instructional materials improve student learning. OpenSciEd is one of the few “all green” science curriculum programs. Let Extension introduce you and your teachers to the OpenSciEd approach, and help you map out a plan for your school.
• Looking for OpenSciEd Certified Professional Learning? Curriculum-based professional development is the best way to support teachers in their use of evidence-based instructional strategies. Illinois Extension is a Certified OpenSciEd Professional Learning Provider, and has extensive experience developing materials and supporting OpenSciEd implementation.
• Building teacher expertise in NGSS and evidence-based science and STEM instruction? K-12 teachers will engage in and reflect on instructional approaches that support equitable and robust science learning. Our programs are grounded in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and build on the foundational work of programs like Next Generation Science Exemplar and NextGen Storylines.
• Creating a culture of collaboration around science instruction? Partner with Extension to plan and support extended programming that supports teachers as they work together to implement new strategies and materials. 

Click here to inquire about professional learning for schools and districts

Learn more about our team

Join other administrators and specialists for focused professional learning opportunities

Support your team as they build science learning systems that will position all students as knowledge builders in science and STEM

• NGSS for Administrators: An Introductory Guide to Implementation (K-12 Administrators) Administrators will explore the NGSS to identify the support teachers need for a successful transition to 3-dimensional teaching and learning. They will review research-based instructional methods and connect with other administrators and educators. Get answers to critical questions, and leave with a better idea of how to guide your school through this important journey.
• Evaluating Lessons and Units for NGSS Alignment using EQuIP: 2 parts (Grades K-12) In this 2-3 session workshop, teachers and curriculum specialists will unpack the EQuIP Rubric for Science and begin to evaluate lessons and units for alignment to the NGSS. Teachers will extend proficiency with the rubric by reviewing lessons or units for instructional supports and strategies for monitoring student progress. Attending one of our other NGSS sessions or a similarly rigorous session prior to this workshop is a prerequisite.
• Evaluating and Creating NGSS Lessons and Units (Grades K-12)  In this full-day workshop, teachers and curriculum specialists will learn how to evaluate lessons and units with the EQuIP Rubric for science and explore research-based strategies for their own unit and lesson planning. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers and reflect on the complexities of curriculum development. It is a prerequisite that you attend an introductory Engineering NGSS session or are very familiar with the NGSS prior to this workshop.

Click here to inquire about these custom and specialized-audience programs

Ready to take NGSS to the next level?

To start a conversation about fully integrating the NGSS with extended teacher professional development
email us 

Illinois Extension programs are grounded in the science of learning. Find out more about the research that supports our partners and programs

• OpenSciEd curricular materials for grades K-12 are freely available and open-source. They are one of only two programs rated All-Green by EdReports.
• Illinois Extension is an OpenSciEd Certified Professional Development Provider Our STEM Educators have additional credentials, as well as experience in OpenSciEd curriculum development
• Next Generation Science Standards articulate the evidence-based shifts in science content and pedagogy outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education
• The Carnegie Report describes the evidence that supports both curriculum-based professional learning, and the use of high-quality instructional materials
• *Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., Gardner, M. (2017). Effective Teacher Professional Development. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute. 

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