Kindergarten Report Overview

The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten partially meet expectations for Alignment to NGSS, Gateways 1 and 2. Gateway 1: Designed for NGSS; Criterion 1: Three-Dimensional Learning partially meets expectations. The materials include three-dimensional learning opportunities and limited opportunities for student sensemaking with the three dimensions. The summative assessments consistently measure the three dimensions for their respective objectives. Formative assessments inconsistently address learning objectives. Criterion 2: Phenomena and Problems Drive Learning does not meet expectations. Phenomena and problems are present and connected to DCIs. The materials inconsistently and present phenomena and problems to students as directly as possible. The materials consistently elicit but do not leverage student prior knowledge and experience related to the phenomena and problems present. Phenomena and problems do not drive learning and use of the three dimensions at the sequence or lesson level.

The instructional materials reviewed for Kindergarten meet expectations for Gateway 2: Coherence and Scope. The materials inconsistently connect units and chapters in a manner that is apparent to students, and student tasks increase in sophistication within and across units. The materials accurately represent the three dimensions across the series and only include scientific content appropriate to the grade level. Further, the materials include all DCI components and all elements for physical science; life science; earth and space science; and engineering, technology, and applications of science. The materials include all of the SEPs at the grade level and all of the SEPs across the grade band. The materials include all grade-band crosscutting concepts and provide repeated opportunities for students to use CCCs across the grade band. The materials include NGSS connections to Nature of Science and Engineering elements associated with the SEPs and/or CCCs