Curriculum Review Materials & Resources

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A New Way of Teaching & Learning Science for Indiana

Indiana Approved K-5 Science
Students in Frames_PhD Science

WONDER, INVESTIGATE, KNOW.

BRINGING A NEW APPROACH TO SCIENCE INSTRUCTION TO INDIANA

Reviewing PhD Science® for Levels K–5

Children are curious and observant and need opportunities to make sense of the world around them. The K–5 PhD Science curriculum was crafted to do just that, spark students’ wonder and curiosity to build a deep and lasting understanding how the scientific world works.

The PhD Science Difference

PhD Science helps students build problem-solving skills and knowledge that extends beyond the classroom through its hands on, student driven, and coherent learning design.

Hands-On Activities
Students acquire deep and lasting comprehension through hands-on activities and evidence-based learning. They actively do science to build knowledge, rather than memorizing facts.

Student-Driven
Teachers facilitate the learning, but students own it. Like real scientists, they ask questions, synthesize information, and apply their understanding to new contexts while investigating authentic, real-world phenomenon.

Coherent Storyline
Each lesson builds on the lessons before it, so students develop their understanding of science concepts in the context of each module's anchor phenomenon.

REVIEW MATERIALS & RESOURCES
Select from the options below to navigate to that section.

Curriculum Review Resources

Instructional Materials Samples

Digital Curriculum Resources

Implementation Support

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Curriculum Review Resources

Access resources to support your review of the PhD Science teacher and student materials below.

See how level of PhD Science aligns with the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Science by accessing one of the following Standards Correlations:
Access a PhD Science Getting Started Guide for a detailed walkthrough of the curriculum design and learning experience with specific examples from each level:

An Overview of PhD Science

 

 

Instructional Materials Samples

Access samples of the PhD Science instructional materials for teachers and students, including the free OER materials for Levels K–2.

TEACHER
EDITIONS		 PACING
GUIDES		 KNOWLEDGE DECK POSTERS

Level K
Module 1

Level 1
Module 1

Level 2
Module 1

Level 3
Module 1

Level 4
Module 1

Level 5
Module 1

Level K
Module 1

Level 1
Module 1

Level 2
Module 1

Level 3
Module 1

Level 4
Module 1

Level 5
Module 1

Level K
Module 1

Level 1
Module 1

Level 2
Module 1

 



HANDS-ON INVESTIGATIONS

Level 3 Module 3: Traits

 

Level 4 Module 1: Earth Features

 

Level 5 Module 1: Matter

 
STUDENT SCIENCE LOGBOOKS KNOWLEDGE DECK CARDS

Level K
Module 1

Level 1
Module 1

Level 2
Module 1

Level 3
Module 1

Level 4
Module 1

Level 5
Module 1

Level K
Module 1

Level 1
Module 1

Level 2
Module 1

 

 

FAMILY TIP SHEETS (English) FAMILY TIP SHEETS (Spanish)  

Level K

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level K

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

 Family Activities

 

PhD Science components, including PhD Science in Sync, PhD Science digital resources, and PhD Science Science Logbook

 

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Digital Materials & Resources

PhD Science in Sync Color

Introducing PhD Science in Sync®—a continuous learning program for flexible K–5 science learning.

PhD Science and PhD Science in Sync are complementary educational programs that seamlessly integrate to provide instruction in person, online, or in a hybrid, online-offline model.

Whether a student or teacher must miss a class, or if a teacher would like to assign supplementary or independent work, PhD Science in Sync offers all the tools needed to build powerful knowledge.

Learn more about PhD Science in Sync and access the platform's digital curriculum materials and resources.

Explore PhD Science in Sync

Access the PhD Science continuous learning tool using the login information below to experience the curriculum's digital resources for teachers, students, and families.

Teacher Experience

  • Email: phddemosummer25@gm.org

  • Password: GMSummer25

Student Experience

  • Email: phdstudent@gm.org

  • Password: GMSummer25

Passwords are case sensitive.

PhD in Sync

FOR TEACHERS

Learn Anywhere Plan
A plan providing teachers with a pacing guide for daily lessons for students learning in class or at home. 

PhD Science in Sync User Guide
A guide to help teachers transition from the classroom curriculum to PhD Science in Sync.

Getting Started with PhD Science in Sync
A video walkthrough of the resources included with PhD Science in Sync.

Virtual Coaching Session
Facilitator-led session to help teachers learn how to implement PhD Science in Sync with confidence and support students in a continuous learning model.

Science Journal Support
Sample student responses to Science Journal tasks help teachers gauge student understanding.

PhD Projected
Slides with lesson-specific content for online and in-class instruction and discussion with students.

Digital Teacher Edition
The complete Teacher Edition in digital form allows teachers to explore the full PhD Science lesson and resources to understand the context of the lesson, lesson set, and module.

FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES

Daily Videos 
PhD Science lessons and investigations adapted to a virtual environment in video form, including read alouds of the carefully curated core texts selected for each module (full videos available in English and Spanish). 

Science Journal
Fillable PDFs focused on the essential learning of the lesson that include activities and questions for students to complete during or after watching each video (available in English and Spanish). Teachers can print the PDFs for students without internet access.

Level Welcome Videos
Welcome video introducing students to the virtual PhD Science teachers.

Family Tip Sheets
Overview on PhD Science in Sync and how students will engage with science across different learning environment, with parent tips and resources to provide at home support.

student on computer with parent

 

Implementation Support

As your trusted colleague, Great Minds is here to support schools implementing PhD Science and is the exclusive provider of professional learning offerings developed by the curriculum's teacher-writers.

Learn more below about the PhD Science support resources available for empowering educators to providing high-quality science instruction.

Educators engaging in in-person professional learning

Professional Development

Available virtually and in-person, professional development sessions support teachers and leaders in ensuring a strong initial implementation as well as sustained success.

VIEW PD OPTIONS

Personalized Coaching

Through modeling and observation, Great Minds professional coaching helps teachers improve implementation and assists leaders in supporting, understanding, and evaluating daily classroom practices.

VIEW COACHING OPTIONS

On Demand

The Great Minds Science Video Library includes introductory content about the PhD Science curriculum and professional learning offerings.

ACCESS VIDEO LIBRARY

 

GET IN TOUCH

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KELSEY KACZ

Indiana Account Solutions Manager

As your Great Minds partner, I'm here to support you in providing the high-quality PhD Science materials and support to your teachers and students.
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