How do Indonesian puppeteers use light to bring their stories to life? Did light play a role in the disappearance of Amelia Earhart? Join us as we investigate these authentic phenomena and the concept of light to uncover how hands-on experiences in PhD Science enable students to build knowledge across grade levels. 

When students have a voice in their learning, they are more engaged, which leads to deeper understanding. When educators put their trust in students to take an active role in driving the learning, with appropriate teacher support, students will recognize the value and relevance of their learning. So how do educators ensure student-led learning remains content-rich and relevant?

We know that new knowledge sticks best to existing knowledge; that is why PhD Science uses authentic phenomena to connect scientific knowledge to everyday life. Through hands-on learning, observing, reading, writing, investigating, and analyzing, students build enduring knowledge, rather than just memorizing facts they may quickly forget.

Experience the thrill of PhD Science as students engage in hands-on activities and have peer-to-peer discussions about their discoveries. Get a peek directly into the classroom, and understand the obstacles, joys, and challenges of the shift to student-driven instruction. 

At Great Minds®, we believe all students should have access to coherent, knowledge-building instructional materials as soon as they begin elementary school. That’s why we’re offering Levels K–2 of PhD Science as a free PDF open educational resource (OER). All four modules are now available.