Jessica Penchos, FOSS Middle School Coordinator, Lawrence Hall of Science September 20, 2016 | FOSS Program
Top image—Three Dimensions: Each investigation address es the three dimensions of NG SS. The Science and Engineering Practices (SEP), Discipline Core Ideas (DCI), and Cross Cutting Concepts (CCC) are color coded throughout each Investigation.
The FOSS Middle School team is ready to announce that the Next Generation Edition for FOSS grades 6–8 is available! If you are currently a FOSS Middle School Second Edition user, you will receive automatic access to a digital upgrade from Second Edition to FOSS Next Generation Middle School. Here’s how it works. FOSS Middle School Next Generation Features The FOSS Next Generation Middle School Investigations Guides include point-of-use references to the instruction relating to the three dimensions of the NGSS Performance Expectations.
FOSS Next Generation Middle School includes new format features, too. The Quick Start Guide simplifies the process of getting ready for the investigation. Forthcoming Teacher Prep Videos for each course will describe and elaborate the essential materials and conceptual challenges in each investigation. And downloadable, modifiable teaching slides are provided for each part of each investigation, giving you a jump-start in preparing for the lesson.
Three Dimensions: The three dimensions are referenced throughout the Investigations Guide. Perfo rmance ass ess ments in each investigation allow you to monitor your students’ progress along each dimension.
Do you use FOSS Middle School Second Edition? Then you get an automatic digital upgrade to FOSS Next Generation Middle School!
(Click to enlarge.)
FOSS Next Generation Middle School also does more to support literacy in the science classroom. Each in-class reading guide provides connections to Common Core ELA standards, including specific strategies to support your instruction.
In-class reading guide: Investigations Guides include Reading Guides for FOSS Science Resources books. Each reading guide includes specific literacy strategies to scaffold students’ use of the text.
The conceptual flow helps you understand how concepts are develop ed throughout the investigation. (Click to enlarge.)
All of this comes with the features you already expect from FOSS: carefully designed instructional sequences featuring hands-on experiences, opportunities for sensemaking in student notebooks, vocabulary development, and rich online resources including streaming video and simulations. And, the middle school courses are based on carefully developed learning progressions that represent the FOSS K–8 program.
Each investigation in FOSS Next Generation Middle School features a section called “Teaching and Learning about…” that provides developmentally appropriate context for the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts that students will be exposed to and highlights why the investigation topic is important and relevant to their daily lives.
The investigation’s conceptual flow—the path that students follow to construct more complex understanding—is outlined with a visual diagram.
FOSS Next Generation Middle School includes 12 courses, six of which are brand new half-length courses. Each new course takes 5–6 weeks of instruction. Two new half-length courses require the time of a typical FOSS middle school course.
The remaining six FOSS Next Generation Middle School courses are updates to the existing Second Edition Courses. A note to our Second Edition users: there are no changes to course equipment, but the instructional procedures are slightly modified to better support three-dimensional instruction. You will receive free, automatic online access to the new Investigations Guide and Science Resources book when updated courses are released. You may choose to purchase updated hardcopy print materials at a discounted cost, or you may continue to use the Second Edition Science Resources books. For our First Edition users, you can purchase conversion kits to smoothly transition to the new program.
Second Edition* titles are all available now:
*Note: All Second Edition titles will also be available in Next Generation Edition.
Next Generation titles available for the 2016–17 school year:
All remaining FOSS Next Generation Middle School titles will be available for the 2017–18 school year. If you would like to preview or pilot a forthcoming course, contact your Delta Education eSales Manager. We can’t wait for you to experience the newest edition of FOSS Middle School!
*Half-length course