Not Your Average Parachute

With the introduction of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), three-dimensional (3D) learning has taken center stage. Three-dimensional learning occurs when disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts work together to help students explain phenomena and solve problems. This requires a shift in science instruction from "learning about" to "figuring out" phenomena encountered in the natural world. NGSS-aligned curricula offer a means of supporting teachers as they incorporate 3D learning in their classrooms, but do their favorite, kit-based activities have to be abandoned entirely? Here, Lipsitz et al demonstrate how our team transformed one of these popular activities to reflect the vision of the NGSS. Their team at the Exploratorium's Institute for Inquiry has supported inquiry-based science teaching and elementary educators for over 40 years.