Title: Unveiling the Impact of NGSS-Designed Amplify Science K–5 Curriculum on Early-Grade Education

Introduction:
In an important recent study led by WestEd, the effectiveness of the NGSS-designed Amplify Science K–5 curriculum has been under the spotlight. The research, conducted through a randomized controlled trial in 1st-grade classrooms across three California school districts during the 2021/22 academic year, looks into the potential of well-designed science instructional materials to enhance students’ academic achievements in the realm of early-grade science education.

Study Focus:
The study, one of the first of its kind for NGSS in K–3 classrooms, evaluates the impact of integrated science and literacy strategies on student learning outcomes, vocabulary development, and reading growth. The researchers were particularly focused on understanding how well this curriculum supports young students’ three-dimensional learning, literacy development in reading and the use of science-related language, and the implementation by teachers.

Key Findings:
The results of this comprehensive study reveal a promising outlook for the NGSS-designed Amplify Science K–5 curriculum (and other similar well-designed matters). Key findings include:

1. Enhanced Three-Dimensional Learning: Students in intervention classrooms exhibited a significant improvement in NGSS-focused three-dimensional learning compared to their counterparts in comparison classrooms.
2. Science Vocabulary Mastery: The intervention classrooms also outperformed in terms of science vocabulary knowledge and usage, showcasing the curriculum’s efficacy in enriching students’ understanding of scientific language.
3. Reading Skills Development: Interestingly, while students in intervention classrooms excelled in science-related aspects, their performance on standardized reading assessments was similar to students in comparison classrooms. This suggests a balanced approach in the curriculum’s impact on both science and literacy skills.

Conclusion:
This study marks a significant step forward in understanding the potential of the NGSS-designed K-5 science materials. The findings underscore the curriculum’s ability to not only improve science proficiency and vocabulary but also to concurrently nurture essential reading skills. This is very important, because one of the reasons why K-5 science instruction tends to be marginalized is because leaders prioritize reading instructional time. This study suggests that taking some time to teacher K-5 science with well-designed NGSS materials does not impact reading learning in any negative way. As educators continue to explore innovative approaches to early-grade education, this research could pave the way for a more integrated and effective science curriculum.

This study could be an important piece of evidence in continuing efforts to advocate for engaging and relevant K-5 science instruction that supports and elevates ELA and math learning.

Click HERE to access the WestEd report.