Making Sense of SCIENCE is a comprehensive series of nationally field-tested, rigorously researched, professional development courses focused on core K–8 earth, life, and physical science topics. This content equips teachers to better help students—especially diverse learners, including English learners and those with poor literacy skills—understand essential science content.
Making Sense of SCIENCE is supported by a Teacher Book, a Facilitator Guide, and accompanying CDs. Charts, which are central to teacher learning during the course, along with additional Teacher Books, can be purchased separately.
For more information or to place an order, click on any of the titles below, download the MSS order form, or call the WestEd Publications Center at 888.293.7833.
This was the most powerful professional development I’ve experienced in my 28 years. Every teacher should have this opportunity.
—Nancy Rankin
Classroom Teacher
Making Sense of SCIENCE: Energy for Teachers of Grades 6–8
By: Kirsten R. Daehler, Jennifer Folsom, Mayumi Shinohara
This professional development course equips science teachers with the essential tools to cultivate a scientific mindset in both themselves and their students, with a focus on science content, inquiry, and literacy.
Five Core Lessons:
Session 1: What Is Energy?
Session 2: Potential Energy
Session 3: Heat Energy
Session 4: Conservation of Energy
Session 5: Energy in Ecosystems
“At last we have an outstanding professional development resource that takes into account both students’ and teachers’ ideas and leads teachers through a collaborative process that makes a measurable difference in their teaching and student achievement.”
—Page Keeley, former President of the National Science Teachers Association and author of the Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series
Making Sense of SCIENCE: Energy for Teachers of Grades 6–8, Teacher Book
By: Kirsten R. Daehler, Jennifer Folsom, Mayumi Shinohara
This book provides valuable materials to deepen teachers’ understanding of complex concepts and common misconceptions, facilitates productive professional learning communities, and prepares those communities to implement standards-based science curricula through investigations of energy, potential energy, heat energy, conservation of energy, and energy in ecosystems.
Making Sense of SCIENCE: Energy for Teachers of Grades 6–8, Charts
By: Kirsten R. Daehler, Jennifer Folsom, Mayumi Shinohara
Wall charts serve as the focal point for teacher learning during Making Sense of SCIENCE courses. This bundle includes 36 premade charts, making it easy for teachers of grades 6–8 to successfully lead an energy course.
Making Sense of SCIENCE: Force & Motion for Teachers of Grades 6–8
By: Kirsten R. Daehler, Mayumi Shinohara, Jennifer Folsom
This professional development course equips science teachers with the essential tools to cultivate a scientific mindset in both themselves and their students, with a focus on science content, inquiry, and literacy.
Five Core Lessons:
Session 1: Motion
Session 2: Change in Motion
Session 3: Acceleration and Force
Session 4: Force
Session 5: Acceleration and Mass
“What more could you ask for in a professional development experience? I learned new ways to get kids talking about science in a rich way, ways to analyze student work, and ways to improve my lessons. I also came face to face with some of my own science misconceptions. My teaching practice is changed forever.”
—Vicki Baker, National Board Certified teacher, Union City, CA
Making Sense of SCIENCE: Force & Motion for Teachers of Grades 6–8, Teacher Book
By: Kirsten R. Daehler, Mayumi Shinohara, Jennifer Folsom
This book provides valuable materials to deepen teachers’ understanding of complex concepts and common misconceptions, facilitates productive professional learning communities, and prepares those communities to implement standards-based science curricula through investigations of motion; changes in motion; force; and the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Making Sense of SCIENCE: Force & Motion for Teachers of Grades 6–8, Charts
By: Kirsten R. Daehler, Mayumi Shinohara, Jennifer Folsom
Wall charts serve as the focal point for teacher learning during Making Sense of SCIENCE courses. This bundle includes 48 premade charts, making it easy for teachers of grades 6–8 to successfully lead a force and motion course.
How to Order
To order Making Sense of SCIENCE (MSS) materials, click the links above, download the MSS order form, or call the WestEd Publications Center at 888.293.7833. To get a quote or to order in bulk, email the WestEd Publications Center.
Affiliate Sales
For discount pricing, please call the Publications Center at 888.293.7833 or email [email protected].
For more information about Making Sense of SCIENCE courses and Facilitation Academies, visit us at WestEd.org/mss.