Standards-Based Development
Development of each curriculum Unit begins by identifying the specific relevant National Standards to be
addressed. Each Unit has been designed to cover a specific portion of the National Standards. This phase
of development also includes an analysis of curriculum requirements across multiple states. Our intent
is to deliver a product that will provide coverage of the content deemed essential on the widest practical
scope and that will be easily adaptable to the needs of teachers across the country.
Once the appropriate Standards have been identified, the development team works to define specific learning goals built from those Standards, and takes into account conceptions and misunderstandings common among middle-school students. An orienting design challenge or driving question for investigation is chosen that motivates achieving those learning goals, and the team then sequences activities and the presentation of specific concepts, so that students can construct an accurate understanding of the subject matter.