New Hampshire Project Learning Tree

Building Science Literacy

Funded by the Federal Math-Science Partnership

In the summer of 2007, the NH Department of Education sought proposals to develop science leaders in the state.  These leaders would be teachers and school administrators ready and able to organize science-based professional development in their districts and to advocate for alignment of their district science curriculum with the state’s new frameworks for science literacy.  NH Project Learning Tree, on behalf of the NH Education and Environment Team (NHEET), submitted a successful proposal from a very competitive pool of applicants. NHEET members also include Project WILD, Project WET, Project Home, the Globe Program and the USDA Forest Service.

A partner in developing and implementing the Building Science Literacy Program, NHEET developed a publication titled Scope and Sequence Models for Building Vertical Science Literacy as a model for how schools can vertically integrate their science curriculum across the grade spans. The goal of this program is to build the capacity of school districts to transform their teaching practices such that they achieve genuine science literacy for all students, as envisioned in the NH Frameworks for Science Literacy.

The program focuses on developing skills in questioning, conducting field studies, assessing student field work, and much more.  Teams of teachers and administrators from four school districts participated in the original 18-month program. The NHEET team is now working with the second cohort of teams from three additional school districts.

Scope and Sequence Models for Building Vertical Science Literacy