Integrating Best Practices for Science Instruction

Design inquiry-based science lessons that build reasoning, data literacy, and student engagement and ownership.

This workshop supports educators in designing science lessons that move beyond rote learning to authentic inquiry and sensemaking. It highlights how students can think and work like scientists through science notebooks, investigative practices, and problem-based learning. Teachers learn how to integrate data literacy and ELA skills into science instruction, ensuring students not only gain content knowledge but also practice communication, reasoning, and critical thinking. The session emphasizes hands-on investigations, cross-curricular strategies, and fostering student ownership of their learning.

Core Needs Addressed

  • Science instruction that focuses mainly on facts and procedures rather than inquiry and conceptual understanding.

  • Limited opportunities for students to engage in authentic investigations and problem-solving.

  • Weak integration of literacy, data analysis, and communication skills into science learning, leaving students unprepared for deeper sensemaking.

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Key Learnings

  1. Using Science Notebooks and Sensemaking Approaches: Participants will learn how to implement science notebooks to make thinking visible, promote student questioning, and use sensemaking strategies (phenomena, student ideas, science ideas, and practices) to deepen understanding.

  2. Embedding Data Literacy and Cross-Disciplinary Skills: Educators will gain strategies for teaching students how to collect, visualize, and interpret data, while reinforcing connections with ELA skills such as evidence-based writing, text analysis, and vocabulary development.

  3. Designing Student-Centered Investigations: Teachers will practice planning lessons where students act as scientists—designing and conducting investigations, applying science and engineering practices, and using claim-evidence-reasoning to communicate findings

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Integrating Best Practices for Science Instruction

Design inquiry-based science lessons that build reasoning, data literacy, and student engagement and ownership.

Led by our team of Instructional Strategists

Learning Path

Last Updated

Apr 15, 2026 2:48 PM

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Designed for School Leaders asking...

How can we redesign science instruction to produce measurable gains in inquiry skills, data literacy, and conceptual understanding?

What instructional shifts will ensure students consistently engage in authentic sensemaking and demonstrate improved performance on science assessments?

How do we build teacher capacity to integrate cross-curricular literacy and investigative practices that strengthen scientific reasoning and student ownership?

This workshop helped me better understand the challenges families face and gave me practical strategies to strengthen communication and engagement. I now feel more confident in building supportive partnerships with families to improve student success.

Jen Soloman

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Delivering Powerful Learning Experiences

As a result of this work

As a result of this work, educators will design science instruction that promotes authentic inquiry and sensemaking, ensuring students engage in scientific thinking, problem-solving, and meaningful application of content. Teachers will leave with practical strategies, science notebook structures, investigative lesson approaches, and cross-curricular tools that integrate data literacy and ELA skills while fostering student ownership of learning.

Workshop Description

This workshop supports educators in designing science lessons that move beyond rote learning to authentic inquiry and sensemaking. It highlights how students can think and work like scientists through science notebooks, investigative practices, and problem-based learning. Teachers learn how to integrate data literacy and ELA skills into science instruction, ensuring students not only gain content knowledge but also practice communication, reasoning, and critical thinking. The session emphasizes hands-on investigations, cross-curricular strategies, and fostering student ownership of their learning.

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Designed for Today's Schools

Customized
Expert-led
In-person, virtual, or asynchronous
Standards Aligned
Research-Based
Nationwide

Educators will confidently

Educators will confidently design and implement inquiry-based science lessons that promote sensemaking through investigations, science notebooks, and problem-based learning while integrating data literacy and ELA skills. This work supports district priorities by strengthening science instruction, aligning to standards-based practices, and ensuring students engage in authentic scientific thinking and communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes your workshops different from traditional professional development or other providers?

Our approach goes beyond one-size-fits-all professional development. We hold ourselves to rigorous standards of quality and delivery in every client interaction, ensuring that each experience is meaningful, relevant, and impactful. We don’t just deliver workshops—we build long-term partnerships with schools and districts, working alongside educators to improve instructional practices and student outcomes over time.

We actively listen to educators’ unique contexts and experiences, using that insight to collaboratively design tailored solutions rather than pre-packaged sessions. Our team asks thoughtful questions, challenges assumptions, and continuously learns so we can help redefine what’s possible in teaching and learning.

Above all, we communicate authentically, foster positive and productive relationships, and bring a deep passion and commitment to education. The result is professional learning that feels purposeful, personalized, and truly transformative.

Who are your workshops designed for?

Our workshops are designed for educators and school leaders, including teachers, instructional coaches, school administrators, and district teams. Each session is tailored to the specific audience to ensure content is relevant, practical, and immediately applicable.

What does a typical workshop look like?

Our workshops are interactive, engaging, and grounded in real classroom practice. Each experience is intentionally designed using the principles of andragogy, sound instructional design, and the core constructs of effective professional development to ensure relevance, coherence, and impact. Participants engage in discussion, reflection, planning, and application activities — not just passive listening. Educators leave with concrete strategies and next steps they can implement right away.

How long are your workshops?

We offer flexible formats, including half-day, full-day, and multi-session series. We can also design ongoing professional learning experiences to support sustained implementation over time.

What delivery methods are available for your workshops?

We offer flexible delivery options to meet the needs of schools and districts, including in-person sessions, live virtual workshops, and asynchronous learning through our applied learning platform. Regardless of format, all experiences are designed to be interactive, engaging, and collaborative, with structures that promote meaningful participation and application of learning.

What kind of follow-up support is available?

We believe professional learning is most effective when it’s sustained. In addition to workshops, we offer instructional coaching, implementation planning, and follow-up sessions to help teams translate learning into practice and drive meaningful results.

Who facilitates the workshops?

Inspired Instruction’s workshops are facilitated by a nationwide team of expert Instructional Strategists.  Our facilitators bring diverse experience as classroom educators, instructional coaches, principals, directors, and superintendents, spanning all content areas. We thoughtfully match your specific needs with a facilitator whose expertise aligns to ensure the learning experience is relevant, practical, and impactful for your staff.

How much does it cost to bring a workshop to my school or district?

We offer a range of pricing options designed to meet the needs of different schools and districts. Our Client Directors work closely with you to understand your goals, scope, and budget, and will partner with you to design a high-quality professional learning experience that fits within your financial framework.

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