Understanding and Unpacking the Science NJSLS

This workshop provides educators with a comprehensive understanding of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science (NJSLS-S) across all grade levels, K–12. Participants explore the structure and content of the standards, emphasizing the three dimensions of science instruction: Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts. The session incorporates activities that encourage critical thinking, collaborative unpacking of standards, and discussion of real-world applications, including climate change and other NJ-specific mandates. Teachers are guided through how to apply these elements cohesively in curriculum design to support student engagement and success in science education.

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• Lack of familiarity with the revised NJSLS-Science standards and their three-dimensional framework.
  
  
• Difficulty translating performance expectations into meaningful instructional practices.
  
  
• Challenges in integrating NJ-specific mandates (e.g., climate change education, Amistad Law) into science instruction.
  
  
• Misunderstandings regarding the progression and depth of scientific practices across grade levels.
  

1. Deep Understanding of Standards Structure
   Participants will gain clarity on the three dimensions of the NJSLS-S—Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts—and how these are integrated across all science domains and grade levels. They will also learn how to decode and interpret performance expectations for effective lesson planning.
   
   
2. Application of Standards Through Instructional Design
   Educators will learn to unpack standards using a structured protocol to identify key terms, concepts, skills (verbs), and guiding questions. This supports lesson development that addresses all components of a standard, encourages inquiry, and aligns with student learning goals.
   
   
3. Integration of Real-World Issues and Mandates
   Teachers will be equipped with strategies to incorporate climate change performance expectations and interdisciplinary mandates (e.g., Amistad, Holocaust, and LGBT+ education laws) into science lessons in a meaningful and age-appropriate way, ensuring both compliance and relevance to students’ lives