As a high school chemistry teacher, you strive to provide your students with a comprehensive and engaging education. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have been widely adopted across the United States. It aims to improve science education by promoting a more hands-on, inquiry-based approach. I’ve found that the standards certainly focus less on what is taught and instead focuses on how content is taught. While NGSS has its merits, it may not be the best framework for writing a robust chemistry curriculum. Here’s my reasoning as an 8 year chemistry teacher.
Lack of Specificity
The NGSS standards are designed to be flexible and adaptable across different states and school districts. While this flexibility can be advantageous, it can also lead to a lack of specificity in the curriculum. The problem here is that all of the physical science standards are lumped together. It’s up to the chemistry teacher to decide what is taught now in chem, and what is saved for physics.
Chemistry teachers (especially new chemistry teachers) may find it challenging to identify clear, detailed guidelines for what to teach! Without great content knowledge and lots of confidence, it’s difficult to ensure that all necessary content is thoroughly covered (and in the right order).
For help, grab a free copy of my chemistry curriculum outline. It will help with what order to put your units and big ideas you should cover within each unit.
Broad Focus vs. Depth of Knowledge
NGSS aims to cover a wide range of scientific disciplines and concepts all under the blanket of “physical science.” This can be beneficial for a general science education IF science was taught holistically. However, this broad focus can sometimes come at the expense of depth in specific and specialized subjects like chemistry or physics. Chemistry is a complex field. It requires a deep understanding of intricate concepts that lace together very delicately. NGSS’s broad approach can lead to a surface level learning of important chemistry topics, leaving students without the solid foundation they need.
Take for example, this Next Gen Standard:
PS2.B: Types of Interactions
Attraction and repulsion between electric charges at the atomic scale explain the structure, properties, and transformations of matter, as well as the contact forces between material objects. (secondary to HS-PS1-1),(secondary to HS-PS1-3),(HS-PS2-6)
How does this translate? Attraction between protons and electrons and repulsion between electrons or protons explains properties of matter. (What are they specifically…?) And contact forces (like intermolecular forces, or static electricity?)
This is such a WEAK way to write this standard. How on EARTH does this even begin to cover the intricacies of properties of matter, intermolecular forces and their strength?! It simply can’t. This is one of MANY examples as to why NGSS on its own writes a poor chemistry curriculum.
Inquiry-Based Learning Challenges
NGSS emphasizes inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to learn through exploration and experimentation. The methods of NGSS really want the teacher to teach by storytelling. While this approach can foster critical thinking and engagement, it can also be challenging to implement in a chemistry classroom.
In terms of the labs, chemistry experiments often require controlled environments, and safety considerations that can be difficult to manage without students having prior knowledge. I don’t LOVE inquiry labs for chemistry for this reason. Read more about my Bunsen Burner training lab here. Additionally, inquiry-based learning can sometimes lead to confusion if students don’t have a solid foundation in the basics before they start exploring more complex concepts. And that’s more of a headache for both you and your students.
There are a few labs I do enjoy using in an inquiry context. They are Factors that Affect Solubility and Collision Theory Glow Sticks.
Assessment Difficulties
Another reason I don’t love an NGSS chemistry curriculum? Assessing student understanding under the NGSS framework can be complex. Traditional chemistry assessments often rely on problem-solving and calculations to demonstrate comprehension. NGSS’s emphasis on performance-based assessments can make it difficult to measure students’ grasp of quantitative chemistry concepts accurately. Teachers might struggle to balance hands-on activities with the need to assess foundational knowledge effectively. This mismatch of in class learning and classic assessment causes problems for students too. It’s hard to study for a test when you’ve been graded on labs and what you can do with a lab partner and other resources laid out in front of you! If you want my help with writing test questions, check out my PD mini course.
Misalignment with Advanced Chemistry Courses
For students who plan to pursue chemistry in college, the NGSS standards may not provide the rigorous preparation they need. Especially if the NGSS chemistry curriculum is written by a lesser experienced chemistry teacher. College-level chemistry courses demand a strong understanding of fundamental principles and the ability to apply them to solve complex problems. A chemistry curriculum heavily based on NGSS will not adequately prepare students for these demands, potentially putting them at a disadvantage. Or at least in a place where they need to take on a huge amount of learning on their own outside of class time to feel caught up.
Introducing My Comprehensive Chemistry Curriculum Course
While NGSS offers a framework for science education, it’s clear that chemistry teachers need a more direct approach to develop an effective curriculum. Even if you have to use NGSS Standards, I can help you to use them to write a thorough, well written chemistry course. That’s where my online course comes in. Designed specifically for high school chemistry teachers, Write Your Chemistry Curriculum provides the tools and resources you need to create a robust, detailed, and engaging chemistry curriculum.
Why Choose Write Your Chemistry Curriculum?
In-Depth Content: The course delves deeply into essential chemistry topics, ensuring your students gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
Specific Guidelines: We offer clear, specific guidelines for all key chemistry concepts, removing the guesswork from curriculum planning.
Practical Strategies: Learn practical strategies for incorporating inquiry-based learning and hands-on experiments in a manageable and effective way.
Assessment Tools: Gain access to a variety of assessment tools and techniques that accurately measure student understanding and readiness for advanced courses.
Expert Support: Benefit from expert support and collaboration with an 8-year chemistry teacher to refine and enhance your curriculum continuously.
By enrolling in Write Your Chemistry Curriculum, you’ll be equipped to design a chemistry curriculum that not only meets but exceeds educational standards, preparing your students for success in their academic and professional futures.
Let’s move beyond the limitations of NGSS and create a chemistry program that truly resonates with and benefits our students.
Ready to take your chemistry curriculum to the next level? Enroll in this online course today and start transforming your classroom tomorrow.
