About This Report
- EdReports reviews are one tool to support curriculum decisions. We do not make recommendations, and our reports are not prescriptive.
- Use this report as part of a comprehensive, teacher-led adoption process that prioritizes local needs and integrates multi-year implementation planning throughout.
- EdReports evaluates materials based on the quality of their design: how well they structure evidence-based teaching and learning to support college and career-readiness. We do not assess their effectiveness in practice.
- Check the top of the page to confirm the review tool version used. Our current tools are version 2.0. Reports based on earlier tools (versions 1.0 or 1.5) offer valuable insights but may not fully align with current instructional priorities.
Report Overview
Summary of Alignment & Usability: Discovery Education Science | Science
Science 6-8
The instructional materials reviewed for Grades 6-8 partially meet expectations for Alignment to NGSS, Gateways 1 and 2. Gateway 1: Designed for NGSS; Criterion 1: Three-Dimensional Learning partially meets expectations: the materials are designed to provide three-dimensional learning opportunities, but not all unit objectives are addressed by the summative assessments. Criterion 2: Phenomena and Problems Drive Learning meets expectations. The materials have some missed opportunities to elicit prior knowledge and experiences and to drive learning in more lessons via phenomena and problems; however, anchor phenomena are embedded to drive student sensemaking across multiple lessons. Gateway 2: Coherence & Scope; Criterion 1: Coherence and Full Scope of the Three Dimensions, the materials partially meet expectations. They present a coherent structure and sequence of units, but an increased sophistication of tasks and explicit connections of dimensions from unit to unit are missed opportunities. In terms of the scope, all grade-band DCIs, NOS, and ENG are incorporated with few DCI elements missing. Although the majority of elements from the CCCs and SEPs are addressed, there are missed opportunities for the materials to incorporate elements from seven SEPs and two CCCs.
6th to 8th
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.