Instructional materials play a key role in the changes that move toward inquiry-centered, standards-based instruction. Recognizing this reality, the Merck Institute for Science Education enabled its partner districts to participate in one of the Science Education Strategic Planning Institutes conducted by the National Science Resources Center. These six-day institutes are designed to assist school districts in implementing a systemic approach to science education reform. Each attending team develops a five-year strategic plan for reforming science education in their system. The institutes focus on five elements of all effective science education programs. These are:

• Inquiry-centered sequential science curriculum units that have gone through a research and review process.
• Professional development programs to prepare teachers to guide students in inquiry-centered science.
• Cost-effective support systems for supplying science materials and apparatus to classrooms.
• Assessment methods that are consistent with the goals of an inquiry-centered K-8 science program.
• Strategies for building administrative and community support.

Following their development of strategic plans for science education, partner districts worked with the Merck Institute for Science Education to select instructional materials that meet the first of these five elements. Partner districts are currently using the kits and modules shown in this chart. At some grade levels district-developed resources are used for selected units of study.

Science Modules used in Partnership Districts: Grades K-8

New Jersey:

Grade	Linden	Elizabeth	Rahway	Readington
K	Senses (Insights) Balls & Ramps (Insights) Animals 2x2 (FOSS) Paper (FOSS)	[Planned for 2006] Trees (FOSS) Wood and Paper (FOSS) Fabric (FOSS)	Animals 2x2 (FOSS) Paper (FOSS) Balls and Ramps (Insights) Senses (Insights)	Senses (Insights) Paper (FOSS) Animals 2x2 (FOSS)
1	New Plants (FOSS) Balance & Motion (FOSS) Insects (FOSS) Weather (STC)	[Planned for 2006] Solids & Liquids (FOSS) Animals 2x2 (FOSS) New Plants (FOSS) Pebbles, Sand & Salt (FOSS)	Solids & Liquids (FOSS) Air & Weather (FOSS) New Plants (FOSS) Balance & Motion (FOSS)	Weather (STC) Balls & Ramps (Insights) From Seed to Plant (DSM)
2	Solids & Liquids (FOSS) The Life Cycle of Butterflies (STC) Balancing and Weighing (STC) Soils (STC)	[Planned for 2005] Balance & Motion (FOSS) Air & Weather (FOSS) Insects (FOSS)	Pebbles, Sand & Silt (FOSS) Insects (FOSS) Balancing and Weighing (STC) Investigating Objects in the Sky (BSCS)	Soils (STC) The Life Cycle of Butterflies (STC) Solids & Liquids (FOSS)
3	Structures of Life (FOSS) Magnetism & Electricity (FOSS) Earth Materials (FOSS) Investigating Objects in the Sky (BSCS)	[Planned for 2005] Physics of Sound (FOSS) Water (FOSS) Structures of Life (FOSS) Measurement (FOSS) ;	Magnetism & Electricity (FOSS) Human Body (FOSS) Water (FOSS)	Structures of Life (FOSS) Physics of Sound (FOSS) Earth Materials (FOSS) Balance and Motion (STC)
4	Human Body (FOSS) Physics of Sound (FOSS) Land and Water (STC) Investigating Ecosystems (BSCS)	Human Body (FOSS) Magnetism & Electricity (FOSS) Earth Materials (FOSS) Ideas & Inventions (FOSS)	Earth Materials (FOSS) Structures of Life (FOSS) Physics of Sound (FOSS) Investigating Ecosystems (BSCS)	Electric Circuits (STC) Land & Water (STC) Levers and Pulleys (FOSS) Human Body (FOSS) Water (FOSS)
5	Environments (FOSS) Mixtures and Solutions (FOSS) Solar Energy (FOSS) Motion and Design (STC)	Mixtures and Solutions (FOSS) Environments (FOSS) Landforms (FOSS) Variables (FOSS)	Mixtures and Solutions (FOSS) Environments (FOSS) Motion and Design (STC)	Magnets & Motors (STC) Mixtures & Solutions (FOSS) Environments (FOSS) Food and Nutrition (FOSS) Oceans (DSM)
6	Diversity of Life (FOSS) Weather and Water (FOSS) Mirrors / Color Analyzers / Refraction (Boston Science Museum / GEMS / local)	Diversity of Life (FOSS) Weather and Water (FOSS) Levers & Pulleys (FOSS) Models & Designs (FOSS)	Diversity of Life (FOSS) Weather and Water (FOSS) Mirrors / Color Analyzers / Refraction (Boston Science Museum / GEMS / local)	Experiments w/ Plants (STC) Planetary Science (FOSS)
7	Populations and Ecosystems (FOSS) Planetary Science (FOSS) Energy, Machines, and Motion (STC)	Populations and Ecosystems (FOSS) Planetary Science (FOSS) Energy, Machines, and Motion (STC)	Populations and Ecosystems (FOSS) Planetary Science (FOSS) Energy, Machines, and Motion (STC)
8	Environmental Issues (local) Earth History (FOSS) Properties of Matter (STC)	Earth History (FOSS) Properties of Matter (STC) Human Brain & Senses (FOSS)	Environmental Issues (local) Earth History (FOSS) Properties of Matter (STC)

Pennsylvania:

Grade	North Penn
K	Senses (Insights) Living Things (Insights) Paper (FOSS)
1	Weather (STC) The Life Cycle of Butterflies (STC) Solids & Liquids (STC)
2	Organisms (STC) Balancing & Weighing (STC) Soils (STC) Changes (STC)
3	Electric Circuits (STC) Chemical Tests (STC) Animal Studies (STC) Water (FOSS)
4	Plant Growth & Development (STC) Rocks & Minerals (STC) Land & Water (STC) Designing Structures (BSCS)
5	Microworlds (STC) Ecosystems (STC) Motion and Design (STC) Investigating Weather Systems (BSCS)
6	Magnets & Motors (STC) Measuring Time (STC) Solar Energy (FOSS) Light and Color (Project Aries)
7
8

BSCS is the developer of BSCS Science T.R.A.C.S., a modular program for grades K-5. Students are engaged in inquiry-oriented experiences guided by the National Science Education Standards and BSCS's 5-E instructional model (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate).

DSM refers to Delta Science Modules that are a series of life, earth and physical science activity kits. Districts choose the modules that meet their objectives in a K-8 hands-on science program. From Seed to Plant is a module that allows a teacher and students to explore how plants grow. Fourteen hands-on investigations introduce students to ten different types of flowering plants. Oceans teaches students about the ocean, the enormous body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of Earth's surface.

FOSS (Full Option Science System) is the science program developed for elementary and middle schools at the Lawrence Hall of Science with support from the National Science Foundation. FOSS program materials are designed to meet the challenge of providing meaningful science education for all students in diverse American classrooms and to prepare them for life in the 21st century. FOSS incorporates time-honored methodologies such as hands-on inquiry and interdisciplinary projects with contemporary methodologies such as multisensory observation and collaborative learning groups.

GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) is a growing resource for the advancement of inquiry-based science and mathematics education. Developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, GEMS has published over 70 teacher's guides and handbooks, offers specialized workshops, and maintains a national network of teacher-training sites and centers.

Insights is a hands-on inquiry science program developed by the science education specialists at Education Development Center, Inc. with initial funding from the National Science Foundation. The Insights module topics emerge from a review both of children's experiences and interests and of the basic science phenomena and concepts appropriate for each age level and rich in potential for hands-on exploration.

STC (Science and Technology for Children™) and STC/MS (Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School) are hands-on science programs developed by the National Science Resources Center. The 24 units of the STC program are designed to provide students in grades one to six with stimulating experiences in the life, earth, and physical sciences and technology while simultaneously developing their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. STC/MS is an 8-module, inquiry-centered, middle school science curriculum developed to provide opportunities for students to experience scientific phenomena firsthand. Comprehensive, research-based curricula, STC and STC/MS are aligned with the National Science Education Standards and provide children with the opportunity to learn age-appropriate concepts and skills and to acquire scientific attitudes and habits of mind.