PeBLES2: Year in Review

The Place-Based Learning for Elementary Science at Scale (PeBLES2) project continues to develop a high-quality 4th-grade earth science unit using a phenomenon-driven approach that designed to meet the expectations of the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. Currently in its second and final year of enactment, the project involves 45 teachers and mentor teachers hailing from Maine and 13 additional locations, including Thailand. Our primary objective is empowering educators and cultivating inclusive, locally driven learning experiences centered on natural phenomena.

Project Highlights
In 2023, findings were shared with practitioners and researchers at numerous local, regional, and national science and teacher education conferences, along with papers submitted to national publication outlets. School districts have shown their spotlights on many of these teachers and some have been awarded teaching awards this year. Teachers have also joined in the dissemination efforts to bring attention to the following:

Empowering Educators: We aim to enable educators to seamlessly integrate science phenomena into their teaching while tailoring it to the local context.
Phenomena-Driven Approach: By connecting science phenomena to students’ familiar surroundings, interests, and identities, teachers can create engaging and inclusive learning experiences that enhance the educational journey.

Fostering Place: PeBLES2 cultivates equity in the classroom which encourages students to explore and appreciate their sense of place and its significance. Students observe and analyze their surroundings closely, creating a deeper connection to the world around them.

Classroom Culture: During a regional conference talk, one teacher shared that her students were still discovering their place and its values. She emphasized the “importance of fostering a classroom culture that promotes student-led discussions, respectful agreement and disagreement, and comfort with taking the stage. This culture extends beyond science to math and ELA, creating a holistic approach to student engagement.”

Future Outlook: Our collective efforts are building towards the creation of an earth science phenomenon-driven unit, complete with student and teacher-vetted local examples accessible to all educators by the academic year 2024-2025. This unit will serve as a valuable NGSS resource, offering essential support and providing a roadmap for educators to effectively implement NGSS-aligned science learning.

Acknowledgments
The PeBLES2 Project is funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-2009613. This support underscores our commitment to advancing science education at the elementary level. BSCS Science Learning partners with MMSA on this project and is fundamental to its success.