CA Review Portal | Issues

Issues and Science

SEPUP is currently the only program to center each unit around a socio-science issue, or problem. Each unit is framed by this issue to provide a bigger context for the connected phenomena and three dimensions. This issue creates a storyline for the unit so that the lessons feel coherent and the purpose feels relevant and meaningful.

Unit issue, phenomena, and activities listed for Chemical Reactions, developed by SEPUP for the NGSS — *Chemical Reactions*, pictured here, is one of 17 units in *Issues and Science*.

Unit at a glance

Take ten minutes to watch an overview of Chemistry of Materials, from Issues and Science for California, developed by SEPUP. The first five minutes covers the unit's anchoring phenomenon, the unit issue, and a brief visit to each lesson, while the second half takes a deep dive into one activity. This is a great way to quickly see how SEPUP's new NGSS units are structured.

Making Sense of Phenomena and Designing Solutions to Problems

A socio-science issue is at the heart of every SEPUP unit. It anchors student learning and provides context for relevant and connected phenomena within the unit.
SEPUP's Phenomena, Driving Questions, and Storyline documents outline the issue, relevant phenomena, driving and guiding questions, and storyline development.
Students use a variety of activity types to address the unit issue and phenomena. All activities are inquiry-based, with varying levels of support and guidance. Students design solutions within the context of the unit's overarching socio-science issue.
Summarized information about opportunities to design solutions can be found in applicable Unit Overviews.

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Using issues as a context for relevant phenomena

Issues and Science

Unit at a glance

Making Sense of Phenomena and Designing Solutions to Problems