The Investigations Project represents the work of several partners committed to supporting productive uncertainty and construction of evidence-based explanations in elementary science. The project and website contain several helpful resources for elementary science instruction. Here is how the project is described on the web site:

Our Approach to Productive Uncertainty Consistent with big ideas in the Framework for K-12 Science Education and reports on elementary and secondary science instruction, we believe that instruction should be equitable, expansive, deep, and joyful. Learning should be anchored in rich phenomena, build from young people’s ideas and experiences, invite and support the practices of science and engineering, develop big understandings and explanations, and help youth build just and caring communities in and out of the classroom.

Instructional design is complex and multi-faceted. So is teaching. We don’t think there are singular theories, prescriptions, or recipes that will allow us to meet all our goals. But we believe that there are stances, supports, and design principles that can help.

Some of my favorite resources at the Investigation Project include:

• Tools for teachers such as:
  • Moment of Uncertainty tool
  • Planning Investigations conversation tool
  • Claims and Evidence conversation tool
• Classroom Cases (these might be my favorite)
  • Currently there is one 5th grade case plus 3 2nd grade cases
  • I find that these types of classroom cases make wonderful objects of study in professional development with elementary teachers, administrators, and pre service teachers.
• Classroom Investigations (mini-units)
  • Currently there is a 2nd grade mini-unit on Seed Dispersal and a 5th grade mini-unit on Decomposition
    • These are nicely designed FREE units and as I mention above- these make nice objects of study for PD and/or science methods courses