Board approves Twig science curriculum after pilot; teachers report Spanish resources and hands-on fit

The Coatesville Area School District board approved a new elementary science program at its April 22 meeting after teachers and curriculum staff presented results from a pilot of two programs.

District curriculum coordinator Lynn Mancinelli and pilot teachers described two programs tested: one from the Smithsonian and another called Twig. Pilot teachers reported the Smithsonian materials offered strong hands-on lessons but required substantial preparation time. Teachers said Twig had easier-to-prepare lesson materials, useful digital resources and integrated supports for English-language learners, including Spanish-language materials for student workbooks and texts.

District staff and pilot teachers described Twig as a phenomena-based curriculum that asks students to investigate real-world scientific phenomena and engage in engineering and inquiry practices. Speakers said Twig is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, offers digital videos and workbooks and includes supports that could help Spanish-speaking students access lessons without heavy ad hoc translation.

Why it matters: adopting a new elementary science curriculum is a district-level instructional decision that affects classroom planning, teacher training and instructional materials budgets. Pilot teachers and staff argued Twig would help the largest number of district students and urged the district to consider translation and parity of resources to meet English learners’ needs.

Board members thanked the pilot teachers for their work; the board approved the curriculum as presented under the consent or motion items at the meeting. District staff said rollout and professional learning will follow the board action.

Direct quotes used in this story are attributed to teachers and staff who participated in the pilot.