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Revere expands OpenSED science curriculum across middle schools
Summary
The district’s STEM director told the committee that Revere is in its third year implementing OpenSED, an open-source, storyline-driven middle-school science curriculum; the rollout was supported by a $175,000 grant for equipment and professional development.
Revere’s STEM director presented Feb. 10 on OpenSED, an open-source, storyline-based set of middle-school science instructional materials the district is fully implementing this year.
Dr. Costa said OpenSED uses anchoring phenomena that drive student questions, supporting three-dimensional science learning (content, crosscutting concepts, and science/engineering practices), and described assessments that ask students to apply and revise models rather than answer multiple-choice items. "OpenSED is an open-source set of instructional materials ... it uses what's called a storyline approach to support students in unpacking a phenomenon," Dr. Costa said.
District implementation is now in its third year; this is the first year of full implementation for each grade, and the district received a $175,000 grant from the 18 Foundation to purchase durable equipment, fund consumable materials and provide professional development across the three middle schools. Revere Public Schools also funded teacher release time and consumables.
Committee members asked about durable versus consumable items and whether OpenSED overlaps with Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Dr. Costa explained durable equipment includes items such as microscopes and consumables include single-use supplies like baking soda or Post-it notes; he said OpenSED was developed with a UDL mindset and that some elementary units are being designed, though the current grant supports middle schools only.
The district said it will continue to use learning walks, student work and surveys as implementation data and will support new teachers through ongoing professional development.
