Educator Resources
Free Resources for Teachers
ACASE provides a number of useful tools for K-12 science teachers to enhance their instruction and assessment of NGSS and NYSSLS. There are FREE resources for classroom use, reference, professional development, and for developing instructional and assessment activities.
ACASE Resources for NGSS & NYSSLS
ACASE Assessments for NGSS
You can use our FREE NGSS and NYSSLS assessments in your classroom and learn exactly what your students’ capabilities are! Our engaging activities are designed to bring clarity and intentionality to assessment and instruction, and to support the attainment of higher order thinking capabilities.
NGSS Glossary
A vocabulary list of terms that are used frequently throughout NGSS, but lack clear definitions in the Standards and Framework. Participants in the 2024 Institute in Practical Educational Science (IPES) developed this list of terms and definitions systematically and scientifically. The list is a work in progress, and we welcome your input.
Assessment Design Templates
A Google Doc full of user-friendly templates for just about any type of assessment item you can imagine. You can use the templates to make beautiful, student-friendly assessments for any grade level. No need for special software or expertise. All of the templates are designed for simple use in Google Docs, which can also be exported to Word. Be sure to keep the outline tab on the left open for easy navigation.
PLD Unpacking Template
A framework for making sense of Performance Level Descriptions (PLDs) used by states to design NGSS-aligned assessments. Instructions are provided for unpacking PLDs into Practical Learning Goals. Once Practical Learning Goals are identified, they can be used in an Evaluation Grid to align instruction or assessments.
Evaluation Grid Template
A template that teachers can use to evaluate how well an instructional or assessment activity aligns to the Practical Learning Goals identified for a particular NGSS or NYSSLS Performance Expectation. This can be used individually or collaboratively to identify ways to improve the activity to more fully align with the standard.
Micro-Reliability Study Template
A framework with instructions for carrying out a micro-reliability study. Micro-reliability studies are fundamental tools for building community among colleagues while improving the validity and reliability of assessments.
Image Sourcing Guidelines
A comprehensive how-to guide for finding royalty-free and fair-use images, understanding image copyrights, and properly citing image sources. This is especially useful in designing assessments that allow your students to support their claims with multiple, reliable, and valid sources.
NGSS Links
Framework For K-12 Science Education
- NYSSLS Implementation Timeline
- STANYS NYSSLS Page
- NYS Performance Level Descriptions for Elementary School
- NYS Performance Level Descriptions for Middle School
- NYS Performance Level Descriptions for Life Science
- NYS Performance Level Descriptions for Earth and Space Sciences
- NYSSLS Wiki
- NYSSLS Placemats
ACASE 