The Kummer Center for STEM Education at Missouri S&T is now offering a free, open-source science curriculum for sixth- through eighth-grade educators across Missouri.

The curriculum project began with the STEM Center’s first Rigorous Curriculum Cohort in 2022, when middle school teachers from across Missouri collaborated to refine a standards-based science curriculum. 

After three years of classroom testing and feedback, the completed curriculum is ready to implement. Project-Based Learning, Rigorous Curriculum Design and Developing Assessment-Capable Learning are the foundations of the curriculum. Each of these components intertwine to put the student in control of their own learning.

The curriculum was created in collaboration with middle school teachers from across the state. STEM Center director Courtney Jones facilitates the program along with educational program coordinators Connie Cromwell and Marsha Smith. The curriculum aligns fully with Missouri Learning Standards and provides ready-to-use, classroom-tested materials.

“Rural schools often don’t provide a curriculum. Teachers have to spend a lot of time on their own writing their own curriculum,” Jones says. “This initiative allows multiple educators to come together from different districts to implement, which also develops into a professional learning community. Now, they have a statewide network of people they can work with.”

Teachers report strong outcomes from early implementation. Schools that adopted the curriculum starting in 2022 have improved their science test scores by an average of 16 % over a three-year period.

“This curriculum also incorporates engineering practices, which is meaningful for an engineering-focused university,” Jones says.

Learn more about the free, open-source curriculum at stemcenter.mst.edu. For more information, contact stemcenter@mst.edu.