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HMH Science Dimensions™
NGSS* Science Curriculum Grades K–12
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HMH Science Dimensions™ © 2018–2019 is a brand-new, K–12 science program built specifically to address the Three Dimensions of Science Learning outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Performance Expectations of NGSS. Built with a digital-first mentality, this program provides an authentic approach to increasing student achievement in science and preparing teachers for engineering instruction. HMH Science Dimensions: Engineered for the Next Generation!
HMH Science Dimensions in your classroom
- Built from the ground-up around the integration of the Three Dimensions of Learning
- Unparalleled teacher support and embedded professional development videos
- Integrated engineering content, with thought leadership from author Dr. Cary Sneider
You can request access to preview HMH Science Dimensions on the new Ed: Your Friend in Learning system here
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
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Why HMH Science Dimensions?
HMH Field Trips powered by Google Expeditions
As a Google® content partner, HMH has developed field trips for Google Expeditions. Using a simple Google Cardboard™ device and a smartphone, students are swept away into 3D, 360-degree experiences in fascinating locations, directly tied to science content! A Teacher Guide provides ideas for incorporating the Expeditions into your lessons, as well as tips on how to guide and customize the experience.
Designed to Raise Science Achievement in ALL Students
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is proud to partner with you to raise the level of scientific achievement for all students and to better spark students’ curiosity in science to prepare them for college, career, and global citizenship.
HMH Science Dimensions’ curriculum materials align with the National Research Council’s Three Dimensions of Learning: Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science and Engineering Practices. These intertwined curriculum strands are expertly woven together into each lesson in order to meet the Performance Expectations (PEs). Research has shown that this braided, bundled approach best prepares students to succeed.
Professional Learning to Help You Through the Transition
In addition to independent professional development courses that support both program implementation and best practices for transitioning to an NGSS* curriculum, professional learning is also built directly into the core curriculum with just-in-time videos featuring our dynamic consulting authors guiding teachers through the key approaches that ensure NGSS success.
Activity-led Learning
Learning Activities are no longer an accessory to learning—they form the foundation of every lesson! The program provides abundant opportunities for students to collaborate, work in teams to devise solutions, perform hands-on experiments, build models, and journal in science notebooks. Lessons always begin with a problem to solve or a discrepant event or phenomenon to explain, which lays the groundwork for students to explore science in the same way real-life scientists do, by starting with a question.
Engineering and STEM as an Essential Part of the Curriculum
In HMH Science Dimensions, engineering and STEM are considered an integral part of the curriculum. Engineering and engineering design features are incorporated throughout all the features and activities. Watch your students’ eyes light up as they brainstorm solutions, share their ideas, and experiment to find solutions. They'll become experts in the engineering design process by practicing their skills in unit performance tasks called Engineer It!.
Superior Digital Learning Experience
Finally, a digital program that exceeds the learning experience of anything available in print. Go fully digital, or seamlessly blend digital with print—HMH Science Dimensions has the flexibility to match your classroom’s digital capacity.
Performance-Based Assessment
HMH Science Dimensions prepares students to succeed on high-stakes performance-based assessments by weaving three-dimensional learning and hands-on applications into every day of teaching. The interactive online Student Edition provides students with valuable experience answering technology-enhanced item types, which increases their comfort level with computer-based testing.
Every step of the learning process includes a scaffolded assessment strategy. This leads to summative performance assessments that help teachers predict how well students will perform on high-stakes assessments based on the NGSS Performance Expectations.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
Google Cardboard and Google are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc. HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Preview
In HMH Science Dimensions™, students conduct investigations and solve problems while engaging in science and engineering practices. With point-of-use professional learning videos of NGSS* thought leaders modeling classroom lessons, HMH Science Dimensions will guide teachers as they transition to a curriculum based on the Three Dimensions of Learning and Performance Expectations.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
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Availability
HMH Science Dimensions™ K–8, Biology, and Earth and Space Science will be available for classrooms in Spring 2017. Editions for Chemistry and Physics will be available later in 2018.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Table of Contents, Grades K–5
KINDERGARTEN
ENGINEERING DESIGN
Unit 1 Engineering and Technology
Lesson 1 Engineer It • What Does an Engineer Do?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Use a Design Process?PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Unit 2 Forces and Motion
Lesson 1 Engineer It • What Is Motion?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Change the Way Things Move?LIFE SCIENCE
Unit 3 Plants & Animals
Lesson 1 What Do Plants Need?
Lesson 2 What Do Animals Need?
Lesson 3 Where Do Plants and Animals Live?
Lesson 4 Engineer It • How Do Plants and Animals Change Their Environment?EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Unit 4 Sun Warms Earth
Lesson 1 How Does the Sun Warm Earth?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can I Protect Myself from the Sun?Unit 5 Weather
Lesson 1 How Can We Observe Weather Patterns?
Lesson 2 How Can We Measure Weather?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • What Are Kinds of Severe Weather?
Lesson 4 Engineer It • How Can Forecasts Help Us?Unit 6 Earth's Resources
Lesson 1 What Are Natural Resources?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Save Natural Resources?GRADE 1
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
Unit 1 Engineering and Technology
Lesson 1 Engineer It • How Do Engineers Use Technology?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Solve a Problem?PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Unit 2 Sound
Lesson 1 What Is Sound?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Communicate with Sound?Unit 3 Light
Lesson 1 How Does Light Help Us See?
Lesson 2 How Do Materials Block Light?
Lesson 3 How Does Light Travel?LIFE SCIENCE
Unit 4 Plant and Animal Structures
Lesson 1 Engineer It • What Parts Help Plants Live?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • What Body Parts Help Animals Stay Safe?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • What Body Parts Help Animals Meet Their Needs?
Lesson 4 How Do Plants and Animals Respond to Their Environment?Unit 5 Living Things and Their Young
Lesson 1 How Do Plants Look Like Their Parents?
Lesson 2 How Do Animals Look Like Their Parents?
Lesson 3 How Do Animals Take Care of Their Young?EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Unit 6 Objects and Patterns in the Sky
Lesson 1 How Do Objects in the Sky Seem to Change?
Lesson 2 What Are Patterns of Daylight?GRADE 2
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
Unit 1 Engineering Design Process
Lesson 1 Engineer It • What Is a Design Process?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Compare Design Solutions?PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Unit 2 Matter
Lesson 1 Engineer It • What Are Properties of Matter?
Lesson 2 How Do Heating and Cooling Change Matter?
Lesson 3 How Does Matter Change?
Lesson 4 How Are Objects Put Together?LIFE SCIENCE
Unit 3 Environments for Living Things
Lesson 1 What Do Plants Need?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Do Plants Depend on Animals?
Lesson 3 What Plants and Animals Live in Water Habitats?
Lesson 4 What Plants and Animals Live in Land Habitats?EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Unit 4 Earth's Surface
Lesson 1 Where Is Water Found on Earth?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Map Land and Water?Unit 5 Changes to Earth's Surface
Lesson 1 What Changes on Earth Happen Slowly?
Lesson 2 What Changes on Earth Happen Quickly?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • How Can We Prevent Wind and Water from Changing Land?GRADE 3
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Unit 1 Engineering
Lesson 1 Engineer It • How Do We Define a Problem?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can We Design a Solution?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • How Do We Test and Improve a Solution?PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Unit 2 Forces
Lesson 1 What Are Forces?
Lesson 2 What Are Some Types of Forces?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • What Forces Act from a Distance?Unit 3 Motion
Lesson 1 What Is Motion?
Lesson 2 What Are Some Patterns in Motion?LIFE SCIENCE
Unit 4 Life Cycles and Inherited Traits
Lesson 1 What Are Some Plant Life Cycles?
Lesson 2 What Are Some Animal Life Cycles?
Lesson 3 What Are Inherited Plant and Animal Traits?Unit 5 Organisms and Their Environments
Lesson 1 How Does the Environment Affect Traits?
Lesson 2 What Are Adaptations?
Lesson 3 How Can Organisms Succeed in Their Environments?
Lesson 4 Engineer It • What Happens When Environments Change?Unit 6 Fossils
Lesson 1 What Is a Fossil?
Lesson 2 What Do Fossils Tell Us About the Past?EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Unit 7 Weather and Patterns
Lesson 1 How Is Weather Measured?
Lesson 2 How Can We Predict Weather?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • What Are Some Severe Weather Impacts?
Lesson 4 What Are Some Types of Climates?GRADE 4
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Unit 1 Engineering and Technology
Lesson 1 Engineer It • How Do Engineers Define Problems?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Do Engineers Design Solutions?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • How Do Engineers Test and Improve Prototypes?PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Unit 2 Energy
Lesson 1 What Is Energy?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Is Energy Transferred?
Lesson 3 How Do Collisions Show Energy?Unit 3 Waves and Information Transfer
Lesson 1 What Are Waves?
Lesson 2 How Does Light Reflect?
Lesson 3 How Is Information Transferred from Place to Place?LIFE SCIENCE
Unit 4 Plant Structure and Function
Lesson 1 What Are Some Plant Parts and How Do They Function?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Do Plants Grow and Reproduce?Unit 5 Animal Structure and Function
Lesson 1 Engineer It • What Are Some External Structures of Animals?
Lesson 2 What Are Some Internal Structures of Animals?
Lesson 3 How Do Senses Work?EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Unit 6 Changes to Earth's Surface
Lesson 1 How Does Water Shape Earth's Surface?
Lesson 2 What Other Factors Shape Earth's Surface?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • How Can Maps Help Us Learn About Earth's Surface?
Lesson 4 What Patterns Do Maps Show Us?Unit 7 Rocks and Fossils
Lesson 1 How Do Rock Layers Change?
Lesson 2 What Do Fossils Tell Us About Ancient Environments?
Lesson 3 What Are Some Patterns Fossils Show Us?Unit 8 Natural Resources and Hazards
Lesson 1 What Non-Renewable Resources Are Used for Energy?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • What Renewable Resources Are Used for Energy?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • How Can People Reduce the Impact of Land-Based Hazards?
Lesson 4 Engineer It • How Can People Reduce the Impact of Water-Based Hazards?GRADE 5
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Unit 1 Engineering and Technology
Lesson 1 Engineer It • How Are Science and Math Used in Engineering?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • What Is the Design Process?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • How Does Technology Affect Society?PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Unit 2 Matter
Lesson 1 What Is Matter?
Lesson 2 What Are the Properties of Matter?
Lesson 3 How Does Matter Change?LIFE SCIENCE
Unit 3 Energy and Matter in Organisms
Lesson 1 How Does Energy Get Transformed by Plants?
Lesson 2 How Do Organisms Use Matter and Energy?
Lesson 3 How Do Organisms Interact?Unit 4 Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
Lesson 1 How Do Energy and Matter Move Through Ecosystems?
Lesson 2 How Do Organisms Change Their Ecosystems?EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Unit 5 Systems in Space
Lesson 1 How Does Gravity Affect Matter on Earth?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • What Daily Patterns Can Be Observed?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • What Is The Sun?
Lesson 4 What Patterns Can Be Observed In A Year?Unit 6 Earth's Systems
Lesson 1 What Are Earth's Major Systems?
Lesson 2 How Do Earth's Systems Interact?
Lesson 3 Engineer It • What Is the Role of the Oceans in Earth's Systems?Unit 7 Earth and Human Activities
Lesson 1 How Does Resource Use Affect Earth?
Lesson 2 Engineer It • How Can People Protect the Environment?HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Table of Contents, Grades 6–8
ENGINEERING
Module A: Engineering and Science
Unit 1 Introduction to Engineering and Science
Lesson 1 Engineering, Science, and Society
Lesson 2 Systems and System Models
Lesson 3 The Engineering Design ProcessUnit 2 The Practices of Engineering
Lesson 1 Defining Engineering Problems
Lesson 2 Developing and Testing Solutions
Lesson 3 Optimizing SolutionsLIFE SCIENCE
Module B: Cells and Heredity
Unit 1 Cells
Lesson 1 The Characteristics of Cells
Lesson 2 Cell Structures and FunctionUnit 2 Organisms as Systems
Lesson 1 Levels of Organization in Organisms
Lesson 2 Plant Bodies as Systems
Lesson 3 Animal Bodies as Systems
Lesson 4 Information Processing in AnimalsUnit 3 Reproduction, Heredity, and Growth
Lesson 1 Inheritance
Lesson 2 Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
Lesson 3 Plant Reproduction and Growth
Lesson 4 Animal Reproduction and GrowthModule C: Ecology and the Environment
Unit 1 Matter and Energy in Living Systems
Lesson 1 Matter and Energy in Organisms
Lesson 2 Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Lesson 3 Matter and Energy In EcosystemsUnit 2 Relationships in Ecosystems
Lesson 1 Parts of an Ecosystem
Lesson 2 Resource Availability in Ecosystems
Lesson 3 Patterns of InteractionUnit 3 Ecosystem Dynamics
Lesson 1 Biodiversity in Ecosystems
Lesson 2 Changes in Ecosystems
Lesson 3 Engineer It • Maintaining BiodiversityModule D: The Diversity of Living Things
Unit 1 The History of Life on Earth
Lesson 1 The Fossil Record
Lesson 2 Patterns of Change in Life on Earth
Lesson 3 Evidence of Common AncestryUnit 2 Evolution
Lesson 1 Genetic Change and Traits
Lesson 2 Natural Selection
Lesson 3 Speciation and ExtinctionUnit 3 Human Influence on Inheritance
Lesson 1 Artificial Selection
Lesson 2 Biotechnology and InheritanceEARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Module E: Earth's Water and Atmosphere
Unit 1 Circulation of Earth's Air and Water
Lesson 1 Circulation in Earth's Atmosphere
Lesson 2 Circulation in Earth's Oceans
Lesson 3 The Water CycleUnit 2 Weather and Climate
Lesson 1 Influences on Weather
Lesson 2 Weather Prediction
Lesson 3 Influences on ClimateModule F: Geologic Processes and History
Unit 1 The Dynamic Earth
Lesson 1 Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
Lesson 2 The Rock Cycle
Lesson 3 Earth's Plates
Lesson 4 Earth's Changing SurfaceUnit 2 Earth Through Time
Lesson 1 The Age of Earth's Rocks
Lesson 2 Earth's HistoryModule G: Earth and Human Activity
Unit 1 Earth's Natural Hazards
Lesson 1 Natural Hazards
Lesson 2 Natural Hazard Prediction
Lesson 3 Engineer It • Reducing the Effects of Natural HazardsUnit 2 Resources in Earth's Systems
Lesson 1 Natural Resources
Lesson 2 The Distribution of Natural ResourcesUnit 3 Using Resources
Lesson 1 Human Population and Resource Use
Lesson 2 Resource Use and Earth's SystemsUnit 4 Human Impacts on Earth Systems
Lesson 1 Human Impacts on the Environment
Lesson 2 Engineer It • Reducing Human Impacts on the Environment
Lesson 3 Climate ChangeModule H: Space Science
Unit 1 Patterns in the Solar System
Lesson 1 The Earth-Sun-Moon System
Lesson 2 SeasonsUnit 2 The Solar System and Universe
Lesson 1 The Formation of the Solar System
Lesson 2 Earth and the Solar System
Lesson 3 Earth's Place in the Universe
Lesson 4 Gravity in the UniversePHYSICAL SCIENCE
Module I: Energy and Energy Transfer
Unit 1 Energy
Lesson 1 Introduction to Energy
Lesson 2 Kinetic and Potential Energy
Lesson 3 Engineer It • Transforming Potential EnergyUnit 2 Energy Transfer
Lesson 1 Changes in Energy
Lesson 2 Temperature and Heat
Lesson 3 Engineer It • Energy Transfer in SystemsModule J: Chemistry
Unit 1 The Structure of Matter
Lesson 1 The Properties of Matter
Lesson 2 Atoms and Elements
Lesson 3 Molecules and Extended StructuresUnit 2 States of Matter and Changes of State
Lesson 1 States of Matter
Lesson 2 Changes of StateUnit 3 Chemical Processes and Equations
Lesson 1 Chemical Reactions
Lesson 2 Chemical Equations
Lesson 3 Engineer It • Thermal Energy and Chemical ProcessesUnit 4 The Chemistry of Materials
Lesson 1 Natural and Synthetic Materials
Lesson 2 Engineer It • The Life Cycle of Synthetic MaterialsModule K: Forces, Motion, and Fields
Unit 1 Forces and Motion
Lesson 1 Introduction to Forces
Lesson 2 Gravity and Friction
Lesson 3 Newton's Laws of Motion
Lesson 4 Engineer It • Collisions Between ObjectsUnit 2 Electric and Magnetic Forces
Lesson 1 Magnetic Forces
Lesson 2 Electric Forces
Lesson 3 Fields
Lesson 4 ElectromagnetismModule L: Waves and Their Applications
Unit 1 Waves
Lesson 1 Introduction to Waves
Lesson 2 The Behavior of Mechanical Waves
Lesson 3 Light Waves
Lesson 4 The Behavior of Light WavesUnit 2 Information Transfer
Lesson 1 Communication and Waves
Lesson 2 Analog and Digital Signals
Lesson 3 Communication TechnologyHMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Table of Contents, Biology
Unit 1 Living Systems
Lesson 1 Life in the Earth System
Lesson 2 Organisms: Cells to Body Systems
Lesson 3 Mechanisms of Homeostasis
Lesson 4 Bioengineering
Thing Explainer: Bags of Stuff Inside YouUnit 2 Chemistry in Living Systems
Lesson 1 Chemical Bonds and Reactions
Lesson 2 Carbon-Based MoleculesUnit 3 Matter and Energy in Living Systems
Lesson 1 Photosynthesis
Lesson 2 Cellular Respiration
Lesson 3 Modeling Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
Lesson 4 Cycling of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
Thing Explainer: TreeUnit 4 Ecosystems: Stability and Change
Lesson 1 Population Dynamics
Lesson 2 Ecosystem Dynamics
Thing Explainer: Ecological SuccessionUnit 5 Cells: Stability and Change
Lesson 1 The Cell Cycle
Lesson 2 Mitosis and Differentiation
Thing Explainer: Tiny Bags of WaterUnit 6 Structure and Function of DNA
Lesson 1 DNA Structure and Replication
Lesson 2 Protein Synthesis
Lesson 3 Gene Expression and RegulationUnit 7 Genetics and Heredity
Lesson 1 Meiosis
Lesson 2 Mendel and Heredity
Lesson 3 Traits and Probability
Lesson 4 Mutations and Genetic Diversity
Lesson 5 Genetic Engineering
Thing Explainer: Punnett SquaresUnit 8 Evidence for Evolution
Lesson 1 Lines of Evidence for Evolution
Lesson 2 Theory of Natural SelectionUnit 9 Patterns of Evolution
Lesson 1 Evolution of Populations
Lesson 2 Changes in Species
Lesson 3 Adaptive Value of Behavior
Thing Explainer: Tree of LifeUnit 10 Human Impacts on the Environment
Lesson 1 Human Population Growth and the Environment
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lesson 2 Human Impacts on Biodiversity
Lesson 3 Engineering Solutions to Environmental Impacts -
Table of Contents, Earth and Space Science
Unit 1 Introduction to Earth and Space
Lesson 1 Studying Earth
Lesson 2 Earth’s Systems
Thing Explainer: Our StarUnit 2 Systems of Matter and Energy
Lesson 1 Earth’s Energy
Lesson 2 Minerals
Lesson 3 The Rock Cycle
Lesson 4 Biogeochemical CyclesUnit 3 Natural Resources
Lesson 1 Designing Solutions to Resource Problems
Lesson 2 Rock and Mineral Resources
Lesson 3 Energy Resources
Thing Explainer: Stuff in the Earth We Can BurnUnit 4 Earth in the Solar System
Lesson 1 Formation of the Solar System
Lesson 2 Gravity and Orbits
Lesson 3 Earth and the Sun
Thing Explainer: Worlds Around the SunUnit 5 Space
Lesson 1 Observing Matter in Space
Lesson 2 Stars
Lesson 3 The Universe
Lesson 4 Evidence for the Big Bang
Thing Explainer: Shared Space HouseUnit 6: Plate Tectonics
Lesson 1 Earth’s Dynamic Interior
Lesson 2 Tectonic Plates
Lesson 3 Plate Interactions
Lesson 4 Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Thing Explainer: Big Flat Rocks We Live OnUnit 7 Earth’s Changing Surface
Lesson 1 Earth’s Surface
Lesson 2 Surface Processes
Lesson 3 Development of Features
Thing Explainer: Earth’s SurfaceUnit 8 Earth’s Water
Lesson 1 The Properties of Water
Lesson 2 Water Resources
Lesson 3 Ocean WaterUnit 9 The Atmosphere
Lesson 1 Earth’s Atmosphere
Lesson 2 Weather Prediction and Modeling
Lesson 3 Climate and Climate Change
Thing Explainer: Cloud MapsUnit 10 History of Earth
Lesson 1 The Rock and Fossil Record
Lesson 2 Geological Time
Lesson 3 Earth in the Present
Thing Explainer: Earth’s PastUnit 11 Human Activity and Earth
Lesson 1 Biological and Agricultural Resources
Lesson 2 Geographical Influences on Human Activities
Lesson 3 Sustainability of Human ActivitiesHMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Consulting Authors
Introducing the consulting authors for HMH Science Dimensions™!
Michael DiSpezio - Consulting Author
Michael DiSpezio has authored many HMH® instructional programs for Science and Mathematics. He has also authored numerous trade books and multimedia programs on various topics and hosted dozens of studio and location broadcasts for various organizations in the U.S. and worldwide. Most recently, he has been working with educators to provide strategies for implementing the Next Generation Science Standards*, particularly the science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and the use of evidence notebooks. To all his projects, he brings his extensive background in science; his expertise in classroom teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels; and his deep experience in producing interactive and engaging instructional materials.
Marjorie Frank - Consulting Author
An educator and linguist by training, a writer and poet by nature, Marjorie Frank has authored and designed a generation of instructional materials in all subject areas, including past HMH Science programs. Her other credits include authoring science issues of an award-winning children’s magazine, writing game-based digital assessments, developing blended learning materials for young children, and serving as instructional designer and co-author of pioneering school-to-work software. In addition, she has served on the adjunct faculty of Hunter, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Colleges, teaching courses in science methods, literacy, and writing. For HMH Science Dimensions, she has guided the development of our K–2 strands and our approach to making connections between NGSS and Common Core ELA/literacy standards.
Michael Heithaus, Ph.D. - Consulting Author
Mike Heithaus joined the FIU Biology Department in 2003. He has served as Director of the Marine Sciences Program and as Executive Director of the School of Environment, Arts, and Society, which brings together the natural and social sciences and humanities to develop solutions to today’s environmental challenges. He now serves as Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. His research focuses on predator-prey interactions and the ecological importance of large marine species. He has helped to guide the development of Life Sciences content in HMH Science Dimensions, focusing on strategies for teaching challenging content as well as on the science and engineering practices of analyzing data and using computational thinking.
Stephen Nowicki, Ph.D. - Consulting Author
Stephen Nowicki is Bass Fellow and Professor in the Departments of Biology, Psychology, and Neurobiology at Duke University. Dr. Nowicki's research explores proximate mechanisms underlying the evolution of behavior. He is especially interested in the structure, function, and evolution of animal communication systems, using birdsong as a model system. Current President of the Animal Behavior Society, he is the author of HMH Biology and a consulting author for HMH Science Dimensions.
Thomas O'Brien, Ph.D. - Consulting Author
Thomas O'Brien, Professor in the Graduate School of Education at SUNY, Binghamton, is a distinguished leader in science education with a special focus on chemistry education. He was a member of the writing team for the innovative Chemistry in the Community (ChemCom) program produced by the American Chemical Society and has authored several books with the NSTA Press, including Brain-Powered Science: Teaching and Learning with Discrepant Events and Science for the Next Generation. For HMH Science Dimensions, he has helped guide the planning and development of the high school chemistry content.
Cary Sneider, Ph.D. - Consulting Author
While studying astrophysics at Harvard, Cary Sneider volunteered to teach in an Upward Bound program and discovered his real calling as a science teacher. After teaching middle and high school science in Maine, California, Costa Rica, and Micronesia, he settled for nearly three decades at Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California, where he developed skills in curriculum development and teacher education. Over his career Cary directed more than 20 federal, state, and foundation grant projects, and was a writing team leader for the Next Generation Science Standards. He has been instrumental in ensuring HMH Science Dimensions meets the high expectations of NGSS and provides an effective three-dimensional learning experience for all students.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Issue-Based Workshops
Successfully Transition to an NGSS* Curriculum Workshop
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is pleased to offer free Professional Learning focused on helping schools and districts transition to NGSS. This free 45-minute workshop provides teachers with strategies and insights for immediate classroom application.
During this workshop, participants will collaboratively engage in a hands-on, inquiry-based activity, explore the instructional shifts required by NGSS, discuss the characteristics of an NGSS-aligned activity, and reflect on next steps for their schools and/or classrooms.
This course will be offered for Grades K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and high school educators.
Ask your HMH Account Executive for details.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Features
HMH Science Dimensions™ promotes a discovery-based approach to meaningful science and engineering practices by thoughtfully integrating the Three Dimensions of Learning and Performance Expectations into the print, digital, hands-on, and professional development components.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Raise Science Achievement and Literacy
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is proud to partner with you to raise the level of scientific achievement for all students and to better spark students’ curiosity in science to prepare them for college, career, and global citizenship.
Developed Specifically for NGSS*
HMH Science Dimensions™ was built from the ground up, not retrofitted, specifically for NGSS. Each lesson is thoughtfully crafted to integrate the CCCs, DCIs, and SEPs in order to meet the Performance Expectations and thereby raise student literacy and achievement. This optimized, braided, bundled approach takes the burden of planning off you while ensuring a quality 3D learning experience for your students.3D Learning Objectives
Each lesson in K–12 has a unique interrelated 3D Learning Objective that can be found in the Teacher Edition. This objective is generated from the Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts and Disciplinary Core Ideas associated with the Performance Expectations for the unit. These custom stepping-stone objectives ensure that the lessons cover 100% of the material associated with the PEs.
Clearly Labeled Standards in the Teacher Edition
The labeling in the Teacher Edition clearly identifies all of the Performance Expectations, Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts, including the math and ELA connections. This helps educators identify the standards that are being covered in any given lesson.
A Spiraled and Comprehensive Standards Solution
The HMH Science Dimensions Trace Tool to the NGSS helps you make sense of NGSS, understand how the standards connect and spiral from one grade to another, and identify HMH resources to support your instruction.
You can trace the standards by PEs, SEPs, CCCs, or DCIs. When you click on a standard, you can view where in the program that standard is covered. But, the Trace Tool is even more powerful than a traditional correlation because it shows you how that standard spirals through every grade, from K to 12.
Engaging Disciplinary Core Ideas Coverage
For Grades K–8, HMH Science Dimensions includes access to ScienceSaurus® for additional DCI coverage. This convenient handbook covers life, Earth and space, physical, and environmental science, as well as engineering and technology. Clear explanations with dynamic visuals can be used for presentation, review, or reinforcement of science concepts.
In high school, HMH Science Dimensions incorporates the valued work of Randall Munroe, of xkcd.com fame, and his book Thing Explainer. Munroe’s highly engaging illustrations and accessible explanations for key science topics help students gain a better understanding of both scientific ideas and processes. Plus, HMH Science Dimensions Biology and Chemistry will include all-new illustrations never before seen in Thing Explainer or xkcd.com!
Create Strong Cross-Curricular Connections
Science literacy is incomplete without a strong foundation in math and ELA. HMH Science Dimensions offers Common Core Math and ELA connections throughout the curriculum. Strong math and reading skills are essential to quality STEM learning.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
HMH Science Dimensions™ and ScienceSaurus® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Purposeful Professional Support
Transition with Ease
An NGSS* curriculum requires a significantly different approach to teaching science. Although this new approach may be challenging, its rewards are immediate. Product labeling enhancements, built-in professional learning plus independent NGSS-preparation courses are all designed to help make this transition as effective and efficient as possible.
Program Support
Easy-to-Follow 5E Model
The Teacher Edition (online and print) is organized around the familiar 5E learning model. This helps to lower the learning curve and provide a solid foundation upon which to build a curriculum.
Easy-to-Follow NGSS Labeling
The Performance Expectations, Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas are clearly labeled throughout the units and lessons. This purposeful labeling provides teachers with thoughtful guidance through the NGSS lessons. It also raises awareness of the lesson elements and how they relate to the standards.
Embedded Professional Learning Videos
With HMH Science Dimensions, you’ll be shown examples of what an NGSS curriculum looks like and how it should be implemented in the classroom with our Professional Learning videos. Use these videos to be prepared for this new approach to science education. Just-in-time videos featuring our dynamic consulting authors guide you through the key approaches to ensuring NGSS success.
Foundation Videos
Ideal for teachers and parents, these videos help you better understand NGSS, as well as the background that led to their development. Additionally, "Engineering in NGSS" videos help teachers understand how to integrate engineering practices into the classroom.
Challenging Content Videos (Grades 6–12)
These videos help educators know how to address specific content areas that students tend to struggle with in an NGSS curriculum.
Labs in Action Videos (Grades K–2)
To help ensure successful implementation of NGSS labs and activities, these videos model what the hands-on activities should look like in the classroom.
Labs & Classroom Practice Videos (Grades 9–12)
High school educators will benefit from these suggestions on how to implement NGSS solutions in their classrooms.
Professional Services
Strengthen Your Science Instruction
Start with our overview course, Teaching Science: The Next Generation, to get the foundational information and big-picture overview of the new science standards. Our expert consultant staff will introduce you to the new science standards, and explain how they have been designed and organized across disciplines and grades to provide all students with an internationally benchmarked science education. A key focus of the seminar is on instructional shifts in relation to the new standards, as well as on deep understanding of the Scientific and Engineering Practices and the impact that these will have in the K–12 classroom.
Once you’ve completed the overview course, choose from our seven three-hour modules to meet your specific needs. Any two modules can be combined to create a full day of Professional Learning. Alternatively, one module can be extended to a full-day session.
Get a Strong Start with HMH Science Dimensions
The Getting Started with HMH Science Dimensions Course will provide you with an understanding of the program components, resources, planning, differentiation and ways to engage students with technology. It is provided with program purchase and will help you build a solid foundation for your implementation.
Deepen Program Mastery with Follow-Up Courses
When you choose to deepen program mastery, our Professional Learning Consultants are ready to help. In our Follow-Up Courses, we use a needs-based approach to show you how to implement our integrated classroom and digital tools effectively, review data, and adjust teaching accordingly. Follow-Up Courses accelerate the learning provided in our Getting Started Course.
Address the Needs of the Changing Science Classroom with HMH Coaching
Our Team and Individual Coaching will ensure science teachers are comfortable with the transition to the NGSS.
If you are focused on three-dimensional-based instruction, increasing student engagement, providing differentiated instruction for all learners, and addressing content area literacy skills, our program experts are ready to work side by side with you and your teams.
An HMH Coach will help you increase rigor, incorporate 21st-century and STEM applications into daily instruction, and connect that instruction to the Three Dimensions of Learning. Furthermore, they will support your teams to analyze data and make inquiry-based instructional decisions.
Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Student-Led Activities and Investigations
Every Lesson Is an Activity
At its core, learning science is about doing science. HMH Science Dimensions™ provides rich opportunities for students to conduct hands-on investigations, solve problems, and discuss their findings with teachers and classmates. In HMH Science Dimensions, “activity” means more than just “lab.” It means opportunities for collaboration, gathering evidence, presenting arguments, and journaling in science notebooks.
Start with a Question to Spark Curiosity
Each lesson begins with “Can You Explain It?,” a problem to solve or discrepant event to explain, in order to engage students with an activity that is interesting, captivating, fun, and challenging. This lesson-leading feature provides intrinsic motivation to spark curiosity and serves as the context for the three-dimensional learning and hands-on activities throughout the lessons. Students are motivated to think critically and construct explanations of how and why.
The program is built around active learning. Rather than receive content passively, students are asked to solve problems or explain phenomena by stating claims, gathering evidence, and providing explanations through reasoning.
Support Reasoning and Strengthen Writing Skills
HMH Science Dimensions follows the Claims-Evidence-Reasoning model of scientific explanations. Many of the lessons in HMH Science Dimensions support the use of Evidence Notebooks. Helpful prompts have been inserted throughout the lessons to help students know when to use these notebooks. Students will love creating their own study guide that can be taken into the next grade, and teachers will love the extra writing practice!
Drive Student Inquiry with Hands-On Investigations
Hands-on Activities are integrated into many of the lessons. These are built with teachers’ busy schedules in mind. Each activity uses easily sourced materials and clear instructions are stepped out for the student.
Students get to actively “do science” while thinking critically about their observations, gathering evidence, and defending their claims.
Encourage Collaboration
Working in a team is an essential part of developing 21st-century skills. HMH Science Dimensions provides ample opportunities for students to participate in groups to complete activities and partner with their peers to discuss their findings.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Integrated Engineering and STEM
In HMH Science Dimensions™, engineering and STEM are carried throughout every unit and not just treated as an ancillary. This approach elevates engineering design to a core element of science learning.
Elevate Engineering to Core Scientific Learning
Engineering and STEM are key components of the instruction in HMH Science Dimensions, integrated throughout the curriculum and not just in the engineering-related Performance Expectations. Each Unit includes a Performance Task that routinely gives students the opportunity to apply the engineering design process by defining a problem and designing a solution.
Expert Thought Leadership You Can Trust
HMH Science Dimensions consulting authors Cary Sneider and Thomas O’Brien, along with the rest of our acclaimed author team, have worked closely with HMH to ensure that the program provides a cohesive, integrated approach to the engineering design process.
Dr. Sneider served on the writing team for the Next Generation Science Standards*, and Dr. O’Brien is famous for his ability to use discrepant events to engage students in meaningful science learning, as seen in his highly successful Brain-Powered Science book series. Both authors appear on our point-of-use professional learning videos about NGSS best practices.
Extra Support for Science and Engineering Practices
The Science and Engineering Practices Online Handbook will help students achieve a higher level of understanding and skill as they build their experience applying the Science and Engineering Practices of NGSS.
Build Literacy and Science and Engineering Content Knowledge
The program includes print and online access to Science and Engineering Leveled Readers for Grades K–5. These colorful, fun, and interesting readers provide three levels of readability for students: On-Level, Extra Support, and Enrichment.
The accompanying Teacher Guide provides activities and support for before reading, during reading, and during response to reading.
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Superior Digital Learning Experience
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a truly digital-first program with interactive, discovery-based digital lessons and open-ended simulations as well as teacher materials to support the integration of Google® Expeditions.
The curriculum leverages the advantages of technology while prioritizing a student-centered learning model. Students can view videos and animations, interact with instructional images and text, enter responses, pursue their intellectual interests by choosing lesson paths, and enjoy simulation-based learning. All of these features maintain an integrated three-dimensional approach to learning science.
Immersive Digital Curriculum
Students working with a print lesson can navigate through the same lesson entirely online. The online lessons are enriched above and beyond the print lessons by including educational videos, learning interactivities, and places to save student work as type-written responses and technology-enhanced item choices. Vocabulary is highlighted and clickable, with point-of-use pop-up definitions.
Maximize Student Choice
The “Take It Further” feature at the end of each unit maximizes the opportunity for students to elaborate further on what they have learned so far. By leveraging the power of technology, students can continue to go in-depth on topics of their choice, to learn more, and create stronger, more personal links to their learning.
Optimal Learning Mobility
HMH Science Dimensions was built on a digital platform that can respond to nearly any digital device that a student can use. This allows for maximum compatibility in Bring Your Own Device learning environments and with the wide variety of technology that students have at home. HMH Science Dimensions will be accessible any time, anywhere.
Deepen Understanding with Open-Ended Simulations
Unique “You Solve It” simulations provide completely open-ended opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to problem solve and perform at the level described by the Performance Expectations. The program encourages students to explore multiple answers to a problem and to develop explanations and defend their answers.
Explore Immersive Virtual Worlds
As a Google content partner, HMH has developed field trips for Google Expeditions. Using a simple Google Cardboard™ device and a smartphone, students are swept away into 3D, 360-degree experiences in fascinating locations, directly tied to science content!
A Teacher Guide provides ideas for incorporating the Expeditions into your lessons, as well as tips on how to guide and customize the experience.
These HMH virtual field trips are included with HMH Science Dimensions, along with more to come:
- Big Cypress National Preserve
- The College of Optics and Photonics,University of Central Florida
- Florida Everglades
- Saturn V Rocket, NASA
- Orange Blossom Cannonball Train
- Kennedy Space Center
HMHONE and HMH Player—the Ultimate Online and Offline Program Experience
Teachers can look forward to accessing HMH Science Dimensions on HMHONE™, a new platform from HMH that supports integration with other school LMS solutions. This flexible solution allows teachers to seamlessly embed the program’s resources into their instruction.
Additionally, program content can be accessed offline through the accompanying app, HMH Player®.
HMH Player has been created specifically to answer customer needs by providing:
- True mobility of rich digital content
- Important teacher instruction, customization, and progress tracking tools
- Student engagement and collaboration
- Streamlined navigation and grade-level-appropriate user experience
Google Cardboard and Google are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc. HMHONE™, HMH Player®, and HMH Science Dimensions™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Performance-Based Assessment
For the first time ever, science standards now include specific measurable learning outcomes that students are expected to achieve when they have completed their course of study. These Performance Expectations guide test developers and teachers in understanding how to measure student learning. HMH Science Dimensions™ offers flexible assessment tools in a variety of formats to help you assess both formative and summative student learning.
Let Students Show What They Know
Performance-based assessments help you ensure that your students can perform the science and engineering practices. These assessments also guide students toward making connections across Performance Expectations.
Assess on All Dimensions
Formal assessment questions aligned to multiple dimensions provide you with a complete picture of student understanding.
A unique Three-Dimensional Evaluation Rubric helps you evaluate open-ended student responses and identify the underlying cause of student misunderstanding so that you can target remediation where it’s most needed.
Reflect on Evidence Gathered
At the end of a lesson, the Lesson Self-Check encourages students to reflect on the evidence they gathered throughout the lesson. They have another chance to respond to the discrepant phenomenon or central question of the lesson with open-ended response questions.
Scaffold to Higher-Level Thinking Skills
Formal assessments build in complexity. Unit Pretests help you make sure students have the basic knowledge they need to enter the lessons. Lesson Quizzes provide a quick check that students are getting the 3D concepts. Unit Tests check for understanding and challenge students to apply what they’ve learned in new contexts. Mid-year and end-of-year benchmark tests help you make sure your students are on track to achieve the Performance Expectations.
Prepare for High-Stakes Tests
Technology-enhanced assessment items prepare your students for modern computer-based high-stakes tests. Parallel print assessments ensure that your students are challenged in the same way both on and off-line.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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K–12 Spiraled Curriculum
Because HMH Science Dimensions™ was built from the ground up as a K–12 curriculum, creating a cohesive spiraled curriculum was a design decision from the start. With its cohesive approach to meeting the new standards, HMH Science Dimensions provides a consistent and engaging experience from elementary through middle school and high school. The program is available as single-grade editions for K–5 and as 12 modules that can be mixed and matched for Grades 6–8.
In high school, the program is offered as hardcover textbook editions for Biology and Earth and Space Science © 2018 and Chemistry and Physics © 2019.
HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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Science and Engineering Leveled Readers (K–5)
The Science and Engineering Leveled Readers provide solutions for entire classrooms and individual learners. With print and digital options, these Leveled Readers can be used to maximize student success. Each grade includes a Teacher Guide, which provides support before reading, during reading, and during response to reading activities.
Three Levels of Support
Readers are available for a wide variety of science and engineering topics at three reading levels: Extra Support, On Level, and Enrichment. The readers are available in both English and Spanish.
Print and Digital Options
With print and digital options, the Leveled Readers can be used to maximize student success. Readers can be accessed online or through the HMH Readers app. In HMH Science Dimensions™, Leveled Readers will be accessible online, at point of use.
Teacher Guide
The Teacher Guide for each grade provides teaching strategies and activities for using each of the Readers, as well as reproducible English and Spanish worksheets. On-Level and Extra-Support worksheets focus on vocabulary development, while Enrichment worksheets reinforce and enrich content. The Teacher Guide includes a correlation to Next Generation Science Standards*.
Next Generation Science Standards
The Science and Engineering Leveled Readers combined with ScienceSaurus® provide coverage of the Disciplinary Core Ideas within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). (The Teacher Guide includes a correlation to NGSS*.)
Common Core Standards for English Language Arts
The Leveled Readers provide nonfiction (informational) text selections as required by the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.
Range of Readability Levels
With a wide range of readability levels at each grade, you can be sure to find age- and grade-level-appropriate text, along with plenty of nonfiction (informational) text selections to choose from (up to Lexile® measure 1160).
*Next Generation Science Standards and logo are registered trademarks of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
Lexile® is a trademark of MetaMetrics, Inc., and is registered in the United States and abroad. ScienceSaurus® and HMH Science Dimensions™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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HMH Professional Services
HMH Professional Services forges student-centered partnerships with schools and districts in the belief that all learners deserve a quality education and the opportunity for lifelong success.
HMH Professional Services includes teachers, leaders, and technologists. Our Professional Learning Consultants become part of your team, working right beside you to build and implement professional learning plans that respect the unique needs and culture of your school or district community. Through program, practice, and technical services, we work collaboratively to unlock the full potential of every student, teacher, and leader.
Visit us at hmhco.com/professionalservices to learn more.