HMH Science Dimensions

NGSS* Science Curriculum Grades K–12

Why HMH Science Dimensions?
Features
HMH Professional Services
  • 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.

    Why Science Dimensions

    Explore More

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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?

    • 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 Process

      Unit 2 The Practices of Engineering

      Lesson 1 Defining Engineering Problems
      Lesson 2 Developing and Testing Solutions
      Lesson 3 Optimizing Solutions

      LIFE SCIENCE

      Module B: Cells and Heredity

      Unit 1 Cells

      Lesson 1 The Characteristics of Cells
      Lesson 2 Cell Structures and Function

      Unit 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 Animals

      Unit 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 Growth

      Module 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 Ecosystems

      Unit 2 Relationships in Ecosystems

      Lesson 1 Parts of an Ecosystem
      Lesson 2 Resource Availability in Ecosystems
      Lesson 3 Patterns of Interaction

      Unit 3 Ecosystem Dynamics

      Lesson 1 Biodiversity in Ecosystems
      Lesson 2 Changes in Ecosystems
      Lesson 3 Engineer It • Maintaining Biodiversity

      Module 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 Ancestry

      Unit 2 Evolution

      Lesson 1 Genetic Change and Traits
      Lesson 2 Natural Selection
      Lesson 3 Speciation and Extinction

      Unit 3 Human Influence on Inheritance

      Lesson 1 Artificial Selection
      Lesson 2 Biotechnology and Inheritance

      EARTH 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 Cycle

      Unit 2 Weather and Climate

      Lesson 1 Influences on Weather
      Lesson 2 Weather Prediction
      Lesson 3 Influences on Climate

      Module 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 Surface

      Unit 2 Earth Through Time

      Lesson 1 The Age of Earth's Rocks
      Lesson 2 Earth's History

      Module 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 Hazards

      Unit 2 Resources in Earth's Systems

      Lesson 1 Natural Resources
      Lesson 2 The Distribution of Natural Resources

      Unit 3 Using Resources

      Lesson 1 Human Population and Resource Use
      Lesson 2 Resource Use and Earth's Systems

      Unit 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 Change

      Module H: Space Science

      Unit 1 Patterns in the Solar System

      Lesson 1 The Earth-Sun-Moon System
      Lesson 2 Seasons

      Unit 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 Universe

      PHYSICAL 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 Energy

      Unit 2 Energy Transfer

      Lesson 1 Changes in Energy
      Lesson 2 Temperature and Heat
      Lesson 3 Engineer It • Energy Transfer in Systems

      Module J: Chemistry

      Unit 1 The Structure of Matter

      Lesson 1 The Properties of Matter
      Lesson 2 Atoms and Elements
      Lesson 3 Molecules and Extended Structures

      Unit 2 States of Matter and Changes of State

      Lesson 1 States of Matter
      Lesson 2 Changes of State

      Unit 3 Chemical Processes and Equations

      Lesson 1 Chemical Reactions
      Lesson 2 Chemical Equations
      Lesson 3 Engineer It • Thermal Energy and Chemical Processes

      Unit 4 The Chemistry of Materials

      Lesson 1 Natural and Synthetic Materials
      Lesson 2 Engineer It • The Life Cycle of Synthetic Materials

      Module 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 Objects

      Unit 2 Electric and Magnetic Forces

      Lesson 1 Magnetic Forces
      Lesson 2 Electric Forces
      Lesson 3 Fields
      Lesson 4 Electromagnetism

      Module 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 Waves

      Unit 2 Information Transfer

      Lesson 1 Communication and Waves
      Lesson 2 Analog and Digital Signals
      Lesson 3 Communication Technology

    • 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 You

      Unit 2 Chemistry in Living Systems

      Lesson 1 Chemical Bonds and Reactions
      Lesson 2 Carbon-Based Molecules

      Unit 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: Tree

      Unit 4 Ecosystems: Stability and Change

      Lesson 1 Population Dynamics
      Lesson 2 Ecosystem Dynamics
      Thing Explainer: Ecological Succession

      Unit 5 Cells: Stability and Change

      Lesson 1 The Cell Cycle
      Lesson 2 Mitosis and Differentiation
      Thing Explainer: Tiny Bags of Water

      Unit 6 Structure and Function of DNA

      Lesson 1 DNA Structure and Replication
      Lesson 2 Protein Synthesis
      Lesson 3 Gene Expression and Regulation

      Unit 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 Squares

      Unit 8 Evidence for Evolution

      Lesson 1 Lines of Evidence for Evolution
      Lesson 2 Theory of Natural Selection

      Unit 9 Patterns of Evolution

      Lesson 1 Evolution of Populations
      Lesson 2 Changes in Species
      Lesson 3 Adaptive Value of Behavior
      Thing Explainer: Tree of Life

      Unit 10 Human Impacts on the Environment

      Lesson 1 Human Population Growth and the Environment
      Lesson 2 Human Impacts on Biodiversity
      Lesson 3 Engineering Solutions to Environmental Impacts

      HMH Science Dimensions™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
    • 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 Star

      Unit 2 Systems of Matter and Energy

      Lesson 1 Earth’s Energy
      Lesson 2 Minerals
      Lesson 3 The Rock Cycle
      Lesson 4 Biogeochemical Cycles

      Unit 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 Burn

      Unit 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 Sun

      Unit 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 House

      Unit 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 On

      Unit 7 Earth’s Changing Surface

      Lesson 1 Earth’s Surface
      Lesson 2 Surface Processes
      Lesson 3 Development of Features
      Thing Explainer: Earth’s Surface

      Unit 8 Earth’s Water

      Lesson 1 The Properties of Water
      Lesson 2 Water Resources
      Lesson 3 Ocean Water

      Unit 9 The Atmosphere

      Lesson 1 Earth’s Atmosphere
      Lesson 2 Weather Prediction and Modeling
      Lesson 3 Climate and Climate Change
      Thing Explainer: Cloud Maps

      Unit 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 Past

      Unit 11 Human Activity and Earth

      Lesson 1 Biological and Agricultural Resources
      Lesson 2 Geographical Influences on Human Activities
      Lesson 3 Sustainability of Human Activities

    • Consulting Authors

      Introducing the consulting authors for HMH Science Dimensions™!

    • Issue-Based Workshops
      Professional Development

      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.

  • 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.

    Explore More

    • 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.
      developed for NGSS

      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.

      3D learning objectives

      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.

      standards in te

      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.

      trace tool

      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.

      ScienceSaurus

      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!

      thing explainer

      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.

      Cross Curricular Connections

    • 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 5e Model

      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.

      DiSpezio

      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.

      rigorous curriculum design

      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.

    • 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.

      every lesson is an activity

      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.

      can you explain it

      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!

      Evidence Notebook

      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.

      Hands on Investigations

      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.

      Encourage Collaboration

    • 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.

      Engineering and STEM

      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.

      thought leadership can trust

      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.

      extra support engineer practices

      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.

      build lit sci
    • 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.

      truly meaningful tech

      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.

      Immersive Digital Curriculum

      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.

      Maximize Student Choice

      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.

      optimal learning mobility

      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.

      Open Ended Simulations

      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

      Explore Immersive Expeditions

      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 One

      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
      HMH Player
    • 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.

      students show what they know

      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.

      access on all dimensions

      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.

      reflect on evidence self checks

      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.

      Scaffold Higher Level Thinking Skills

      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.

      prepare high stakes tests

    • 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.

      sci dim book covers

    • 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.

      Myreader

      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*.

      Teachers guide

      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).

  • 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.


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