What is Amplify Science?

Amplify Science is a curiosity-driven science curriculum that empowers students to Do, Talk, Read, Write, and Visualize like scientists. Through phenomena-based, literacy-rich, and interactive learning experiences, students develop as critical thinkers who will gain the skills they need to solve real problems in their communities and the world.

Each unit of Amplify Science engages students in a relevant, real-world problem where they investigate scientific phenomena, engage in collaboration and discussion, and develop models or explanations in order to arrive at solutions.

Grounded in research

Developed by the science education experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science in partnership with the digital learning team at Amplify, our program features:

• A phenomena-based approach where students construct a deep understanding of each unit’s anchor phenomenon.
• A blend of cohesive storylines, hands-on investigations, lively discussions, literacy-rich activities, and digital tools.
• Carefully crafted units, chapters, lessons, and activities designed to deliver truly authentic three-dimensional learning.
• An instructional design that supports all learners in accessing all standards.

See more of our research.

Instructional model

The Amplify Science program is rooted in the research-based proven effective pedagogy of Do, Talk, Read, Write, Visualize.

Here’s how each element works:

What’s included

Flexible resources that work seamlessly together

Grades K–5 materials

Student Books

Age-appropriate Student Books allow students to:

• engage with content-rich texts
• obtain evidence
• develop research and close-reading skills
• construct arguments and explanations

Student Investigation Notebooks

Available for every unit, the Student Investigation Notebooks provide space for students to:

• record data
• reflect on ideas from texts and investigations
• construct explanations and arguments

Simulations and practice tools (grades 2+)

Developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program, these engaging digital tools:

• serve as venues for exploration
• enable data collection
• allow students to explore scientific concepts
• show what might be impossible to see with the naked eye

Teacher’s Guides

Available digitally and in print, the Teacher’s Guides contain all of the information teachers need to facilitate classroom instruction, including:

• detailed lesson plans
• unit and chapter overview documentation
• differentiation strategies
• standards alignments
• in-context professional development

Hands-on materials kits

Hands-on learning is at the heart of Amplify Science. Each unit kit contains:

• consumable and non-consumable hands-on materials
• print classroom display materials
• premium print materials for student use (sorting cards, maps, etc.)

Grades 6–8 materials

Science articles

The middle school science articles serve as sources for evidence collection and were authored by science and literacy experts at the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Student Investigation Notebooks

Available for every unit, the Student Investigation Notebooks provide space for students to:

• record data
• reflect on ideas from texts and investigations
• construct explanations and arguments
• Available with full-color article compilations for middle school units

Digital student experience

Students access the digital simulations and modeling tools, as well as lesson activities and assessments, through the digital student experience. Students can interact with the digital student experience as they:

• conduct hands-on investigations
• engage in active reading and writing activities
• participate in discussions
• record observations
• craft end-of-unit scientific arguments

Teacher’s Guides

Available digitally and in print, the Teacher’s Guides contain all of the information teachers need to facilitate classroom instruction, including:

• detailed lesson plans
• unit and chapter overview documentation
• differentiation strategies
• standards alignments
• in-context professional development

Hands-on materials kits

Hands-on learning is at the heart of Amplify Science. Each unit kit contains:

• consumable and non-consumable hands-on materials
• print classroom display materials
• premium print materials for student use (sorting cards, maps, etc.)

Unit Sequence

Our lessons follow a structure that is grounded in regular routines while still being flexible enough to allow for a variety of learning experiences.

In fact, our multimodal instruction offers more opportunities for students to construct meaning—and practice and apply concepts—than any other program. What’s more, our modular design means our units can be flexibly arranged to support your instructional goals.