About the Guide. This Science Educator’s Guide to Selecting
High-Quality Instructional Materials presents a method for
judging the quality of K-12 teaching materials, both in print
and online. It is based on AAAS Project 2061’s curriculum-
materials analysis procedure which was developed over several
years with funding from the National Science Foundation and in
consultation with K–12 teachers, materials developers,
scientists, teacher educators, and cognitive researchers
nationwide. The procedure’s criteria for making judgments about
materials are based on the relevant research into effective
science teaching and learning. The Guide is designed to help
science educators determine how well an instructional material
supports students in learning important science ideas such as
those described in national benchmarks and standards. With its
step-by-step procedure for taking a critical look at
instructional materials, the Guide can help science educators
take a more informed approach to a number of essential tasks