VAST Center Support for Local Districts
The Grant Wood AEA Van Allen Science Teaching Center (VAST) is committed to providing opportunities to learn in a hands-on, minds-on oriented classroom using research-based, comprehensive curriculum for ALL students. VAST seeks to provide structure to experience science with the integration of reading, writing and mathematics.
Districts and educators receive assistance with curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional learning.
Curriculum
Grant Wood AEA VAST curriculum embraces best practice and is aligned with local district standards and benchmarks, the K-8 Iowa Core Science Standards, and the Next Generation Science Standards. Literacy links (writing to learn and informational text opportunities) are embedded in the units.
External Resources
Instruction
Research-based high quality instructional materials are continuously updated to current versions. Classroom materials are provided to every student so they can experience hands-on, minds-on science learning opportunities. Grade-to-grade learning progressions builds on each other to offer every student the opportunity to learn the key concepts that lead to science literacy.
Assessment
Classroom summative and formative assessments are included in the curriculum units.
Professional Learning
Grant Wood AEA provides access to high quality professional development classes that are directly relevant to teachers’ classroom science teaching responsibility, with some opportunities targeting new teachers.
Grant Wood AEA science consultants are also available to support educators leading professional learning opportunites.
Professional Learning Resources
Additional Resources
External Resources
- Accessible Digital Formats of FOSS Materials
- Mission and Vision of the VAST Center
- Nuts and Bolts - VAST Center Teacher Information
- Iowa Governor's STEM Council Scale-Up Grant
- Engineering is Elementary (IA Standards Alignment)
- A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts and Core Ideas (2013)
- Upcoming Opportunities in Science Education
- Starlab
- GWAEA Media Center Resources
Grant Wood AEA Toolkits
- Animals Two by Two
- Environments
- Insects and Plants
- Living Systems
- Pebbles, Sand and Silt
- Plants and Animals
- Structures of Life
- Water and Climate