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.
- The structure to experience science with the integration of reading, writing and mathematics.

Curriculum
Curriculum that embraces best practice and is aligned with local district standards and benchmarks, the Iowa Core Science Standards, and the Next Generation Science Standards.
Literacy links, writing to learn and informational text opportunities are embedded in the units
Alignment to the K-8 Iowa Core
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
FOSS 3rd Edition
FOSS NG Edition
See the Toolkits below for additional unit specific resources.

Instruction
Research-based high quality instructional materials that are continuously updated to current versions.
Classroom materials for every student to experience hands-on, minds-on science learning opportunities.
Grade-to-grade learning progressions that build 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 Development
Access to high quality professional development classes that are directly relevant to teachers’ classroom science teaching responsibility and targets new teachers
Access to GWAEA science consultant support for assistance in implementation
Technical materials assistance from the VAST Center staff
Additional 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
EiE - IA Standards Alignment
A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts and Core Ideas (2013)
Upcoming Opportunities in Science Education
Toolkits
Animals Two by Two
- Pictures
- Vocabulary
Environments
- Arrows for Food Webs
Insects and Plants
- Teaching Tips
- Silkworm Video 1
- Silkworm Video 2
Living Systems
- Introductory Card Set
Pebbles, Sand and Silt
- Illustrated Word Wall Cards, 3rd Edition
Plants and Animals
- Plants/Seed Match Cards
Structures of Life
- Classroom Teacher Planning Guide
- Student Notebook
- Glossary Full Sheets
- Glossary Half Sheets
- Virtual Owl Pellet
Water and Climate
- Big Ideas
- Vocabulary