Inspiring the next generation of Indiana scientists, engineers, and curious citizens

Amplify Science is a proven effective core curriculum designed for three-dimensional, phenomena-based learning that provides an immersive experience for science students. Amplify Science was developed in partnership with the science education experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science.

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.

Aerial view of the lawrence hall of science at the university of california, berkeley, showcasing the building and surrounding trees with a foggy city backdrop.

Two young boys sit at a table using a laptop, smiling and interacting. The image is bordered by smaller pictures related to children's activities, including pegboard work and a character splashing in water.

 

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:

 

Do

Learners engage with scientific phenomena by conducting student-centered investigations.


Read

Reading scientific texts is an act of inquiry: Students ask questions, gather evidence, and make connections through literacy.

Visualize

Students gather evidence through simulations, physical models, and modeling tools, allowing them to see and investigate complex, microscopic, or otherwise unobservable phenomena.

Talk

Students engage in collaborative and inquisitive discussions and scientific argumentation.


Write

Students write to share what they have learned and apply new evidence to strengthen written arguments and explanations.

What's included

Flexible resources that work seamlessly together

Four children gather around a desk, engaged in a hands-on activity. Two illustrations frame the main image: a storm cloud on the left and a sea turtle on the right.

Grades K–5 materials

A stack of educational science books, ideal for the curious mind of a science student, with titles like

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
Three science notebooks ideal for the science student, titled

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
A digital illustration displays a laptop with screens showcasing environmental graphics, including plants and diagrams, perfect for a science student exploring rich science resources.

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
A laptop displaying a web page titled

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
A pegboard with pegs, a small solar panel with clips, and three containers with different powdered substances are perfect science resources for enhancing your science curriculum.

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

A laptop in the science classroom displays a diagram on overfishing effects, alongside a printed article titled

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.

Four Amplify Science investigation notebooks are displayed, perfectly enhancing any science classroom with their covers showcasing diverse scientific topics.

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
Images of data visualization tools displayed on a laptop, showcasing graphs, maps, and analytical data—essential resources for any science student looking to enhance their understanding through interactive learning.

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
A laptop displaying the Geology on Mars webpage sits beside a book titled

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
A pegboard with pegs, a small solar panel with clips, and three containers with different powdered substances are perfect science resources for enhancing your science curriculum.

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.)
Collage of four images: a hairdryer testing a paper structure in a science classroom, a cartoon monkey on a vine, two kids interacting with a wall activity emblematic of three-dimensional learning, and a hand displaying dinosaur-topped pencils with math cards.

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.

  • Grades K–5 units

  • Grades 6–8 units

Contact us

Support is always available. Our team is dedicated to helping you every step of the way. Contact your dedicated Indiana representative here for program access, samples, and additional information.

A woman with long, dark hair and bright eyes smiles in front of an orange background. A headshot of a man with curly hair wearing a suit and tie, smiling in front of a gray textured background. A woman with long, wavy, light brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a purple turtleneck and stands against a dark, plain background. A bearded man with glasses, wearing a dark sweater over a striped collared shirt, smiles while looking at the camera against a plain background.

Elizabeth Sillies Callahan
Southern IN

(513) 407-5801

John Lash
East/Northeast IN

(260) 318-5729

Paige Lawrence
District enrollment below 1200

(980) 421-2608

 

Obie Martin
West/Northwest IN

(574) 725-8585