40. Out With the Old: How STEELS Differs from the 2002 PA Science Standards
Description
Welcome to Episode 40 of The Science Teacher's Playbook Podcast!
In this episode, we're breaking down the big shifts coming to Pennsylvania science education with the upcoming implementation of the STEELS Standards in July 2025. Whether you're new to STEELS or still working through what it means for your classroom, this episode offers a practical, teacher-centered overview of how these new standards compare to the 2002 PA Science Standards—and why the change is such a big deal.
🔍 In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why STEELS is a framework, not just a checklist
✅ How engineering practices are now a core part of science learning
✅ Why depth > breadth when it comes to content coverage
✅ How STEELS pushes interdisciplinary thinking across science, math, and engineering
✅ The importance of aligning to current scientific practices and ideas
👩🏫 You'll also hear tips for how to get started now—even during this planning year—and why you don't need to buy a new program to get started with STEELS. (Spoiler: The state hasn't endorsed any curriculum yet. NONE!)
🔗 Resources mentioned:
🎧 Listen now and get inspired to take the first step toward a more modern, integrated, and student-centered approach to science teaching.
United States
