USBE Logo MIDAS Logo

World of Chemistry, 4E


Core Code Alignment

Science
    Chemistry
        08030000010: Chemistry (9-12)


Recommendation

Recommended Limited

Evaluation

The textbook and associated teacher resources provide a strong foundational knowledge of chemistry. However, there is no strong integration between the three dimensions of science instruction (DCI's, CCC's, and SEP's). CCC's and SEP's are more strongly represented in the teacher supplementary materials including labs, videos, and other instructional resources.


Educators Using These Materials

No educators found.

Rubric : Science 2025

Compliance with State Law (Required)
Item 3 - Extensive 2 - Adequate 1 - Inadequate 0 - None
Sensitive Materials and Prohibited Submission 53G-10-103, R277-628 This item has not been graded.
Prohibited discriminatory practices 53G-2-103-5, 53B-1-118 and 67-27-107 This item has not been graded.
Maintaining constitutional freedom in the public schools. 53G-10-202 This item has not been graded.
Free from advertising, e-commerce, or political interest This item has not been graded.
Standards
Item 3 - Extensive 2 - Adequate 1 - Inadequate 0 - None
Presence of Three Dimensions of Science: Builds understanding of the science and engineering practices (SEPs), disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), and crosscutting concepts (CCCs). i. Provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the SEP(s) ii. Provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the DCI(s) iii. Provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the CCC(s) 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met None of the Criteria Indicators are met
The student text does not significantly integrate all three dimensions of science instruction, but many of the teacher resources provided could help bridge that gap and integrate the CCC's and SEP's. The DCI's are thoroughly addressed.
Integration of Three Dimensions of Science: Materials integrate elements of the SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs for student sense‐making: Three dimensions of science (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) are integrated (consistently utilized in conjunction with each other) to help students make sense of phenomenon and solve problems. Three dimensions of science (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) are consistently integrated. Three dimensions of science are integrated in certain portions of the instructional material. Three dimensions of science are rarely integrated in the instructional material. Three dimensions of science (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) are separated and not integrated for student sense making.
The student text does not significantly integrate all three dimensions of science instruction, but many of the teacher resources provided could help bridge that gap and integrate the CCC's and SEP's. The DCI's are thoroughly addressed.
Alignment to Standards: The DCI Concepts (science content) in the instructional materials align to the Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to 100% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to 75% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to 50% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to less than 50% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course.
Addresses almost all of the SEEd standards for Chemistry. CHEM.2.4 regarding macromolecules / polymers and the role of intermolecular forces in these compounds is not present in the text.
Scientific Accuracy: Uses scientifically accurate and grade‐appropriate scientific information, phenomena, and representations to support students’ three‐dimensional learning. Instructional materials are scientifically accurate and grade appropriate. N/A N/A Instructional materials are NOT scientifically accurate and grade appropriate.
Disciplinary core ideas are presented thoroughly, making a strong content basis for understanding phenomenon. The text does not deeply integrate CCC's and SEP's in terms of phenomena.
Pedagogy
Item 3 - Extensive 2 - Adequate 1 - Inadequate 0 - None
Focus on Phenomena (Science) or Problems (Engineering): Making sense of phenomena and/or designing solutions to a problem drive student learning. i. Student questions and prior experiences related to the phenomenon or problem motivate sense‐making and/or problem solving ii. The focus of the lesson is to support students in making sense of phenomena and/or designing solutions to problems iii. When engineering is a learning focus, it is integrated with developing disciplinary core ideas from physical, life, and/or earth and space sciences 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met None of the Criteria Indicators are met
The online text is not phenomenon based and provides little and superficial integration of crosscutting concepts and science and engineering processes. When phenomenon are used, they function as a hook and not as a driver of the instruction. They are not visited again later in the instructional sequence. The teacher materials provide an extensive selection of labs, resources, visuals, and other resources from which to choose. The teacher would need to identify and cultivate resources that would support 3D instruction and connect to students.
Scaffolding: Identifies and builds on students’ prior learning in all three dimensions i. Provides supports to help students engage in the practices and gradually adjusts supports over time so that students are increasingly responsible for making sense of phenomena and/or designing solutions to problems (Required) ii. Explicitly identifies prior student learning expected for all three dimensions iii. Clearly explains how the prior learning will be built upon 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met (i MUST BE MET) Only Criteria Indicator i has been met None of the Criteria Indicators are met
The teacher resources contain a large bank of material from which to choose that teacher's could use to facilitate 3D science instruction. However, many of these resources only superficially present the CCC's and SEP's and teachers would need a strong background in 3D science instruction to develop a coherent student learning experience. Many of the resources are of high quality and engaging.
Teacher Supports: Supports teachers in facilitating coherent student learning experiences over time i. Provides strategies for linking student engagement across lessons (e.g. cultivating new student questions at the end of a lesson in a way that leads to future lessons) ii. Providing strategies for ensuring student sense‐making and/or problem‐solving is linked to learning in all three dimensions (e.g. Claim Evidence Reasoning-CER Framework for communicating sense-making, teacher probing questions) iii. Provides additional resources for student learning (e.g. Models, simulations, and/or data sets for students investigation) 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met None of the Criteria Indicators are met
The teacher resources contain a large bank of material from which to choose that teacher's could use to facilitate 3D science instruction. However, many of these resources only superficially present the CCC's and SEP's and teachers would need a strong background in 3D science instruction to develop a coherent student learning experience. Many of the resources are of high quality and engaging.
Assessments: Includes formative, summative, and guidance measures for interpreting student performances that assess three‐dimensional science learning. i. Embeds formative assessment processes throughout conceptual development that surfaces student understanding to inform instruction ii. Embeds summative assessment processes following conceptual development that evaluate student learning and measure understanding iii. Includes aligned rubrics or scoring guidelines that provide guidance for interpreting student performance 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met None of the Criteria Indicators are met
Assessments are aligned mostly to content, with little integration of crosscutting concepts and science and engineering practices. Teachers have a lot of options to customize their course to address their students’ needs, such as assigning readings, customizing assignments, allowing students to receive hints and feedback on questions, etc. Teachers can easily add assignments to the gradebook embedded in the site. No clear evidence if this integrates with Canvas or other LMS's commonly used.
Accessibility
Item 3 - Extensive 2 - Adequate 1 - Inadequate 0 - None
Relevant and Authentic: Engages students in authentic and meaningful scenarios that reflect the practice of science and engineering as experienced in the real world. i. Students experience phenomena or design problems as directly as possible (first-hand or through media representations) ii. Includes suggestions for how to connect instruction to the students' home, neighborhood, community and/or culture as appropriate iii. Provides opportunities for students to connect their explanation of a phenomenon and/or their design solution to a problem to questions from their own experience 3 of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met 1 of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met None of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met
The online text is not phenomenon based and provides little and superficial integration of crosscutting concepts and science and engineering processes. When phenomenon are used, they function as a hook and not as a driver of the instruction. They are not visited again later in the instructional sequence. The teacher materials provide an extensive selection of labs, resources, visuals, and other resources from which to choose. The teacher would need to identify and cultivate resources that would support 3D instruction and connect to students.
Teacher Supports for Diverse Learners: Provides guidance for teachers to support differentiated instruction i. Includes appropriate reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking alternatives (e.g., translations, picture support, graphic organizers, etc.) for students who are English language learners, have special needs, or read well below grade level ii. Provides extra support (e.g., phenomena, representations, tasks) for students who are struggling to meet the targeted expectations iii. Provides extensions for students with high interest or who have already met the performance expectations to develop a deeper understanding of the practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met None of the Criteria Indicators are met
The teacher materials provide an extensive selection of labs, resources, visuals, and other resources from which to choose. The teacher would need to identify and cultivate resources that would support 3D instruction and connect to students. The text alone does not differentiate well to students diverse needs, nor does it represent 3D instruction without the use of additional resources.
Accessible for all students: Engages students using methods, vocabulary, representations, and examples that are accessible and unbiased for all learners (e.g., Deaf and Blind, English Learners, Gifted and Talented, Special Education). Instructional Materials are accessible for all students N/A N/A Instructional Materials are NOT accessible for all students
The text is written to an appropriate level and is very student-friendly. Struggling readers may struggle with it, and no "text to speech" software was identified as part of the system, but could be used within a web browser. Options are provided within the browser to increase the text size for visually impaired students. Vocabulary terms are hyperlinked to a definition in both Spanish and English.
Physical Characteristics This item has not been graded.
Technical Standards This item has not been graded.
Ethnic Studies- (Ethnic studies in core standards and curriculum should be a narrowly tailored incorporation of age-appropriate opportunities that naturally arise through education without pretextual effort in courses, programs, or activities where ethnic studies is not a primary focus. The material should incorporate a curriculum of people and cultures that reflect the state’s various demographics without commentary that seeks to violate the neutrality standard established in codes: 53B-1-118, 53G-2-103, 53G-2-104, 53G-2-105, 67-27-107, This item has not been graded.
Shared Values and Character Traits This item has not been graded.
Utah State Board of Education logo
UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

250 East 500 South

Salt Lake City, UT 84111-3204

Phone: 801.538.7807 

© Copyright 2025 Utah State Board of Education