District pilots Smithsonian K–5 science kits after teacher trial; pacing, guides flagged as implementation needs

Germantown School District’s curriculum team recommended moving forward with Smithsonian elementary science materials after a year‑long pilot, while acknowledging practical implementation issues teachers flagged.

District staff reported that 32 classrooms across all elementary schools piloted the Smithsonian kits. Teachers rated the materials positively for alignment with standards and for phenomenon‑based instruction — the model that asks students to grapple with real problems rather than memorize discrete facts. "The resource meets expectations," pilot summaries said, and staff noted the kits’ fit with the district’s vision for science instruction.

Pilot teachers raised two consistent concerns: lesson pacing and the absence of the vendor’s printed teacher guides in the pilot package. Many elementary schedules provide limited contiguous time for science; several pilot lessons were built on 45‑ to 60‑minute experiences, while available daily instructional windows at the elementary level are often 25–30 minutes, requiring teachers to split or adapt lessons.

Teachers also reported the pilot package used speaker notes and online materials in lieu of printed teacher guides — a temporary limitation because the pilot used the newest edition that the vendor had not yet shipped. Curriculum staff said the publisher will provide print guides if the district proceeds to adoption, and recommended a pacing guide and teacher‑training plan to address daily time constraints.

Given those caveats, the buildings and teaching committee approved a positive recommendation to the finance committee to adopt Smithsonian v2 for K–5 science, with administration directed to negotiate delivery of teacher guides and prepare pacing supports and professional development prior to rollout.

What’s next: finance will review the purchase cost and shipping; curriculum staff will develop pacing guidance and an implementation calendar so teachers receive guides and training before classroom rollout.