Early learners in kindergarten and first grade across Minnesota’s Grand Rapids ISD 318 (District 318) will return to their classrooms this Fall with new resources from worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education in their digital backpacks. Thanks to a new multiyear partnership with Discovery Education, students and teachers in the district’s kindergarten and first grade classrooms will have access to the company’s award-winning Mystery Science service. With this new digital resource, educators are empowered to ignite student curiosity and more deeply engage young learners in science instruction as they explore the natural world. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports instruction wherever it takes place.
Located in Minnesota’s picturesque Itasca County, District 318 serves approximately 4,000 students, along with additional programs that serve individuals from birth to adults. The district serves Grand Rapids, Cohasset, Bigfork, Marcell, Warba, and many smaller towns and townships over a 2,200 square mile area. The district mission is “Teaching and Learning for Life to Achieve Excellence,” and its strategic aims are “Highest Student Achievement, Safe Environment, Effective and Efficient Systems, and Partnerships.”
As part of the school system’s curriculum review cycle, District 318 staff sought new science resources with a proven record of success in other school districts, that included a significant hands-on component, and that were easy for educators to integrate into existing lessons and simple for students to use. Following a careful review of viable solutions, District 318 selected Discovery Education’s Mystery Science for kindergarten and first grade classroom use.
Mystery Science, which joined the family of Discovery Education services in 2020 and has won SIIA’s Best Science Instructional Solution CODiE award for Grades PK – 8, provides K-5 educators simple-to-use, open-and-go, hands-on lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students. Students then explore these questions through interactive videos featuring real-world visuals fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in the accompanying discussion prompts.
Then, students participate in easy to prepare affordable hands-on labs that use simple science supplies commonly found in classrooms or at home. Mystery Science contains everything teachers need to get students engaged in hands-on science and make that subject the best class of the day.
Mystery Science simplifies prep for teachers, making the integration of this resource into classroom instruction simple. Plus, all K-5 science lessons are now available in Spanish, with accompanying videos featuring authentic Spanish narration and Spanish text-on-screen (for discussion questions, vocabulary words, and step-by-step instructions). Editable, ready-to-use worksheets and assessments are also available in both English and Spanish.
“We are excited to integrate Mystery Science into classroom instruction this Fall,” said Ryan DeBay, District 318’s Director of Teaching and Learning. “This resource enhances our teachers’ ability to ignite our youngest students’ curiosity and channel it to learning about the world around them.”
All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resource have access to the Discovery Educator Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.
“Discovery Education is proud to collaborate with the talented team at District 318 to introduce Mystery Science to students,” said Steve Miller, Discovery Education’s District Partnership Manager for Mystery Science. “District 318 is charting an exciting course for science education, and we are excited to be a part of this important work.”
For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning services—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds— visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
