We chose Issues and Science, Designed for the NGSS after piloting the program in each grade and attending training programs. The lessons provide a storyline for students to follow while using engaging, hands-on activities to understand the content. We find that this inquiry approach leads to a deeper student understanding of the content. Students are working collaboratively and independently as they explore engaging experiences while using an interactive notebook to journal activities.
For teachers, the lessons in Issues and Science are three dimensional and is consistent with Next Generation Science Standards. The teacher resources supplied with the program nicely lay out the phenomena and standards for each unit. The biggest shift we've had since moving to Issues and Science is allowing students to discover the content for themselves.