Science program: "potentially negative effects on general science achievement for middle school students"

GEMS® The Real Reasons for Seasons is a curriculum unit for grades 6–8 that focuses on the connections between the Sun and the Earth to teach students the scientific concepts behind the seasons.

The WWC identified one study that examined the effects of GEMS® The Real Reasons for Seasons on the science achievement of middle school students. The study is a randomized controlled trial that meets WWC evidence standards without reservations and included 4,777 seventh-grade students in 10 middle schools in Maryland.

Based on the evidence presented in the study, the WWC found that GEMS® The Real Reasons for Seasons has potentially negative effects on general science achievement for middle school students.

For the full report, go to http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=620.