As schools start the 2026–27 school year, Green Ninja has officially released seven redesigned New Generation Science Units for grades 6–8.
The units were developed in response to a significant national need. Only 31% of eighth-grade students performed at or above NAEP Proficient in science in 2024, while 38% performed below NAEP Basic. These figures are accurate according to the official 2024 NAEP science results.
Green Ninja’s redesigned units help teachers facilitate rigorous, NGSS-aligned science while giving more students the support they need to participate meaningfully.
The units were developed with particular attention to early-career science teachers and students who are still building grade-level skills, have been affected by systemic barriers or limited resources, or benefit from additional scaffolding and literacy support. During field testing, 60% of participating teachers reported serving students performing below grade level.
For teachers, a consistent lesson structure, clearer teacher and student materials, and guidance provided at the point of instruction make project-based science easier to navigate and implement.
For students, accessible readings, built-in scaffolds and a repeated do-talk-read-write cycle create multiple ways to investigate real-world phenomena, discuss ideas, interpret evidence and communicate scientific understanding. These supports lower barriers to learning without reducing the rigor of grade-level science.
“Teachers told us they needed clearer guidance on what matters most in each lesson, and more support for newer teachers,” said Leah Tremblay, CEO of Green Ninja. “We used that feedback to redesign the units so teachers are better supported in bringing rigorous NGSS content to their classrooms.”
Insight Ninja assessments are embedded directly within the units, making formative assessment easier to administer during instruction. Teachers can quickly identify patterns and misconceptions in open-ended responses and receive suggested next steps for targeted support—without spending hours manually reviewing answers.
“Overall, I found this to be an amazing tool—it saves me a lot of time and helps me actually understand where my students are, not just whether they got the right answer,” said Trevor Roberts, a middle school science teacher and Insight Ninja field test participant.
Teachers preparing for the 2026–27 school year can explore the seven New Generation Science Units, embedded Insight Ninja assessments and more than 300 ready-to-teach lessons through a free 30-day trial at www.greenninja.org.
Green Ninja is a comprehensive middle school science curriculum designed to empower students as leaders of positive change. Developed by a team of experts at San José State University, including founder Dr. Eugene Cordero, Green Ninja began as a National Science Foundation-funded project to enhance climate literacy.
Today, Green Ninja connects learners to real-world issues through project-based learning while giving teachers the guidance they need to make rigorous science accessible to more students. Each unit culminates in a project that challenges students to apply their learning to an issue affecting their local community, helping them build academic confidence and develop as leaders.
