Freedom251 › K-12 Curriculum Platforms
OpenSciEd
What OpenSciEd is
OpenSciEd creates free, NGSS-aligned science materials and professional learning support for educators, covering elementary, middle and high school. Its phenomena-based approach centers lessons on students asking questions, investigating and solving problems; teachers are encouraged to adapt the materials for their students. Released units can be downloaded as PDFs or Google Drive files, as well as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files. Some units are available in Google Classroom or Canvas versions. Free self-guided learning paths connect to the materials, instructional practices and classroom decisions, while an on-demand support library provides videos and resources for preparing units, understanding routines, anticipating student ideas and implementation. Access to the free materials requires registration, intended for educators or parents rather than K–12 students. Middle school materials use CC BY 4.0; elementary and high school materials use CC-BY-NC licensing, with free and perpetual noncommercial 5R permissions. The high school offering includes three courses addressing the NGSS. OpenSciEd describes itself as an independent nonprofit organization.
Who it suits
It suits educators looking for adaptable science materials and professional learning across elementary, middle and high school. Registration is intended for educators or parents, rather than K–12 students.
What it does well
- Curriculum spans elementary, middle and high school.
- Lessons center on student questions and investigations.
- Released units have several downloadable file formats.
- Free self-guided learning paths and teacher support resources.
- Some units have Google Classroom or Canvas versions.
What to know first
- Registration is required to access free materials.
- Registration is intended for educators or parents, not K–12 students.
- Elementary and high school materials use CC-BY-NC licensing.
- The website does not guarantee continuous availability.
Limits
The curriculum and resources plan costs nothing, with registration required for educators or parents. Elementary and high school materials use CC-BY-NC licensing; middle school materials use CC BY 4.0.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| OpenSciEd curriculum and resources | $0 to download · registration required · educators or parents only | Free |
| OpenSciEd core curriculum | Free online access · downloadable PDFs and Google Drive versions · registration required | Free |
| Packaged curriculum from certified distributors | books · lab kits · online platforms | On request |
| Certified distributor packages | Printed books · laboratory kits · online platforms · professional learning | On request |
As openscied.org lists them, read 2 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the OpenSciEd website.
- Register as an educator or parent to access the free materials.
- Choose materials for elementary, middle, or high school.
- Download released units as PDFs, Google Drive files, Word files, or PowerPoint files.
- Adapt lessons for your students, and use available Google Classroom or Canvas versions where offered.
Verdict
OpenSciEd offers adaptable science units alongside free learning paths and teacher support resources. Check registration eligibility and the license for the grade band you plan to use.
Questions
How much does OpenSciEd cost?
The OpenSciEd curriculum and resources plan is free, billed at $0 to download. Registration is required.
Who can register for the free materials?
Registration is intended for educators or parents rather than K-12 students.
What grade levels does OpenSciEd cover?
Its curriculum is offered for elementary, middle, and high school.
What formats can I download?
Released units can be downloaded as PDFs, Google Drive files, Microsoft Word files, and PowerPoint files. Some units also have Google Classroom or Canvas versions.
What license applies to the curriculum?
Middle school materials use CC BY 4.0. Elementary and high school materials use CC-BY-NC licensing, with free, perpetual noncommercial 5R permissions.
Who makes OpenSciEd?
OpenSciEd describes itself as an independent nonprofit organization.
Facts from OpenSciEd's own pages
- Accessibility
- OpenSciEd publishes Accessibility Conformance Reports addressing Section 508 and WCAG 2.2 for elementary, middle and high-school materials. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Adaptability
- Teachers are encouraged to download and customize the fully adaptable lessons for their students’ needs. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- Assessment feature
- Assessment is primarily formative and teacher-managed, using written explanations, discussion artifacts and evolving models. · mission.io, 15 Oct 2026
- Availability limitation
- OpenSciEd says it cannot guarantee that the website will always be running and disclaims liability for data loss caused by unavailability. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- Canvas API
- The Canvas Loader uses Canvas APIs to create native courses, modules, assignments, files, discussions and quizzes; it does not enroll students or retrieve outcomes. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Classroom integrations
- Some units can be downloaded in Google Classroom or Canvas versions. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- Commercial-use limit
- Commercial reuse is handled through a separate agreement and may require fees; the June 3, 2026 version adds restrictions on AI training plus human review and disclosure requirements. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Company status
- LinkedIn lists OpenSciEd as a nonprofit primary and secondary education organization founded in 2018, headquartered in New York City, with 11–50 employees. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Computer-science integration
- Five middle-school units integrate computer science for data collection, modeling and testing. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Corrections process
- OpenSciEd maintains a public corrections page listing post-release inaccuracies and updates by grade, course and unit. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Curriculum access
- Core instructional materials can be downloaded free from the OpenSciEd website, while packaged print, kit and platform versions are sold through certified distributors. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Released units can be downloaded as PDFs or Google Drive files and downloaded as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2018 · openscied.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Funding supporters
- OpenSciEd identifies Carnegie Corporation, Schusterman, Gates, Walton and Hewlett foundations among supporters of its early development. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Google and Canvas downloads
- Units are available as Google Suite files or PDFs, and a Canvas Loader imports assignments and materials as editable draft posts. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Google Classroom integration
- The Google Classroom Loader creates draft assignments and material posts that teachers can edit, target to sections and share with colleagues. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Grade levels
- The curriculum is offered for elementary, middle, and high school. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- High-school courses
- The high-school program includes biology, chemistry and physics courses with Earth and space science content, hands-on investigations and data analysis. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- High school offering
- OpenSciEd High School offers three courses addressing the NGSS. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- Independent review
- The three OpenSciEd High School courses received all-green ratings from EdReports after an educator-led review process. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
- Instructional model
- Units use anchoring phenomena, student questions, investigations, model revision and collaborative scientific sensemaking in extended storylines. · mission.io, 15 Oct 2026
- Legal and tax identity
- Charity Navigator lists OPENSCIED as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN 39-2270152. · charitynavigator.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Since October 18, 2023, classroom curriculum and professional-learning materials are generally under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0, with attribution and a site link required for noncommercial reuse. · openscied.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- Middle school materials use CC BY 4.0, while elementary and high school materials use CC-BY-NC licensing; noncommercial 5R permissions are free and perpetual. · openscied.org, 2 Oct 2026
Where OpenSciEd stands on Freedom251
- K-12 Curriculum Platforms#2 of 29