The main program materials comprise of a textbook for students and a resource edition for teachers. In addition, students can create a student journal to record observations and keep track of activities.
Each IMaST module is made into one complete textbook and, in general, it comprises of the following components:
• The Challenge
• The Activities
Each activity is further broken down into the sections Exploring, Getting the Idea, Applying the Idea, and Expanding the Idea.
The teacher's resource edition begins with a detailed description ranging from introducing the challenge to introducing the module. Following the descriptions for each activity in the student textbook, there is a corresponding teacher's text providing answers, offering suggestions for class discussion, and describing possible student outcomes for each phase of the learning cycle. Each activity has an assessment or progress check section with outlined evaluation criteria. The edition concludes with a comprehensive integrated End-of-module assessment.
The equipment and materials needed for each activity are listed in the teacher's resource edition at the beginning of each activity. These lists suggest simple, readily available, and economical substitutes or alternatives for some of the suggested materials. Additionally, teachers may develop their own creative substitutes.
The teacher's resource edition includes the activity assessment at the end of each mathematics, science, and technology activity. It contains outlines of grading criteria to assess discipline-specific skills, processes, and content. With slight modifications, teachers can use these activity assessments for either individual or team assessment.
The creation of an IMaST student journal is intended to provide an opportunity to develop writing skills by asking students to describe in it their predictions, observations, results, and conclusions. Reflections written down at the end of each phase of the learning cycle, or at the end of each activity give students writing practice and a chance to evaluate their progress. Teachers may augment modules with student journals using them to teach basic language skills and essential concepts in social studies.
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