Built for the Illinois Learning Standards for Science
Stile helps students build scientific understanding and reasoning through connected learning experiences that deepen thinking over time and prepare students for success in high school science and beyond.
Purposeful tasks. Evidence-based revision. Lessons that advance student thinking.
Thoughtfully designed three-dimensional learning
Illinois's science standards ask students to do more than learn scientific facts. They ask students to develop and revise explanations as they build understanding over time.
That process is at the heart of Stile. Throughout each unit, students return to meaningful scientific questions, use evidence to support their thinking, and revise their explanations as they learn more. This iterative explanation-building is a core part of authentic three-dimensional learning, and it happens within every lesson and across every unit.
Drawing on the strongest elements of our middle school science curriculum, Stile has been tailored for Illinois. The result is a coherent, sequenced program for grades 6–8 that meets the full depth and specificity of the Illinois Learning Standards for Science.
Real-world phenomena from right here in Illinois
Stile's phenomena are rooted in real science happening all around the world. But there's nothing more fascinating than investigating what's happening right where you live. Stile's curriculum for Illinois includes brand-new lessons drawn directly from the state.
Illinois' invasive species
Illinois is under pressure from invasive species that threaten native organisms and disrupt ecosystems statewide.
Students investigate how the elm zigzag sawfly could harm Illinois ecosystems, analyzing case studies and species interactions to explain impacts on biodiversity.
Food Chains and Food WebsGrade 7MS-LS2-2
Heat islands
Some Chicago neighborhoods are significantly hotter than surrounding areas due to dense development, dark surfaces, and limited green space, with temperatures rising by as much as 5–10°F.
Students analyze data to explain why heat varies across the city and apply their understanding of thermal energy transfer to design solutions that reduce extreme heat.
Weather patterns
Each winter, parts of upstate Illinois experience intense snowstorms that form in narrow bands west of Lake Michigan, dumping heavy snow over small areas.
Students analyze data from a lake-effect snow event to identify patterns in wind, temperature, and precipitation, and explain how air mass interactions produce extreme winter weather.
Prepare your students for the Illinois science assessment
Illinois assesses science at grades 5, 8, and 11 using NGSS-aligned assessments that measure three-dimensional learning across life, physical, and Earth/space science. Stile's curriculum precisely scaffolds both the content and the practices, with plenty of opportunities to think like scientists and excel on the assessment.
MCAS Grade 8 STE Test
Question
Two waves, X and Y, are shown in the diagram. Which of the following best compares the energy of wave X with the energy of wave Y?
- Wave X has more energy than wave Y because wave X has a larger amplitude.
- Wave X has less energy than wave Y because wave X has a smaller wavelength.
- Wave X has the same amount of energy as wave Y because waves X and Y have the same amplitude.
- Wave X has the same amount of energy as wave Y because waves X and Y have the same wavelength.
Stile Practice Test
Question
Which statement correctly describes how the sound waves changed with distance from the speaker?
The energy and amplitude decreased
The wavelength and energy decreased
The frequency and amplitude decreased
The frequency and wavelength decreased
Watch a Stile classroom in action
See exactly how a real Stile implementation works in practice. In this spotlight, teachers share how Stile has saved prep time, boosted student engagement, and made science class the highlight of the day.
Pilot Stile with a team of experts behind you
Stile is all about giving teachers the best possible start. Every Stile pilot comes with hands-on support from a dedicated Teaching and Learning Specialist who understands middle school science and knows how to make curriculum implementation work.
They'll work with your teachers. Learn your context. Help you get the most out of every lesson.
