Elementary
Students in kindergarten through sixth grade begin to develop an understanding of physical sciences, life sciences, earth and space sciences and engineering, technology, and applications of science. In the early grades, students begin by recognizing patterns and formulating answers to questions about the world around them. By the end of sixth grade, students are able to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in gathering, describing, and using information about the natural and designed world.
(*adapted from the NGSS Elementary Standards)
Middle School
Students in middle school develop understanding of key concepts to help them make sense of earth and space science, life science and physical science. These ideas build upon students’ science understanding from earlier grades and from the other science disciplines. Students have also had numerous experiences in engineering design and problem solving. Below is an overview of the major topics in each science discipline.
Earth & Space Science
Students develop an understanding of a wide range of topics in six standard topics: Space Systems, History of Earth, Earth’s Interior Systems, Earth’s Surface Systems, Weather and Climate, and Human Impacts. Students formulate answers to questions like: “What makes up our solar system and how can the motion of Earth explain seasons and eclipses?” “How do people figure out that the Earth and life on Earth have changed over time?” “How does water influence weather, circulate in the oceans, and shape Earth’s surface?” “What factors interact and influence weather and climate?” and “How do human activities affect Earth systems?”
Life Science
There are five life science topics in middle school: Structure, Function and Information Processing; Growth, Development and Reproduction of Organisms; Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems; Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems; and Natural Selection and Adaptations. Students produce answers to questions including: “How do the structures of organisms contribute to life’s functions?” “How do organisms grow, develop, and reproduce?” “How do organisms obtain and use matter and energy?” and “How does the environment influence genetic traits in populations over multiple generations?”
Physical Science
Physical Science continues the development of understanding the four core ideas: Structure and Properties of Matter, Chemical Reactions, Forces and Interactions, and Energy, Waves & Electromagnetic Radiation. Students develop answers to questions such as: “How can particles combine to produce a substance with different properties?” “What happens when new materials are formed?” “How can one describe physical interactions between objects?” “How can energy be transferred from one object or system to another?” and “What are the characteristic properties of waves and how can they be used?”
(*adapted from the NGSS Middle School Standards)
High School
Students in high school develop understanding of key concepts to help them make sense of earth and space science, life science and physical science. These ideas build upon students’ science understanding from middle school through more advanced content. Students have also had numerous experiences in engineering design and problem solving. Below is an overview of the major topics in each science discipline.
Earth & Space Science
Students develop an understanding of a wide range of topics in five standard topics: Space Systems, History of Earth, Earth’s Systems, Weather and Climate, and Human Impacts. Students formulate answers to questions like: “What is the universe, and what goes on in stars?” “How do people reconstruct and date events in Earth’s planetary history?” “How do the major Earth systems interact?” “What regulates weather and climate?” and “How do humans depend on Earth’s resources?”
Life Science
There are five life science topics in high school: Structure and Function; Inheritance and Variation of Traits; Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems; Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems; and Natural Selection and Evolution. Students produce answers to questions including: “How do the structures of organisms enable life’s functions?” “How are the characteristics from one generation related to the previous generation?” “How do organisms obtain and use energy they need to live and grow?” “How do organisms interact with the living and non-living environment to obtain mater and energy?” and “How can there be so many similarities among organisms yet so may different plants, animals, and microorganisms?”
Physical Science
Physical Science continues the development of understanding the four core ideas: Structure and Properties of Matter, Chemical Reactions, Forces and Interactions, and Energy, Waves & Electromagnetic Radiation. Students develop answers to questions such as: “How can one explain the structure and properties of matter?” “How do substances combine or change (react) to make new substances?” “How can one explain and predict interactions between objects and within systems of objects?” “How is energy transferred and conserved?” and “How are waves used to transfer energy and send and store information?”
(*adapted from the NGSS High School Standards)