Astronomy and the NGSS State Standards

The Next Generation Science Standards (will soon) drive K-12 science education in much of the country, including Washington State, We have created a cross reference between these standards and learning objectives from a UW Astronomy 101 course*. The standards "view science as both a body of knowledge and a practice of evidence-based theory building", which is a broader view than the learning objectives currently address. For this reason, reading the standards can beneficial to everyone involved in astronomy education, including college instructors.

Example Learning Objective

NGSS Standard of the form HS-PS#-# or HS-ESS#-#: HS indicates high school; PS and ESS refer to physical science (PS) or earth and space science (ESS), both disciplinary core ideas in the NGSS; and the numbers indicate the specific performance expectation.

Use Kepler's Laws to relate orbital speeds, periods, and distances of the planets.

HS-ESS1-4: Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.

Quantitatively compare the strength of gravitational forces between different pairs of objects (with varying masses and distances).

HS-PS2-4: Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.

Relate light's properties (wavelength, frequency, speed, energy) with each other.

HS-PS4-1: Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.

Relate the structure of the atom to spectral signatures (absorption and emission lines).

HS-PS3-1: Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.

Resolution versus diameter of scope (I don't actually cover telescopes in my course, but I wanted to note this possible match).

HS-PS4-5: Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.

Explain what makes a star. (how they produce energy)

HS-ESS1-1: Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun’s core to release energy in the form of radiation.

HS-PS1-8: Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.

Compare and contrast stellar evolution for low- and high-mass stars.

HS-ESS1-3: Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements.

Describe evidence for the Big Bang model beyond expansion of the Universe.

HS-ESS1-2: Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.

* Solar System/Planetary Standards

The learning objectives come from Oliver Fraser's 101B course which, consistent with UW tradition, doesn't cover the planets. If your course does you may wish to consider the following NGSS standards.

HS-ESS1-5: Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks.

HS-ESS1-6: Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history.

HS-ESS2-1: Develop a model to illustrate how Earth’s internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.

HS-ESS2-4: Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate.