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What are the Next Generation Science Standards?
What are the Next Generation Science Standards?
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in California are a set of guidelines that outline what students should learn in science from kindergarten through 12th grade. These standards were developed to improve science education and prepare students for the challenges of the modern world.
The NGSS focus on three main dimensions of science learning:
Science and Engineering Practices: These are the skills and methods scientists and engineers use to investigate and solve problems. Students are encouraged to engage in activities such as asking questions, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and constructing arguments based on evidence.
Crosscutting Concepts: These are fundamental ideas that apply across different scientific disciplines. They help students make connections between different areas of science and understand the underlying principles that govern the natural world. Some examples of crosscutting concepts include patterns, cause and effect, and systems and system models.
Disciplinary Core Ideas: These are the specific concepts and knowledge within each scientific discipline that students should learn. The NGSS cover various scientific domains such as physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering.
The NGSS also emphasize the integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to foster a holistic understanding of these subjects and their real-world applications. The standards encourage students to think critically, solve problems, and engage in scientific inquiry.
By following the NGSS, California aims to provide students with a robust and relevant science education that prepares them for college, careers, and active participation in an increasingly scientific and technological society. The standards also promote a deeper understanding of scientific concepts and encourage students to become scientifically literate citizens.
6th Grade Integrated Standards
6th Grade Integrated Standards
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes (Cells)
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes (Cells)
Students will examine the structures and functions of living organisms and non-living systems. They will explore how the structures of plants and animals enable them to survive and thrive in their environments.
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Students will examine how organisms inherit traits from their parents through asexual and sexual reproduction. They will learn about the concept of heredity, which is the passing on of genetic information from one generation to the next. Through investigations and experiments, students will explore how specific traits are determined by genes and how these genes can be passed down to offspring.
Earth’s Systems: Water and Weather
Earth’s Systems: Water and Weather
Students will examine Earth's systems, including the geosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living organisms). They will learn how these systems interact and influence Earth's processes, such as weather, climate, erosion, and the distribution of resources.
Earth and Human Activity
Earth and Human Activity
Students will explore the impact of human activity on Earth's systems. They will study topics such as pollution, conservation, and the sustainable use of natural resources. They will also learn about the importance of responsible environmental practices.
Energy
Energy
Students will investigate different forms of energy, including thermal, electrical, and mechanical energy. They will learn about energy transfer and transformations and understand how energy is harnessed and used in various systems and technologies.
Engineering Design
Engineering Design
Students will learn about the design process and how engineers identify problems, generate ideas, and develop solutions. Through hands-on projects and collaborative work, students will apply their scientific and technological knowledge to create innovative designs, test them, and make improvements.
7th Grade Integrated Standards
7th Grade Integrated Standards
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Students will investigate how matter and energy flow and cycle through living organisms and ecosystems. They will explore topics such as food webs, energy transfer in ecosystems, and the interdependence of organisms within their environments.
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Students will investigate how matter and energy flow and cycle through living organisms and ecosystems. They will explore topics such as food webs, energy transfer in ecosystems, and the interdependence of organisms within their environments.
Earth’s Systems
Earth’s Systems
Students explore the processes that shape the Earth's surface, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and the movement of tectonic plates. They learn about how these events can create mountains, valleys, and other landforms. Students learn about the age of rocks, fossils, and how they provide clues about the planet's past.
Earth and Human Activity
Earth and Human Activity
Students explore the concept of natural hazards, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods, and how they can pose risks to human populations. They learn about the factors that contribute to these hazards and ways to mitigate their impact through preparedness and planning. Students investigate how human actions, such as the extraction of natural resources and the release of pollutants, can affect Earth's systems. They explore strategies for conserving resources, reducing pollution, and promoting a sustainable future.
Matter and Its Interactions
Matter and Its Interactions
Students will examine the properties of matter and how its structure affects its behavior. They will learn about the properties of substances, such as their states (solid, liquid, gas), conductivity, and solubility, and how these properties are related to the arrangement and interactions of atoms and molecules.
Engineering Design
Engineering Design
Through engineering design, students learn to apply scientific principles to solve practical problems, develop innovative solutions, and make a positive impact on society. It emphasizes hands-on, practical learning and prepares students for the challenges and opportunities in the fields of engineering and technology.
8th Grade Integrated Standards
8th Grade Integrated Standards
Engineering Design
Engineering Design
Students will explore the process of designing and creating solutions to real-world problems using scientific principles and engineering practices. They will learn how to identify problems, generate ideas, and test and refine their designs.
Waves and Energy
Waves and Energy
Students will study different types of waves, such as light and sound waves, and how they interact with matter. They will learn about energy transfer and transformation, including how energy from the Sun is converted into usable forms on Earth.
Forces and Motion
Forces and Motion
Students will examine the relationship between forces and motion. They will learn about the laws of motion and how they apply to objects in motion. They will also explore the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object's motion.
Natural Selection/Evolution
Natural Selection/Evolution
Students will delve into the concept of biological evolution and the diversity of life on Earth. They will study how organisms change over time through the process of natural selection and understand how genetic variation and environmental factors influence these changes.
Space Systems
Space Systems
Students will explore the vastness of the universe and our planet's place within it. They will learn about the solar system, the Sun, Moon, and other celestial objects. They will also study the patterns and motions of celestial bodies and their impact on Earth.
History of Earth
History of Earth
Students will explore Earth's geological history and the processes that shape the planet. They will learn about fossils, rock formations, and plate tectonics, and how these factors contribute to the changes on Earth over time.
Human Impact on Earth Systems
Human Impact on Earth Systems
Students will examine the impact of human activities on the environment and Earth's systems. They will explore topics such as pollution, resource use, climate change, and conservation to develop an understanding of how their actions can affect the planet.
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