Learning Progressions

Argumentation Learning Progression

This learning progression relates to the Next Generation Science Standards’ Arguing from Evidence science and engineering practice.

Level 3: Students at this level are able to argue from evidence, making claims, supporting the claims with evidence, and connecting them with reasoning. Students need support in constructing counter arguments and identifying which of two arguments is stronger.

Level 2: Students at this level are able to make claims and identify evidence. They need support finding reasoning to connect their claims to evidence.

Level 1: Students at this level are starting to understand how to argue from evidence. They may be able to make a claim and are beginning to learn to identify evidence.

Level 0: Students at this level need support making claims and finding evidence.

Particulate Explanations of Physical Change, Arrangements and Movements (strand C) Learning Progression

Level 3: Can explain why a volume of ice contains fewer molecules than the same volume of water.

Water molecules occupy more space when the water evaporates and they are moving more freely.

Level 2: Knows that a given volume of ice contains fewer molecules than the same volume of water.

Knows that in ice the spaces between the molecules are empty.

Level 1: Can describe the arrangements molecules in ice, water and water vapor. Can describe the movements of molecules in ice, water and water vapor. Knows that a given volume of water vapor contains fewer molecules than the same volume of liquid water.