Scientific Investigation - The student demonstrates the ability to design, conduct, evaluate, and present a scientific investigation.
Primary (K-3)
1.1
Knows that evidence can be gathered from direct observations and simple experiments.
1.2
Understands the use of careful description in science and how it allows for comparison.
Intermediate (4-6)
1.1
Knows vocabulary associated with a scientific investigation (e.g., question/problem, hypothesis, variable, control, data, conclusion).
1.2
Knows characteristics of scientific investigations (e.g., involve planning and data collecting, are reproducible).
1.3
Uses scientific processes to conduct a directed scientific investigation (e.g., observing, recording, interpreting, using appropriate scientific equipment).
Matter - The student demonstrates an understanding that matter has characteristic properties which are related to its structure.
Primary (K-3)
2A.1
Knows common physical properties of matter (e.g., size, shape, texture, color, buoyancy).
2A.2
Knows that matter exists in different states (e.g., solid, liquid, gas).
Intermediate (4-6)
2A.1
Knows physical and chemical properties of matter (e.g., physical properties: boiling point, melting point, magnetism, solubility; and chemical properties: acidic, basic, rusting).
2A.2
Knows that there are about 100 elements and that elements are seldom found in their pure form.
Energy - The student demonstrates an understanding that energy appears in different forms and can be transferred.
Primary (K-3)
2B.1
Knows that energy can affect common objects and events (e.g., light, heat, sound, electricity).
Intermediate (4-6)
2B.1
Understands quantities associated with different forms of energy (e.g., temperature, time, distance).
2B.2
Knows that energy can be stored and transferred.
Matter and Energy - The student demonstrates an understanding that interactions between matter and energy can produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of matter and energy remain unchanged.
Primary (K-3)
2C.1
Knows that change can be observed in terms of starting conditions, type of change, and ending conditions.
Intermediate (4-6)
2C.1
Knows what does and does not change when matter experiences an external influence (e.g., push, pull, temperature change).
2C.2
Knows how to identify and classify factors causing change within a system (e.g., force, light, heat, change in position or speed).
2C.3
Understands the relationship between force and motion.
2C.4
Knows the differences between work and power (e.g., work is the energy it takes to move an object and power is the rate at which work is done).
Cells - The student demonstrates an understanding of characteristics of cells and the processes they perform.
Primary (K-3)
3A.1
Not developmentally appropriate
Intermediate (4-6)
3A.1
Knows major structures (organelles) of a cell and their functions in the cell.
3A.2
Understands that cells divide.
3A.3
Knows the relationships among cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
3A.4
Knows that plant cells use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen by the process of photosynthesis.
Living Things - The student demonstrates an understanding of the characteristics of living things, the processes they perform, and their taxonomic relationships.
Primary (K-3)
3B.1
Distinguishes living from non-living things.
3B.2
Describes the basic needs of organisms (e.g., food, water, air, shelter).
3B.3
Understands the life cycles of various organisms (e.g., humans, insects, plants).
3B.4
Knows that organisms can be classified according to various characteristics (e.g., backbone vs. no backbone).
Intermediate (4-6)
3B.1
Knows the structure and function of major body systems.
3B.2
Knows the similarities and differences between plants and animals.
Organisms and Environment - The student demonstrates an understanding of how organisms and their environment interact.
Primary (K-3)
3C.1
Knows that green plants need light to live.
3C.2
Knows that animals must consume plants and/or animals to live.
Intermediate (4-6)
3C.1
Knows how organisms depend on and interact with each other and with non-living parts of their environment.
3C.2
Understands the role of organisms in food chains and webs (e.g., producers, consumers, decomposers).
3C.3
Knows some species of organisms are threatened, endangered or extinct.
Adapt to Changes in Environment - The student demonstrates an understanding of how species evolve in response to changes in their environment.
Primary (K-3)
3D.1
Knows that there are variations among individuals of the same species.
3D.2
Understands that physical characteristics can be inherited.
3D.3
Knows that fossils are evidence of past life.
Intermediate (4-6)
3D.1
Knows organisms possess different characteristics that allow them to live in specific environments.
3D.2
Knows that heredity involves the transfer of information from one generation to the next.
3D.3
Understands that organisms have changed through time as shown by the fossil record.
Earth Composition - The student demonstrates an understanding of the composition of the Earth, its history, and the natural processes that shape it.
Primary (K-3)
4A.1
Knows common Earth materials (e.g., rocks, soil, minerals).
4A.2
Knows major natural features of the Earth’s surface (e.g., mountains, rivers, plains, hills, oceans, plateaus, glaciers).
Intermediate (4-6)
4A.1
Knows the basic structure of the earth (e.g., core, mantle, crust).
4A.2
Knows the earth's surface is constantly changing (e.g., movement of plates, volcanoes, earthquakes, erosion and weathering).
Atmosphere - The student demonstrates an understanding of the general characteristics of the atmosphere and the fundamental processes of weather.
Primary (K-3)
4B.1
Knows that the Earth's atmosphere is warmed by energy from the sun.
4B.2
Knows common weather conditions (e.g., sunny, windy, cloudy).
4B.3
Knows characteristics of the four seasons.
Intermediate (4-6)
4B.1
Knows the water cycle (e.g., evaporation, condensation, precipitation).
4B.2
Knows global climatic zones and their characteristics (e.g., tropical, polar).
4B.3
Knows the characteristics of weather (e.g., temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction) and the instruments to measure them.
Solar System - The student demonstrates an understanding of the structure of the solar system and the dynamics of the universe.
Primary (K-3)
4C.1
Knows what can be observed by the unaided eye in the daytime and nighttime sky (e.g., sun, moon, planets, constellations).
4C.2
Knows that objects in the sky change position.
4C.3
Knows there are phases of the moon.
Intermediate (4-6)
4C.1
Knows that our sun provides radiant energy.
4C.2
Knows the basic components of the solar system (e.g., sun, planets, natural satellites, asteroids, comets).
4C.3
Knows the role of gravity on the solar system.
Impact on Resources - The student demonstrates an understanding of ways that science, technology, and human activity have an impact on the Earth and its resources.
Primary (K-3)
5.1
Knows the natural resources the earth and sun provide (e.g., soil, water, heat and light).
5.2
Knows the benefits and tradeoffs associated with recycling.
Intermediate (4-6)
5.1
Knows the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources.
5.2
Knows how technology is used to develop resources (e.g., mining, logging, drilling).