Next Generation Science Standards

Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.

Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the environment to ...

Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans) and the pl...

Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weat...

Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the l...

Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pu...

Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a pu...

Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth's surface.

Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.

Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.

Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.

Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to...

Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.

Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, t...

Plan and conduct investigations to provide evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make mate...

Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects can be seen only when illuminated.

Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path o...

Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over...

Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple prob...

Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed...

Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how...

Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.

Compare multiple solutions designed to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of the land.

Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.

Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.

Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.

Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.

Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.

Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.

Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best su...

Make observations to construct an evidence-based account of how an object made of a small set of pieces can be disassemb...

Construct an argument with evidence that some changes caused by heating or cooling can be reversed and some cannot.

Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular seas...

Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.

Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.

Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, repr...

Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that varia...

Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.

Analyze and interpret data from fossils to provide evidence of the organisms and the environments in which they lived lo...

Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species...

Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well...

Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and ...

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of ...

Make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict fu...

Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not i...

Define a simple design problem that can be solved by applying scientific ideas about magnets.

Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints ...

Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and ...

Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of...

Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a...

Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ...

Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth's features.

Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affec...

Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.

Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, g...

Use a model to describe that animals' receive different types of information through their senses, process the informati...

Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object.

Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and elec...

Ask questions and predict outcomes about the changes in energy that occur when objects collide.

Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.

Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength and that waves can cause objects to m...

Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen.

Generate and compare multiple solutions that use patterns to transfer information.

Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relat...

Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and nig...

Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.

Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about ...

Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth's resources and ...

Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.

Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.

Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.

Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of the type of change that occurs when heating, cooling...

Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.

Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.

Use models to describe that energy in animals' food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) ...

Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the su...

Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system.

Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organiz...

Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and...

Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to prov...

Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of ...

Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weathe...

Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and ocea...

Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth's mineral, energy, and gr...

Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of techn...

Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural ...

Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, takin...

Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constrai...

Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best ch...

Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that...

Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells, either one cell or many different num...

Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function...

Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells.

Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic anima...

Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of o...

Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of...

Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth ...

Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immedia...

Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of ...

Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.

Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem ...

Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect protei...

Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and...

Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and cha...

Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organism...

Analyze displays of pictorial data to compare patterns of similarities in the embryological development across multiple ...

Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some...

Gather and synthesize information about the technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of d...

Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of...

Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.

Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a ch...

Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society...

Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when ...

Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass i...

Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by che...

Apply Newton's Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.

Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion depends on the sum of the forces on the ...

Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.

Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and d...

Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exer...

Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an obj...

Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of...

Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy tr...

Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the...

Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is ...

Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is relat...

Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals (sent as wave pul...

Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun's cor...

Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galax...

Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements.

Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.

Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics t...

Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to constr...

Develop a model to illustrate how Earth's internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scale...

Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to ...

Develop a model based on evidence of Earth's interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection.

Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth systems result in changes in climate.

Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphe...

Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous coevolution of Earth systems and life on Earth.

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards,...

Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-b...

Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainabil...

Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rat...

Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are b...

Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that acc...

Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be...

Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a rang...

Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criter...

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry...

Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functio...

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.

Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining compl...

Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may comb...

Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen...

Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity o...

Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversi...

Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaero...

Use a mathematical representation to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an e...

Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the bio...

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent ...

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity...

Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species' chances to survive and reproduce.

Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characterist...

Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinati...

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a populati...

Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empi...

Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the po...

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait...

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the num...

Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.

Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in t...

Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states...

Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer t...

Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the ...

Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or conc...

Refine the design of a chemical system by specifying a change in conditions that would produce increased amounts of prod...

Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical re...

Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during th...

Analyze data to support the claim that Newton's second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the n...

Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when t...

Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopi...

Use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation and Coulomb's Law to describe and predict the gravitatio...

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a c...

Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning...

Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energ...

Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as either motions of part...

Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form o...

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of differe...

Develop and use a model of two objects interacting through electric or magnetic fields to illustrate the forces between ...

Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed o...

Evaluate questions about the advantages of using a digital transmission and storage of information.

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning behind the idea that electromagnetic radiation can be described either by a...

Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of elec...

Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave inte...