HS-ESS3-2
The standard
Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Students need to compare different ways to get, use, conserve, recycle, or manage energy and mineral resources. They should use evidence about costs, benefits, risks, tradeoffs, and environmental impacts. They also need to separate scientific evidence from value judgments or policy choices.
Mastery looks like a clear recommendation backed by data, not just opinion. Students can explain why one solution has a better cost-benefit ratio for a specific place or need. Common sticking points are treating cost as only money, ignoring long-term impacts, and assuming science alone gives the “right” decision.
Ways to teach it
- Have students sort cards on lithium mining, battery recycling, and reduced demand into costs, benefits, short-term impacts, and long-term impacts.
- Use the prompt, “Should our state prioritize new mining or metal recycling for battery production?” and require evidence from two data sources.
- Give a three-option energy resource table and ask students to choose the best solution, then justify it with two costs and two benefits.
- Analyze a news article about local natural gas, mining, solar siting, or recycling policy and identify the science evidence and value judgments.
Plan a lesson for HS-ESS3-2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- MS-ETS1-2
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- HS-ETS1-3
Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety...
- MS-LS2-5
Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- 4-ESS3-2
Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.