HS-ETS1-4
The standard
Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criteria and constraints on interactions within and between systems relevant to the problem.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Students need to use a computer model to test possible solutions to a messy real problem. They should change variables, compare outcomes, and explain how one choice affects other parts of the system. The focus is not just making a model. It is using the model to make a better design decision.
Mastery looks like a student running several trials, using data from the simulation, and explaining tradeoffs between cost, safety, performance, and limits. Students often get stuck treating the simulation like a video game, changing too many variables at once, or ignoring side effects on connected systems.
Ways to teach it
- Have students use a flood management simulator to compare levees, wetlands, and evacuation routes under different storm conditions.
- Ask students to write: Which solution worked best in the model, and what tradeoff would worry you most in real life?
- Give a three-question exit ticket asking students to name the variable changed, the outcome measured, and one system interaction observed.
- Connect to city planning by examining how traffic light timing changes can affect commute time, fuel use, and emergency vehicle access.
Plan a lesson for HS-ETS1-4
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- HS-LS4-6
Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.
- HS-ETS1-2
Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
- 3-5-ETS1-2
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to 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...