K-ESS3-3
The standard
Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Kindergarten students need to notice ways people affect nearby nature, such as litter on the playground, too much trash, wasted paper, or dirty water. They also need to share a simple fix using words, drawings, or models.
Mastery looks like naming a problem and matching it with a reasonable action, such as using both sides of paper or picking up trash. Students may get stuck by naming big problems they cannot act on, like all ocean pollution. Keep the focus local and concrete.
Ways to teach it
- Give pairs a lunch trash sort with paper, plastic, food scraps, and cans, then have them choose what can be reused or recycled.
- Ask students to draw one way our class can help the playground, then dictate one sentence explaining their idea.
- Show three picture cards, littered park, running faucet, reused paper, and ask students to point to the solution card.
- Walk around the school with a clipboard and tally places where people can save paper, reduce trash, or protect plants.
Plan a lesson for K-ESS3-3
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- MS-ESS3-3
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
- HS-ESS3-4
Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
- HS-LS2-7
Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
- 4-ESS3-2
Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.