South Dakota ELA 9-10.RST.4

ELAGrades 9–10Reading: Science/Technical Subjects

The Standard

Determine the meaning of symbols, equations, graphical and tabular representations, domain-specific and content- specific words and phrases including relationships among key terms (e.g., force, friction, reaction force, energy) as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9–10 grade level texts and topics.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025) · Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students use the surrounding text to work out what science terms and symbols mean. They explain what an equation, graph, or table shows and connect related terms such as force and friction.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a cart report, a student identifies F as net force in F = ma and reads a value with its unit from a graph. They explain how friction opposes the push, using evidence from the report.
Common Misconceptions: Students may read F in F = ma as the push alone, even when friction also acts on the cart. They may overlook graph units, mistake a table heading for a measured value, or think a reaction force happens later.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Give a table labeled 'cart on carpet' with net force of 2 N at 1 second and 4 N at 2 seconds. Ask what F means in F = ma, which row shows greater net force, and how friction affects that force.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Release a toy car from the same ramp height onto tile and carpet, record stopping distances, and explain friction using the results.
Show a cart experiment paragraph with F = ma; ask pairs to explain why F means net force, not just the push.
Give teams cart data tables and force graphs; have them race to match graph points to table rows and explain the units.
Draw a sample chart of bicycle stops, 5 meters on dry pavement and 9 meters on wet pavement; ask how friction explains the difference.

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