State Standards
Strand I: Scientific Thinking and Practice
Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically.
Benchmark I: Use accepted scientific methods to collect, analyze, and interpret data and observations and to design and conduct scientific investigations and communicate results.
Benchmark II: Understand that scientific processes produce scientific knowledge that is continually evaluated, validated, revised, or rejected.
Benchmark III: Use mathematical concepts, principles, and expressions to analyze data, develop models, understand patterns and relationships, evaluate findings, and draw conclusions.
Strand II: Content of Science
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy.
Benchmark I: Understand the properties, underlying structure, and reactions of matter.
Benchmark II: Understand the transformation and transmission of energy and how energy and matter interact.
Benchmark III: Understand the motion of objects and waves, and the forces that cause them.
Standard III (Earth and Space Science): Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system, and the universe, the interconnections among them, and the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems.
Benchmark I: Examine the scientific theories of the origin, structure, contents, and evolution of the solar system and the universe, and their interconnections.
Benchmark II: Examine the scientific theories of the origin, structure, energy, and evolution of Earth and its atmosphere, and their interconnections.
Strand III: Science and Society
Standard I: Understand how scientific discoveries, inventions, practices, and knowledge influence, and are influenced by, individuals and societies.
Benchmark I: Examine and analyze how scientific discoveries and their applications affect the world, and explain how societies influence scientific investigations and applications.