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Science Standards & Benchmarks

Kindergarten back to top

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth and its processes.

  • K.1.1- Knows that earth material consist of solid rocks and soils, liquid water, and the gases of the atmosphere.

Standard 2 - Understands essential ideas about the composition and structure of the universe and Earth’s place in it.

  • K.2.1 - Understands there is a sun, moon, Earth, and stars.

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • K.5.1 - Knows that living things are found almost everywhere in the world.
  • K.5.2 - Knows the difference between plants and animals.

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • K.7.1 - Knows that objects can be described and classified by their composition and their physical properties.

First Grade back to top

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth and its processes.

  • 1.1.2- Understands that weather changes daily and seasonally.

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity.

  • 1.4.2 - Knows that there is variation among individuals within a population.

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • 1.7.2 - Knows that things can be done to materials to change some of their properties, but not all materials respond the same way to what is done to them.

Second Grade back to top

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity.

  • 2.4.1 - Knows that plants and animals resemble their parents.

Standard 8 - Understands energy types, sources, conversions, and their relationship to heat and temperature.

  • 2.8.1 - Knows that the Sun applies heat and light to the Earth.
  • 2.8.2 - Knows that heat can be produced in many ways.

Third Grade back to top

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • 3.5.3 - Understands the classification of living things.

Standard 6 - Understands the cycling of matter and flow of energy through the living environment.

  • 3.6.1 - Knows what plants and animals need to survive.
  • 3.6.2 - Understands the concept of the food chain.

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • 3.7.3 - Knows that materials may be composed of parts too small to be seen without magnification.

Standard 8 - Understands energy types, sources, conversions, and their relationship to heat and temperature.

  • 3.8.3 - Knows how electricity in circuits can produce light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects.

Fourth Grade back to top

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth and its processes

  • 4.1.4 - Knows change of state.

Standard 9 - Understands the relationship between force and motion and how they affect matter.

  • 4.9.1 - Knows that vibrating objects produce sound.
  • 4.9.2 - Knows that light travels in a straight line unless it strikes an object.

Fifth Grade back to top

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth and its processes.

  • 5.1.2 - Knows that the earth changes in landforms.
  • 5.1.5 - Knows that the surface of the Earth changes; some changes are due to slow processes, and some changes are due to rapid processes.

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity.

  • 5.4.4 - Knows that for offspring to resemble their parents, there must be a reliable way to transfer information from one generation to the next.

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • 5.5.5 - Knows organisms can be effected or have an effect on their environment.

6th Grade back to top

Standard 3 - Knows the general structure and function of cells within organisms.

  • 6.3.1 - Understands structures of cells.

Standard 9 - Understands the relationship between force and motion and how they affect matter.

  • 6.9.3 - Knows that the position of an object can be described by locating it relative to another object or the background.
  • 6.9.4 - Knows that an object’s motion can be changed by a push or a pull by people or by other objects.
  • 6.9.5 - Knows that things near the Earth fall to the ground unless something holds them up

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • 6.10.1 - Knows that science experiments normally have reproducible results.
  • 6.10.2 - Knows that learning can come from careful observations and simple experiments.
  • 6.10.3 - Knows that tools like thermometers, magnifiers, rulers, and balances add to information from our senses.
  • 6.10.4 - Knows that the same scientific investigation often gives slightly different results when it is carried out by a different person, or at different times or places.
  • 6.10.5 - Understands that simple equipment and tools are used to gather scientific data.
  • 6.10.6 - Knows that scientists develop explanations using observations and what they already know about the world.
  • 6.10.7 - Knows that scientific investigations involve asking and answering a question, along with reviewing and asking questions about the results of other scientists’ work.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • 6.11.1 - Understands that in science it is helpful to work with a team and share findings with others.
  • 6.11.2 - Knows that some objects occur naturally, whereas others have been designed and made by people to solve human problems.
  • 6.11.3 - Knows that scientists and engineers often work in teams with different individuals doing different things that contribute to the results.
  • 6.11.4 - Knows that tools help scientists make better observations and measurements for investigations.
  • 6.11.5 - Knows that people have always had problems, and invented tools and techniques to solve them.
  • 6.11.6 - Knows that science and technology have improved transportation, health, sanitation, and communications.

7th Grade back to top

Standard 3 - Knows the general structure and function of cells within organisms.

  • 7.3.2 - Understands the differences in the structure of plant and animal cells.
  • 7.3.3 - Understands the function of cells.
  • 7.3.4 - Understands cell organization.
  • 7.3.5 - Understands the reproduction processes of cells; understands that cells divide and reproduce, mitosis and meiosis.

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity

  • 7.4.3 - Knows that many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents of the organism, but other characteristics result from individual interactions with the environment.
  • 7.4.5 - Understands sexual and asexual reproduction and their differences.
  • 7.4.6 - Knows that heredity information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cell.

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • 7.5.4 - Knows that plants and animals have life cycles; life cycles are different for different organisms.
  • 7.5.6 - Knows the five-kingdom system and mechanics of classification; understands how scientists name organisms.
  • 7.5.7 - Understands the interdependence of species.
  • 7.5.8 - Knows that a variety of organisms form an ecosystem.

Standard 6 - Understands the cycling of matter and flow of energy through the living environment.

  • 7.6.3 - Knows that over the whole Earth, organisms are growing, dying, and decaying, and new organisms are being produced by the old ones.
  • 7.6.4 - Understands the energy pyramid.
  • 7.6.5 - Understands the sun is the source of all energy.
  • 7.6.6 - Understands that all matter and energy cycle through the environment yet the amount remains the same.
  • 7.6.9 - Knows that plant cells contain chloroplast, the site of photosynthesis, which provide the vital connection between the Sun and the energy needs of living systems.

8th Grade back to top

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth and its processes.

  • 8.1.6 - Understands the causes of weather changes.
  • 8.1.7 - Knows the composition and the structure of the Earth; understands that the earth’s structure consists of a crust, mantle, and core; understands that various substances are included in the earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
  • 8.1.8 - Knows the composition and structure of the Earth’s atmosphere; understands that the atmosphere is separated into four main layers; understands that the atmosphere is composed of gases, solids, water vapor, etc.
  • 8.1.9 - Knows how land forces are created through a combination of constructive and destructive forces; constructive forces include crystal deformation, volcanoes, and deposition of sediment; destructive forces include weathering and erosion.
  • 8.1.10 - Knows that the cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere plays an important role in determining climatic patterns; knows the water cycle and how the water cycle affects climatic patterns on earth.

Standard 2 - Understands essential ideas about the composition and structure of the universe and Earth’s place in it.

  • 8.2.2 - Understands Earth’s position within the solar system.
  • 8.2.3 - Understands Earth’s position with the universe.
  • 8.2.4 - Understands the phases of the moon.

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • 8.10.8 - Knows that there is no fixed procedure called the “scientific method”, but that investigations involve carefully collected, relevant evidence, logical reasoning, and some imagination in developing hypotheses and explanations.
  • 8.10.9 - Uses appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret scientific data to conduct a scientific investigation.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • 8.11.7 - Understands that there are ethics involved in scientific investigations.
  • 8.11.8 - Understands that people are different in how and where they work and how they think.
  • 8.11.9 - Knows that scientific inquiry and technological design have similarities and differences.
  • 8.11.10 - Knows that science and technology have advanced through the contributions of many different people, in different cultures, and at different times in history.

Secondary Science back to top

Physical Science | General Science | Biology | Chem Com | Chemistry | Anatomy and Physiology

Physical Science back to top

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • PS.7.5 - Understands that matter can change either chemically or physically, but is always conserved.
  • PS.7.6 - Knows that materials are made up of elements, which are made up of atoms that can be arranged in different ways to form molecules of compounds.
  • PS.7.7 - Knows that many elements and compounds can be grouped according to similar chemical and physical properties

Standard 8 - Understands energy types, sources, conversions, and their relationship to heat and temperature.

  • PS.8.4 - Knows that heat can move from one object to another by conduction, and some things conduct better than others.
  • PS.8.5 - Knows that mechanical and electrical things give off heat and/or light.
  • PS.8.6 - Knows that energy comes in different forms and can be changed from one to another without being destroyed.
  • PS.8.7 - Knows that heat can be transferred by radiation, convection, and conduction.

Standard 9 - Understands the relationship between force and motion and how they affect matter.

  • PS.9.6 - Knows that properties of sound such as pitch and loudness can be altered by changing the properties of the sound’s source.
  • PS.9.7 - Knows that light can be reflected by a mirror, refracted by a lens, or absorbed by an object.
  • PS.9.8 - Understands that an object will speed up, slow down, or change position in relation to the force applied to it and the mass of the object.
  • PS.9.9 - Knows that electrically charged materials and magnets can attract or repel other charged materials.
  • PS.9.10 - Knows that the Earth’s gravity pulls any object toward it without touching it.
  • PS.9.11 - Knows that if more than one force acts on an object, the forces can reinforce or cancel one another depending on their direction and magnitude; unbalanced forces will cause changes in the speed and/or direction of an object’s motion.
  • PS.9.12 - Knows that every object exerts gravitational force on every other object.

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • PS.10.8 - Knows that there is no fixed procedure called the “scientific method”, but that investigations involve carefully collected, relevant evidence, logical reasoning, and some imagination in developing hypotheses and explanations.
  • PS.10.9 - Uses appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret scientific data to conduct a scientific investigation.
  • PS.10.10 - Knows that scientists usually base their investigations on existence questions or casual-functional questions.
  • PS.10.11 - Formulates a testable hypothesis and can use it to gather and interpret data.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • PS.11.11 - Knows that technological designs have constraints and tradeoffs, some of which are avoidable, and some are not.
  • PS.11.12 - Understands the process of technological design, from initial idea to finished product.
  • PS.11.13 - Knows that progress in science and technology can relate to social issues and challenges.
  • PS.11.14 - Knows that science and technology are essential social enterprises, but individuals and society must decide on proposals based on risk, cost, and benefit.

General Science back to top

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth and its processes.

  • GS.1.7 - Knows the composition and the structure of the Earth; understands that the earth’s structure consists of a crust, mantle, and core; understands that various substances are included in the earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
  • GS.1.8 - Knows the composition and structure of the Earth’s atmosphere; understands that the atmosphere is separated into four main layers; understands that the atmosphere is composed of gases, solids, water vapor, etc.
  • GS.1.9 - Knows how land forces are created through a combination of constructive and destructive forces; constructive forces include crystal deformation, volcanoes, and deposition of sediment; destructive forces include weathering and erosion.
  • GS.1.10 - Knows that the cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere plays an important role in determining climatic patterns; knows the water cycle and how the water cycle affects climatic patterns on earth.

Standard 3 - Knows the general structure and function of cells within organisms

  • GS.3.3 - Understands the function of cells.
  • GS.3.4 - Understands cell organization.
  • GS.3.5 - Understands the reproduction processes of cells; understands that cells divide and reproduce, mitosis and meiosis.

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity.

  • GS.4.5 - Understands sexual and asexual reproduction and their differences.
  • GS.4.6 - Knows that heredity information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cell.
  • GS.4.7 - Knows that the sorting and recombination of genes in sexual reproduction results in a great variety of possible gene combinations from the offspring of any two parents.

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • GS.5.6 - Knows the five-kingdom system and mechanics of classification; understands how scientists name organisms.
  • GS.5.7 - Understands the interdependence of species.
  • GS.5.8 - Knows that a variety of organisms form an ecosystem

Standard 6 - Understands the cycling of matter and flow of energy through the living environment.

  • GS.6.4 - Understands the energy pyramid.
  • GS.6.5 - Understands the sun is the source of all energy.
  • GS.6.6 - Understands that all matter and energy cycle through the environment yet the amount remains the same.

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • GS.7.6 - Knows that materials are made up of elements, which are made up of atoms that can be arranged in different ways to form molecules of compounds.

Standard 8 - Understands energy types, sources, conversions, and their relationship to heat and temperature.

  • GS.8.6 - Knows that energy comes in different forms and can be changed from one to another without being destroyed.
  • GS.8.7 - Knows that heat can be transferred by radiation, convection, and conduction.

Standard 9 - Understands the relationship between force and motion and how they affect matter.

  • GS.9.11 - Knows that if more than one force acts on an object, the forces can reinforce or cancel one another depending on their direction and magnitude; unbalanced forces will cause changes in the speed and/or direction of an object’s motion.
  • GS.9.12 - Knows that every object exerts gravitational force on every other object.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • GS.11.7 - Understands that there are ethics involved in scientific investigations.
  • GS.11.8 - Understands that people are different in how and where they work and how they think.
  • GS.11.9 - Knows that scientific inquiry and technological design have similarities and differences.
  • GS.11.10 - Knows that science and technology have advanced through the contributions of many different people, in different cultures, and at different times in history.

Biology back to top

Standard 3 - Knows the general structure and function of cells within organisms.

  • Bio.3.6 - Understands the specific functions of cell structures.
  • Bio.3.7 - Understands the specialization of cells.
  • Bio.3.8 - Understands the formation of cells.
  • Bio.3.9 - Understands the chemical make-up of cells.
  • Bio.3.10 - Knows that cells store and release energy.           

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity.

  • Bio.4.7 - Knows that the sorting and recombination of genes in sexual reproduction results in a great variety of possible gene combinations from the offspring of any two parents.
  • Bio.4.8 - Understands implications of artificial and natural changes in DNA.

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • Bio.5.8 - Knows that a variety of organisms form an ecosystem.
  • Bio.5.9 - Knows that the variation of organisms within a species increases the likelihood that at least some members of the species will survive under changed environmental conditions, and a great diversity of species increases the chance that at least some living things will survive.
  • Bio.5.10 - Knows that humans are increasingly modifying ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption.

Standard 6 - Understands the cycling of matter and flow of energy through the living environment.

  • Bio.6.7 - Knows that as matter and energy flow through different organization levels of living systems, and between living systems and the physical environment, chemical elements are transformed and recombined in different ways.
  • Bio.6.8 - Knows that all matter tends toward more disorganized states.
  • Bio.6.9 - Knows that plant cells contain chloroplast, the site of photosynthesis, which provide the vital connection between the Sun and the energy needs of living systems.

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • Bio.10.3 - Knows that tools like thermometers, magnifiers, rulers, and balances add to information from our senses.
  • Bio.10.4 - Knows that the same scientific investigation often gives slightly different results when it is carried out by a different person, or at different times or places.
  • Bio.10.5 - Understands that simple equipment and tools are used to gather scientific data.
  • Bio.10.6 - Knows that scientists develop explanations using observations and what they already know about the world.
  • Bio.10.7 - Knows that scientific investigations involve asking and answering a question, along with reviewing and asking questions about the results of other scientists’ work.
  • Bio.10.8 - Knows that there is no fixed procedure called the “scientific method”, but that investigations involve carefully collected, relevant evidence, logical reasoning, and some imagination in developing hypotheses and explanations.
  • Bio.10.9 - Uses appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret scientific data to conduct a scientific investigation.
  • Bio.10.10 - Knows that scientists usually base their investigations on existence questions or casual-functional questions.
  • Bio.10.11 - Formulates a testable hypothesis and can use it to gather and interpret data.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • Bio.11.9 - Knows that scientific inquiry and technological design have similarities and differences.

Chem Com Science back to top

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • CC.7.6 - Knows that materials are made up of elements, which are made up of atoms that can be arranged in different ways to form molecules of compounds.
  • CC.7.7 - Knows that many elements and compounds can be grouped according to similar chemical and physical properties.
  • CC.7.8 - Understands atomic structure, atomic interactions, atomic bonds, and how they can be represented.
  • CC.7.9 - Understands the complete mole concept and ways in which it can be used.

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • CC.10.8 - Knows that there is no fixed procedure called the “scientific method”, but that investigations involve carefully collected, relevant evidence, logical reasoning, and some imagination in developing hypotheses and explanations.
  • CC.10.9 - Uses appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret scientific data to conduct a scientific investigation.
  • CC.10.10 - Knows that scientists usually base their investigations on existence questions or casual-functional questions.
  • CC.10.11 - Formulates a testable hypothesis and can use it to gather and interpret data.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • CC.11.11 - Knows that technological designs have constraints and tradeoffs, some of which are avoidable, and some are not.
  • CC.11.12 - Understands the process of technological design, from initial idea to finished product.
  • CC.11.13 - Knows that progress in science and technology can relate to social issues and challenges.
  • CC.11.14 - Knows that science and technology are essential social enterprises, but individuals and society must decide on proposals based on risk, cost, and benefit.

Chemistry Science back to top

Standard 7 - Understands basic concepts about the structure and properties of matter.

  • C.7.4 - Knows how an object’s properties can be measured using tools such as rulers, balances, and thermometers.
  • C.7.5 - Understands that matter can change either chemically or physically, but is always conserved.
  • C.7.6 - Knows that materials are made up of elements, which are made up of atoms that can be arranged in different ways to form molecules of compounds.
  • C.7.7 - Knows that many elements and compounds can be grouped according to similar chemical and physical properties.
  • C.7.8 - Understands atomic structure, atomic interactions, atomic bonds, and how they can be represented.
  • C.7.9 - Understands the complete mole concept and ways in which it can be used.

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • C.10.8 - Knows that there is no fixed procedure called the “scientific method”, but that investigations involve carefully collected, relevant evidence, logical reasoning, and some imagination in developing hypotheses and explanations.
  • C.10.9 - Uses appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret scientific data to conduct a scientific investigation.
  • C.10.10 - Knows that scientists usually base their investigations on existence questions or casual-functional questions.
  • C.10.11 - Formulates a testable hypothesis and can use it to gather and interpret data.
  • C.10.12 - Designs and conducts scientific investigations by identifying and clarifying the question, method, controls and variables; organizing and displaying data; revising methods and explanations; presenting the results; and receiving critical response from others.
  • C.10.13 - Knows that conceptual principles and knowledge guide scientific inquiries.
  • C.10.14 - Knows that in science, the testing, revising, and occasional discarding of theories, both new and old, never ends.

Anatomy and Physiology back to top

Standard 3 - Knows the general structure and function of cells within organisms.

  • AP.3.11 - Knows the similarities and differences of tissue types in mammals.
  • AP.3.12 - Knows the similarities and differences of organ types in mammals.

Standard 4 - Understands the basics of genetics and heredity.

  • 4.8 - Understands implications of artificial and natural changes in DNA.

Standard 5 - Knows about diversity, unity, and adaptations that characterize life.

  • AP.5.9 - Knows that the variation of organisms within a species increases the likelihood that at least some members of the species will survive under changed environmental conditions, and a great diversity of species increases the chance that at least some living things will survive.
  • AP.5.10 - Knows that humans are increasingly modifying ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption.

Standard 6 - Understands the cycling of matter and flow of energy through the living environment.

  • AP.6.10 - Knows that the complexity and organization of organisms accommodates the need for obtaining, transforming, transporting, releasing, and eliminating the matter and energy used to sustain the organism.
  • AP.6.11 - Knows that the amount of life any environment can support is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen, and materials, and by the ability of the ecosystem to recycle the residue of dead organic materials.

Standard 10 - Uses the scientific method and the processes involved for scientific inquiry.

  • AP.10.11 - Formulates a testable hypothesis and can use it to gather and interpret data.
  • AP.10.12 - Designs and conducts scientific investigations by identifying and clarifying the question, method, controls and variables; organizing and displaying data; revising methods and explanations; presenting the results; and receiving critical response from others.
  • AP.10.13 - Knows that conceptual principles and knowledge guide scientific inquiries.
  • AP.10.14 - Knows that in science, the testing, revising, and occasional discarding of theories, both new and old, never ends.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

  • AP.11.12 - Understands the process of technological design, from initial idea to finished product.
  • AP.11.13 - Knows that progress in science and technology can relate to social issues and challenges.
  • AP.11.14 - Knows that science and technology are essential social enterprises, but individuals and society must decide on proposals based on risk, cost, and benefit.

Standard 11 - Understands the interactions of science, technology, and society.

AP.11.9 - Knows that scientific inquiry and technological design have similarities and differences.

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