Comparing Old to New Science Standards How Have they changed?

How are the new standards different? Fewer and more focused Built around “Big Ideas” of science. These big ideas are called the Core Standards. Articulates learning progressions between grade levels Allows for effective lesson design, focused instruction and creation of formative assessments

The 2001 Standards had Four Strands Physical Science Life Science Earth and Space Science Scientific Inquiry

Each Strand was divided into 3-4 Topics For example: Physical Science Chemistry Energy Electricity and Magnetism Force and Motion

Each Topic had Several Common Curriculum Goals (CCGs) For example: Chemistry Compare properties of specific substances Compare physical and chemical changes Recognize characteristic properties of solutions, acids, and bases

Each of these CCGs had multiple content standards Chemistry Compare properties of specific substances Recognize that substances can be grouped by their characteristic properties Describe how to measure characteristic properties including boiling and melting points and solubility Measure mass, weight, volume, and density of various objects Use density to predict floating and sinking Describe how to measure the characteristic property of density

In addition the 2001 standards had four additional strands Unifying Concepts and processes History and Nature of Science Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Science and Technology With 12 additional CCGs….

New standards Standards have been revised and organized under four Core Standards at each grade K-8 and for high school The Core standards describe the unifying concepts and processes in science

The Four Core Standards are Structure and Function Interaction and Change Scientific Inquiry Engineering Design

Why Four? Recent science national reports recommended that science standards be organized by a small number of big ideas which are essential for all people to understand. Helps prioritize critical concepts that students should know Student knowledge builds throughout K-12

New Focus It is essential that these standards be addressed in contexts that promote scientific inquiry use of evidence critical thinking making connections communication

Science Standards Framework Big ideas organized by science discipline and core strand (pg 14)

Big Ideas Addressed in 7th grade Not all taught in every grade level They are vertically articulated and become increasingly rigorous as you increase in grade level See page 16

Core Standard Statements Describe the unifying concepts and processes in science. Vertically articulated for increasing rigor For Structure and Function and Interaction and Change Describe big ideas in each of the three science disciplines - Life, Physical, Earth For Scientific Inquiry and Engineering Design Describe the skills and understandings that characterize the practice of science

Core Standard Statements One for each of the four Core Standards per grade Level Vertically articulated for increasing Rigor These are the really BIG IDEAS that unify all the content you are teaching in any given year See page 17

Content Standards Fall under these “Big Idea” organizers There are content standards in Earth, Life and Physical science for each of the Core Standards. Provides an interdisciplinary way to show students the interrelatedness of science topics Content standards are connected to each other through the Core standards

Example Interaction and Change (Core Standard) The components and processes within a system interact (Core Standard Statement) Matter and Energy(Big Idea): Energy and materials for growth and metabolism of organism 7.2P.1 Explain how organelles within a cell perform cellular processes and how cells obtain the raw materials for those processes (Content Standard) 7.2P.2 Explain the processes by which plants and animals obtain energy and materials for growth and metabolism (Content Standard)

Deciphering the Standard Format K.1L.1 Grade level 1 = Structure and Function 2 = Interaction and Change 3 = Scientific Inquiry 4 = Engineering and Design L = Life Science P = Physical Science E = Earth and Space Science The number of the standard in this category