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U.S. National Science Education Standards

Science Content Standards

Teachers who are working within the framework of the U.S. National Science Education Standards will find the educational resources in "Community Science Action Guides" useful. Each "guide" may support different areas of the content standards. Below, the resources are mapped along the standards, suggesting appropriate linkages. The "Community Science Action Guides" are particularly effective resources for content standards related to "science in personal and social perspective."

Note, also, that all of these resources encourage implementation that would feature processes inspired by the "science as inquiry" standard.

Physical Science | Life Science | Earth and Space Science | Science and Technology | Science in Personal and Social Perspective | History and Nature of Science

Physical science.
[K-4]
  • Properties of objects and materials
  • Position and motion of objects
  • Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism
 
[5-8]
  • Properties and changes of properties in matter
  • Motions and forces
  • Transfer of energy
[9-12]
  • Structure of atoms
  • Structure and properties of matter
  • Chemical reactions
  • Motions and forces
  • Conservation of energy and increase in disorder
  • Interactions of energy and matter
Life science.
[K-4]
  • The characteristics of organisms
  • Life cycles of organisms
  • Organisms and environments
[5-8]
  • Structure and function in living systems
  • Reproduction and heredity
  • Regulation and behavior
  • Populations and ecosystems
  • Diversity and adaptations of organisms
[9-12]
  • The cell
  • Molecular basis of heredity
  • Biological evolution
  • Interdependence of organisms
  • Matter, energy, and organization in living systems
  • Behavior of organisms
Earth and space science.
[K-4]
  • Properties of earth materials
  • Objects in the sky
  • Changes in earth and sky
[5-8]
  • Structure of the earth system
  • Earth's history
  • Earth in the solar system
[9-12]
  • Energy in the earth system
  • Geochemical cycles
  • Origin and evolution of the earth system
  • Origin and evolution of the universe
Science and technology.
[K-4]
  • Abilities of technological design
  • Understanding about science and technology
  • Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans
 
[5-8]
  • Abilities of technological design
  • Understandings about science and technology
[9-12]
  • Abilities of technological design
  • Understandings about science and technology
Science in personal and social perspective.
[K-4]
  • Personal health
  • Characteristics and changes in populations
  • Types of resources
  • Changes in environments
  • Science and technology in local challenges

[5-8]
  • Personal health
  • Populations, resources, and environments
  • Natural hazards
  • Risks and benefits
  • Science and technology in society
[9-12]
  • Personal and community health
  • Population growth
  • Natural resources
  • Environmental quality
  • Natural and human-induced hazards
  • Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
History and nature of science.
[K-4]
  • Science as a human endeavor
 

[5-8]
  • Science as a human endeavor
  • Nature of science
  • History of science
[9-12]
  • Science as a human endeavor
  • Nature of scientific knowledge
  • Historical perspectives