Standards

Content Standards	Cell Structure & Function	Cells & You: Processes and Applications	Genetics Theory	Genetics Applications	Evolution
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop
Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations more
Design and conduct scientific investigations more
Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications more
Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence more
Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models more
Communicate and defend a scientific argument more
Understandings about scientific inquiry
How physical, living, or designed systems function more
Scientists conduct investigations for a wide variety of reasons more
Scientists rely on technology more
Mathematics is essential in scientific inquiry more
Scientific explanations more
Communication of Results of scientific inquiry more
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of
Structure of atoms
Matter is made of minute particles called atoms more
Atomic Structure more
Nuclear forces more
Radioactive isotopes are unstable and undergo spontaneous nuclear reactions more
Structure and properties of matter
Atoms interact more
An element is composed of a single type of atom more
Bonds between atoms more
The physical properties of compounds more
Solids, liquids, and gases more
Carbon atoms more
Chemical reactions
Chemical reactions occur all around us more
Chemical reactions may release or consume energy more
Mechanisms of Chemical Reactions more
Reaction rates vary more
Catalysts and enzymes more
Motions and forces
Laws of motion more
Gravitation more
Electric force more
Electric between matter more
Electromagnetic forces more
Conservation of energy and increase in disorder
Energy Conservation more
Kinetic energy, potential energy, or energy contained by a field more
Heat and temperature more
Everything tends to become less organized and less orderly over time more
Interactions of energy and matter
Waves more
Electromagnetic waves more
Discrete amounts of energy in atoms/molecules more
Conductors and insulators more
Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
The cell
Cells have particular structures that underlie their functions more
Most cell functions involve chemical reactions more
Cells store and use information to guide their functions more
Cell functions are regulated more
Plant cells contain chloroplasts, the site of photosynthesis more
Cells can differentiate more
Molecular basis of heredity
In all organisms, DNA carries the details more
Chromosomes and reproduction more
Mutations occur spontaneously at low rates more
Biological evolution
Species evolve over time more
The diversity of organisms more
Natural selection more
Common ancestry of organisms more
Biological classifications are based on how organisms are related more
Interdependence of organisms
The atoms and molecules on the earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of biosphere more
Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction more
Organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems more
Limiting factors on organism interactions more
Human beings affect the ecosystem more
Matter, energy, and organization in living systems
All matter tends toward more disorganized states more
The energy for life primarily derives from the sun more
The chemical bonds of food molecules contain energy ATP more
Complexity and organization of organisms more
The distribution and abundance of organisms more
Matter and energy flows through living systems more
Behavior of organisms
Multicellular animals have nervous systems that generate behavior more
Organisms have behavioral responses to internal changes and to external stimuli more
Behaviors have evolved through natural selection more
Behavioral biology has implications for humans more
Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of
Energy in the earth system
Earth systems have internal and external sources of energy, both of which create heat more
The outward transfer of earth's internal heat drives convection circulation in the mantle more
Heating of earth's surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans more
Global climate is determined by energy transfer from the sun more
Geochemical cycles
The earth is a system containing essentially a fixed amount of each stable chemical atom or element more
Movement of matter more
Origin and evolution of the earth system
The origin of the solar system more
Geologic time more
Evolution of the earth system more
Origin of life more
Origin and evolution of the universe
The "big bang" theory more
Early history of the universe more
Processes in stars more
Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop
Abilities of technological design
Identify a problem or design an opportunity more
Propose designs and choose between alternative solutions more
Implement a proposed solution more
Evaluate the solution and its consequences more
Communicate the problem, process, and solution more
Understandings about science and technology
Scientists in different disciplines use different methods of investigation more
Science often advances with the introduction of new technologies and advances new technologies more
Creativity, imagination, and a good knowledge base are all required in the work of science more
Science and technology are pursued for different purposes more
Scientific knowledge is made public through presentations at professional meetings and publications more
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives CONTENT STANDARD F: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
Personal and community health
Hazards and the potential for accidents exist more
The severity of disease symptoms is dependent on many factors more
Personal choice concerning fitness and health involves multiple factors more
An individual's mood and behavior may be modified by substances more
Selection of foods and eating patterns determine nutritional balance more
Families serve basic health needs, especially for young children more
Sexuality is basic to the physical, mental, and social development of humans more
Population growth
Populations grow or decline through the combined effects of several factors more
Various factors influence birth rates and fertility rates more
Populations can reach limits to growth more
Natural resources
Human populations use resources in the environment in order to maintain and improve their existence more
Increasing human consumption places severe stress on the finite resources of the Earth more
Humans use many natural systems as resources more
Environmental quality
Natural ecosystems provide an array of basic processes that affect humans more
Materials from human societies affect the earth more
Many factors influence environmental quality more
Natural and human-induced hazards
Normal adjustments of earth may be hazardous for humans more
Human activities can enhance potential for hazards more
Some natural hazards, are rapid and spectacular more
Natural and human-induced hazards present the need for humans to assess potential danger and risk more
Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
Science and technology are essential social enterprises, but alone they can only indicate what can happen, not what should happen more
Understanding basic concepts and principles of science and technology should precede active debate about related practical and ethical challenges more
Progress in science and technology can be affected by social issues and challenges more
Individuals and society must decide on proposals involving new research and technologies more
Humans have a major effect on other species more
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
Science as a human endeavor
Individuals and teams have contributed and will continue to contribute to the scientific enterprise more
Scientists have ethical traditions more
Scientists are influenced by societal, cultural, and personal beliefs more
Nature of scientific knowledge
Science distinguishes itself through the use of empirical standards, logical arguments, and skepticism more
Scientific explanations must meet certain criteria more
All scientific knowledge is, in principle, subject to change as new evidence becomes available more
Historical perspectives
Diverse cultures have contributed scientific knowledge and technologic inventions more
Changes in science occur as small modifications in extant knowledge more
Occasionally, there are advances in science and technology that have important and long-lasting effects on science and society more
The historical perspective of scientific explanations demonstrates how scientific knowledge changes by evolving over time, almost always building on earlier knowledge more

Click here to view the complete National Science Education Standards documentation.

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