The
2009 Minnesota Academic Standards in
Science set the expectations for achievement in science for K-12 students
in Minnesota.
The standards are grounded in the belief that all students can and should be
scientifically literate. Scientific literacy enables people to use scientific
principles and processes to make personal decisions and to participate in
discussions of scientific issues that affect society (NRC, 1996). The standards
and benchmarks describe a connected body of science and engineering knowledge
acquired through active participation in science experiences. These experiences
include hands-on laboratory activities rooted in scientific inquiry and
engineering design. The standards are placed at the grade level where mastery
is expected with recognition that a progression of learning experiences in
earlier grades builds the foundation for mastery later on.
The
Minnesota Academic Standards in Science
are organized by grade level into four content strands: 1) The Nature of
Science and Engineering, 2) Physical Science, 3) Earth and Space Science, and 4)
Life Science. It is important to note
that the content and skills in The Nature of Science and Engineering are not
intended to be taught as a stand-alone unit or an isolated course, but embedded
and used in the teaching, learning and assessment of the content in the other
strands. Each strand has three or four substrands.
Each substrand contains two or more standards
and one or more benchmarks. The
benchmarks supplement the standards by specifying the academic knowledge and
skills that schools must offer and students must achieve to satisfactorily
complete a standard. Not all standards are found at every grade level. The strands,
substrands and standards are organized as follows.
STRAND
1: NATURE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Substrand 1:
The Practice of Science
Standard 1. Understandings about science
Standard
2. Scientific inquiry and investigation
Substrand 2:
The Practice of Engineering
Standard
1. Understandings about engineering
Standard
2. Engineering design
Substrand 3: Interactions among Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics and Society
Standard 1. Systems
Standard 2. Careers and contributions in
science and engineering
Standard 3. Mutual influence of science,
engineering and society
Standard 4. The role of mathematics and
technology in science and engineering
STRAND 2: PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Substrand 1: Matter
Standard
1. Properties and structure of matter
Standard
2. Changes in matter
Substrand 2: Motion
Standard
1. Describing motion
Standard
2. Forces
Substrand 3. Energy
Standard
1. Kinds of energy
Standard
2. Energy transformations
Substrand 4. Human Interactions with Physical Systems
Standard 1. Interaction with the environment
STRAND 3: EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Substrand 1. Earth Structure and Processes
Standard
1. Plate tectonics
Standard
2. Earth’s changing surface
Standard
3. Rock sequences and Earth history
Substrand 2. Interdependence within the Earth System
Standard
1. Sources and transfer of energy
Standard
2. Weather and climate
Standard
3. Materials cycles
Substrand 3. The Universe
Standard
1. Solar system motion
Standard
2. Formation of the solar system
Standard
3. Age, scale and origin of the universe
Substrand 4. Human Interactions with Earth Systems
Standard 1. Interaction with the
environment
STRAND 4: LIFE SCIENCE
Substrand 1. Structure and Function in Living Systems
Standard
1. Levels of organization
Standard
2. Cells
Substrand 2. Interdependence among Living Systems
Standard
1. Ecosystems
Standard
2. Flow of energy and matter
Substrand 3. Evolution in Living Systems
Standard
1. Reproduction
Standard
2. Variation
Standard
3. Biological evolution
Substrand 4. Human Interactions with Living Systems
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