Educational Standards

The content in SMART’s educational program is assesed based on various educational standards. The goal of standards is to ensure that key areas of education are not missed and that all students have an equal opportunity for a balanced and complete education.

What are the common standards in the US?

Two of the most important standards for STEM education in the United States are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The CCSS provide a set of clear and consistent learning goals for English Language Arts and Mathematics, while the NGSS provide a framework for science education that emphasizes inquiry, problem-solving, and real-world applications. Together, these standards provide a foundation for high-quality, rigorous education in the United States, and they are widely used by educators and schools across the country. Other important standards for education in the US include the National Standards for Arts Education and the College and Career Readiness Standards, which provide guidance for instruction in the arts and for preparing students for success after graduation, respectively. By aligning instruction with these standards, educators can help ensure that their students are prepared for success in college, career, and life.

Next Gen Science Standards

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are a set of learning goals for science education that were developed through a collaborative process involving educators, scientists, and experts in science education. The NGSS provide a framework for science instruction that emphasizes inquiry, problem-solving, and real-world applications, and they are organized around three dimensions: scientific and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. By using the NGSS, teachers and schools can ensure that their science instruction is engaging, relevant, and aligned with the expectations for success in college, career, and life.

Common Core State Standards

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a set of learning goals for English Language Arts and Mathematics that were developed by education experts from across the United States. The CCSS provide a clear and consistent framework for what students are expected to learn and know at each grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade. By using the CCSS, teachers and schools can ensure that their instruction is rigorous, focused, and aligned with the expectations for college and career readiness.

I Can Statements for Science

This list is not a fully complete analysis of all the standards, but these “I can” statements can help teachers create lessons and self-assessments that will empower their students to succeed in skill development and understanding.

Physical Science

• I can use models to demonstrate that energy can be transferred from one place to another by heat, electricity, or motion.
• I can use evidence to explain that the total amount of matter is conserved during a chemical reaction.
• I can construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and the speed of its motion.
• I can use evidence to explain how an object’s motion is influenced by the sum of the forces acting on it.
• I can develop and use models to explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object’s motion.
• I can analyze and interpret data to determine the relationship between the mass of an object and the magnitude of its gravitational force.
• I can use evidence to explain that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be transferred from one form to another.
• I can design, build, and test a device that uses energy to solve a problem.
• I can use evidence to explain how the energy from the sun drives the Earth’s weather and climate.
• I can use a model to explain how waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through different materials.
• I can develop and use models to describe how information can be transmitted by waves.
• I can design a device that uses waves to transmit information over a distance.

Earth and Space Science

• I can use models to explain the relative sizes and distances of objects in the solar system.
• I can analyze and interpret data to describe the motion of the Earth and other objects in the solar system.
• I can use evidence to explain how the Earth’s position in the solar system affects its climate and seasons.
• I can use evidence to describe how the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere interact to shape the Earth’s surface and climate.
• I can construct an explanation based on evidence to describe how energy from the sun drives the Earth’s water cycle and weather patterns.
• I can use models to explain how natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanoes are related to the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates.
• I can use evidence to explain how human activities, like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are affecting the Earth’s climate and ecosystems.
• I can evaluate solutions to environmental problems, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions or conserving water resources, based on their environmental and economic impacts.
• I can develop and use models to predict the impacts of human activities on natural systems and identify ways to mitigate those impacts.

Life Science

• I can use models to explain how the structure and function of biomolecules, like proteins and DNA, are related.
• I can use evidence to describe the levels of organization in living things, from cells to organs to organ systems.
• I can use evidence to explain how the structure and function of organ systems in the human body are related to their survival.
• I can use evidence to describe how living and nonliving things interact in ecosystems.
• I can construct an explanation based on evidence to describe how energy flows through ecosystems, from producers to consumers to decomposers.
• I can analyze and interpret data to describe the effects of natural and human-made disruptions on ecosystems.
• I can use evidence to explain how genetic traits are inherited from parents and how they can lead to variation in populations.
• I can use models to describe how genes are regulated and how mutations can affect protein function.
• I can use evidence to explain how selective breeding can be used to create new varieties of crops or animals.
• I can use evidence to explain how biological evolution accounts for the diversity of life on Earth.
• I can use models to describe how natural selection leads to the adaptation of species over time.
• I can use evidence to explain how fossils provide evidence for the history of life on Earth.

By using these “I can” statements, students can better understand the NGSS standards for Life, Earth and Space, and Physical Sciences and see how they relate to their own learning and development. Teachers can also use these statements to guide instruction and assessment, and to help students track their progress towards meeting the NGSS standards.

More information about the Common Core Standards

The common core standards consist of over 1,000 different learning goals for students in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The standards are designed to be rigorous, research-based, and aligned with the expectations for college and career readiness. The CCSS emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world situations. In English Language Arts, the standards focus on reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills, while in Mathematics, they emphasize mathematical practices like modeling and using tools strategically, as well as core concepts like algebra, geometry, and statistics. The CCSS have been adopted by 42 states and the District of Columbia, and they have been widely implemented in classrooms across the country. While there has been some controversy surrounding the CCSS, supporters argue that they provide a clear and consistent framework for education that helps to ensure that all students are prepared for success after graduation.