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National Science Education Standards (Earth Science)
The National Science Education Standards serve as a guide
for our science educators in meeting their goal of producing scientifically
literate citizens. The standards outline what students should know,
understand, and be able to accomplish in the natural sciences at different
grade levels (National Research Council, 1994, National Science Education
Standards: National Academy Press).
Summary of the Science Content Standards for Earth and Space Science
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Grades K-4
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Grades 5-8
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Grades 9-12
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Properties of Earth materials
Objects in the sky
Changes in the Earth and sky
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Structure of the Earth system
Earth's history
Earth in the solar system
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Energy in the Earth system
Geochemical cycles
Origin and evolution of the Earth system
Origin and evolution of the universe
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Grades K-4
Properties of Earth materials: The Earth is made of liquids, gases, and
solids. The properties of these materials make them useful resources for
us to use, for example, to produce energy. These properties can be measured
and described. Rocks and minerals are useful tools for helping students
develop observational and descriptive abilities.
Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism: Heat can be generated in many
ways. Electricity can be used to produce light, heat, sound, and magnetic
effects.
- Coal
- Electricity
- Energy and Fuels
Objects in the sky: There are sequential changes in the motion of objects
in the sky. An example is daily changes in the weather.
Grades 5-8
Structure of the Earth system: Introduction to the layering of the
Earth and plate tectonics. Emphasis is on the concept of the rock cycle
(igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks), the formation of soils,
the role of water in natural cycles, solar energy, and global climate
patterns.
- Weather
- Plate tectonics
- Soils
- Speleology (Caves)
Natural Hazards: Internal and external processes of the Earth system
cause natural hazards.
Earth history: Fossils provide evidence of past life. Natural processes
that we observe today, occurred in the past; in other words, "the
present is the key to the past."
- Fossils
- Dinosaurs
- Earth History
- Evolution
Earth's place in the solar system: The Earth is a planet and is part
of a solar system. The sun is the major source of energy for natural
cycles on Earth.
- Solar system
- Solar energy
Grades 9-12
Energy in the Earth system: The Earth has internal and external sources
of energy. The Earth's internal energy drives mantle convection cells
that move crustal plates on the Earth's surface. Global climate is a
function of heat transfer from the Sun and near the Earth's surface.
- Plate tectonics
- Weather
- Global Climate Change
Geochemical cycles: The Earth contains a fixed amount of each stable
chemical atom or element, and the elements move through geochemical
cycles. These cycles are driven by the Earth's internal and external
sources of energy.
Origin and evolution of the Earth system: The solar system formed from
a nebular cloud of dust and gas approximately 4.6 billion years ago.
The Earth has evolved through interactions of the solid Earth, oceans,
atmosphere, and changing life. Geologic time can be estimated by correlating
rock sequences, fossils, and radioactive isotope decay.
- Fossils
- Earth History
- Evolution
Origin and evolution of the universe: Our solar system formed from
a cloud of dust and gas approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The universe
began earlier, possibly during the "Big Bang."
Adapted from the Kentucky
Geological Survey.
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