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Science Curriculum

Science Curriulum

Practices. Core Ideas. Crosscutting

Dimension 1: Science and Engineering Practices

The Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) show students how scientists and engineers investigate, model, and explain the world around us. They’re also the dimension of the NGSS that can most capture a student’s curiosity and show how science and engineering can help solve the major challenges facing our society.

  1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
  2. Developing and using models
  3. Planning and carrying out investigations
  4. Analyzing and interpreting data
  5. Using math and computational thinking
  6. Constructing an explanation (for science) and creating a solution (for engineering)
  7. Engaging in an argument stemming from evidence
  8. Obtaining, evaluation, and communicating information

Dimension 2: Crosscutting Concepts

Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) help students make connections across Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), and unify the application of SEPs. These are often the most challenging concepts for students to figure out.

  1. Patterns
  2. Cause and Effect
  3. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
  4. Systems and System Models
  5. Energy and Matter
  6. Structure and Function
  7. Stability and Change

Dimension 3: Disciplinary Core Ideas

Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) are the main concepts that make up the NGSS. Grouped into four domains (Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science), DCIs form the broad content necessary to understand science.

  1. Physical Sciences
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Earth Sciences
  4. Engineering, Technology and Application of Science