Skip navigation

Standard/Benchmark Summary

Minnesota Academic Standards in Science 2009

12.26.2012

This chart provides a quick comparison of benchmark ideas within a strand and across grade levels. Refer to the standards document for full wording.

Nature of Science and Engineering

No data	Practice of Science	Practice of Engineering	Interactions: STEM and Society
K	Scientific inquiry: use observations to develop descriptions	Engineering design: compare natural and human made objects	No data
1	Understandings about science: using observations as evidence, describe accurately and compare observations	No data	Systems: observe things are made of parts that relate to function Careers and contributions: recognize that tools are used to gather information and solve problems
2	Scientific inquiry: raise questions and seek answers by observations, and sharing answers	Engineering design: construct an object to meet a need describe why some materials are better that others for making an object explain how designed objects benefit people	No data
3	Understandings about science: provide evidence to support claims and question claims of others Scientific inquiry: generate question that can be investigated recognize repeatability of investigations maintain a record of observations, procedures and explanations construct explanations from evidence	No data	Careers and contributions: recognize everyone can use evidence recognize science and engineering involves various people and kinds of work Role of math and technology: use tools to improve observations and keep records of observations
4	No data	Understandings about engineering: describe positive and negative impacts of designed world on the natural world Engineering design: investigate a design and its use generate ideas and constraints for solving a problem test and evaluate solutions	STEM and society describe a situation in which one invention lead to others
5	Understandings about science: explain how evidence and communication, are parts of science recognize that replication should produce same results understand that differing results lead to further investigation understand that models can represent phenomena and have limitations Scientific inquiry: generate a scientific question and plan an investigation method collect relevant evidence and observations with concern for variables conduct an experiment noting fairness criteria, e.g. controls and repetitions.	No data	Careers and contributions: describe the influence of local traditions and beliefs on science and engineering Role of math and technology: use appropriate tools and techniques for handling data create and analyze various kinds of maps
6	No data	Understandings about engineering: evaluate impact of a engineered system on daily life recognize risks of new technologies describe tradeoffs in using products explain learning from past failures Engineering design: apply and document a design process to solve a problem	Systems: describe subsystems, inputs, processes and output distinguish open vs. closed systems Role of math and technology: use procedures, measurements and math analyses demonstrate conversion of metric units
7	Understandings about science: understand role of prior expectations judge the reliability of results Scientific inquiry: generate questions and methods of investigation conduct controlled experiments with multiple variables generate conclusions with evidence and explanations evaluate explanations by others	No data	Use of technologies and models: use maps, images and data sets in life science use procedures, measurements and math analyses in life science
8	Understandings about science: evaluate reasoning involved with fact, opinions and evidence Scientific inquiry: use reasoning and imagination to develop explanations and models.	No data	Careers and contributions: describe contributions to STEM by individuals of different cultures STEM and society explain the role of economic, political, social and ethical expectations understand the influenced by new information and technologies provide examples of impacts of technologies on society
9-12	Understandings about science: explain universality of science laws understand variety of purposes of scientific investigations explain how norms affect practices explain role of societal and scientific ethics identify sources and influence of bias describe how science changes incrementally explain how theories and models change Inquiry: formulate alternative explanations and conclusions from evidence evaluate explanations proposed by others, especially reasoning and evidence identify assumptions and logic use scientific writings to study methods used by scientists	Understandings about engineering: understand how designs and products are checked and critiqued recognize the use of risk analysis explain how manufacturing, maintenance and disposal are considered in designs Engineering design: identifying constraints on a possible solution develop solutions and evaluate them using models	Systems: specify boundaries, subsystems, relationships, inputs and outputs compare system properties to those of its parts describe how positive and negative feedback occur in systems Careers and contributions: describe contributions of diverse cultures to science, math and technology analyze STEM careers

Physical Science

No data	Matter	Motion	Energy	Human Interactions with Physical Systems
K	Properties and structure: sort objects by color, size, shape and texture	No data	No data	No data
1	No data	No data	No data	No data
2	Properties and structure: describe objects by weight, texture, flexibility, strength and materials Changes in matter: observe changes between solids and liquids for water	Describing motion: describe changes in position demonstrate a variety of motions and speeds Forces: describe how forces make objects move describe how objects fall	No data	No data
3	No data	No data	Kinds of energy: explain factors that affect pitch of sound explain how shadows form describe how light travels and interacts with surfaces	No data
4	Properties and structure: measure temperature, volume, weight and lengths Changes in matter: compare solids, liquids and gases in shape and volume describe how states change from heating and cooling	No data	Kinds of energy: describe transfer of heat by contact describe forces from magnets compare conductors of heat and electricity Energy transformations: identify ways to generate heat construct simple electric circuits demonstrate electric current producing magnetism	No data
5	No data	Describing motion: give examples of forces and motion in simple machines identify effect of forces on speed and direction demonstrate relationship of force to changes in motion	No data	No data
6	Properties and structure: use of particle model to explain properties Changes in matter: identify evidence of physical changes describe mass conservation during physical changes explain particle arrangement and motion in solids, liquids and gases.	Describing motion: measure and calculate speed graph position and speed with time Forces: recognize balanced forces and constant motion describe how forces on an object affect the motion recognize contact forces and forces acting at a distance distinguish mass and weight	Kinds of energy: describe wave properties explain transfer of energy in sound use wave properties to explain behaviors of light Energy transformations: analyze kinetic and potential energy conversions trace energy transformations in devices describe heat transfers	No data
7	Properties and structure: recognize elements and periodic table grouping compare elements, compounds, atoms and molecules recognize that chemical equations describe reactions	No data	No data	No data
8	Properties and structure: use properties to separate mixtures and indentify pure substances distinguish between metals and nonmetals Changes in matter: identify evidence of chemical changes comparison of chemical and physical changes explain conservation of mass in physical and chemical changes recognize properties of acids and bases and reactions	No data	Kinds of energy: explain energy transfer through seismic waves	No data
9-12	Properties and structure: describe properties of particles in an atom describe historic evidence for models of the atom explain arrangements of elements on the Periodic Table explain properties of isotopes Changes in matter: describe valence electrons and chemical bonds explain the rearrangement of atoms in reactions describe chemical reactions with equations compare exothermic and endothermic reactions	Forces and Motion: recognize inertia and the effect on motion explain and calculate acceleration demonstrate equivalence of forces between objects describe and calculate gravitational forces	Energy transformations: explain energy transfers in common devices calculate and explain energy, work and power in mechanical systems describe energy transfer and property changes in sound waves calculate and describe energy transfer in simple electric circuits describe interaction of electric current and magnetic force compare energy and products in fission and fusion describe properties and uses of electromagnetic radiation	Interaction with the environment compare advantages and disadvantages of various methods of generating electricity describe tradeoffs involved in the use of energy, natural resources and materials

Earth and Space Science

No data	Earth Structure and Processes	Interdependence within the Earth System	The Universe	Human Interactions with Earth Systems
K	No data	Weather and Climate monitor changes in weather identify the sun as the source of heat and light	No data	No data
1	Rock Sequences and Earth History group rocks by some characteristics distinguish between soil and rocks identify objects made from Earth materials	No data	No data	No data
2	No data	Weather and Climate measure weather with common tools	No data	No data
3	No data	No data	Solar System Motion describe changes in the position of the sun Formation of the Solar System relate the size of a light compared to its distance recognize that the Earth is one of several planets that orbit the sun and that that the moon orbits the earth	No data
4	Rock Sequences and Earth History recognize that rocks contain minerals classify minerals based on properties	Materials Cycles identify where water collects and how it moves through the Earth systems	No data	Interaction with the Environment describe how the use of water can affect water supply and quality
5	Earth’s Changing Surface explain how rocks weather and form soil explain how processes form features of the Earth’s surface	No data	No data	Interaction with the Environment give examples of beneficial and harmful human interactions with natural systems
6	No data	No data	No data	No data
7	No data	No data	No data	No data
8	Plate Tectonics describe properties of layers of the Earth correlate Earth features to volcanic and seismic activity recognize geologic events that result from motion of plates. Earth’s Changing Surface explain how landforms result from geologic processes explain how geologic process shaped Minnesota’s landscape Rock Sequences and Earth History interpret layers of rocks and fossils to infer history classify rocks and minerals relate rock composition to their formation	Sources and Transfer of Energy explain causes of seasons recognize the affect of oceans on climate explain how heating by the sun drives convection, currents and climate Weather and Climate describe effects of the composition of the atmosphere analyze changes in weather indicators relate global weather patterns to local weather Materials Cycles describe the location, composition and use of water reservoirs describe how the water cycle distributes materials and purifies water	Solar System Motion compare the sun to other parts of the galaxy describe how gravity affects objects in the solar system recognize the gravitation force between objects compare planets and moons explain day length, phases of the moon and eclipses	Interaction with the Environment describe how mineral and fuel resources formed and are used recognize how land and water uses affect natural processes
9-12	Plate Tectonics compare the interaction of tectonic plates at boundaries to relate earthquake data to subduction describe evidence for seafloor spreading and to explain how evidence led to the theory of plate tectonics Rock Sequences and Earth History explain how the structures of the Earth and life on Earth have changed over time cite evidence for changes in the composition of the atmosphere as life evolved	Sources and Transfer of Energy compare energy sources of the earth explain the transfer of Earth’s internal heat to move plates Weather and Climate explain factors that contribute to global climate patterns explain how evidence indicates climates changes over time Materials Cycles trace the carbon, oxygen and nitrogen through the Earth systems	Formation of the Solar System describe how the solar system formed explain how Earth evolved into its habitable form compare environmental conditions that make life possible on Earth with other objects in the solar system Age, Scale and Origin of the Universe explain evidence for the early history of the universe explain how nuclear fusion began in stars	Interaction with the environment analyze the benefits, risks and tradeoffs associated with natural hazards explain how human activities and natural processes are altering Earth system

Life Science

No data	Structure and Function in Living Systems	Interdependence Among Living Systems	Evolution in Living Systems	Human Interactions with Living Systems
K	Levels of Organism: compare plants and animals identify external parts and texture differentiate between living and nonliving	Ecosystems: identify living and nonliving components of a natural system	No data	No data
1	Levels of Organism: sort animals into groups according to characteristics	Ecosystems: recognize the needs of animals describe the ways an animal’s habitat provides for its basic needs.	Reproduction recognize that animals go through life cycles recognize that animals pass through the same life cycles as their parents.	No data
2	Levels of Organism: sort plants into groups according to characteristics.	Ecosystems: recognize the needs of plants and they fulfill those needs in various ways	Reproduction: describe characteristics of plants at different stages of their life cycles	No data
3	Levels of Organism: compare structures of plants and animals with their functions, identify groups of plants and animals	No data	Variation: give examples of likeness between adults and offspring give examples of differences among individuals that provide an advantage for survival.	No data
4	No data	No data	No data	Health and Disease recognize that the body has defense systems against germs give examples of diseases that can be prevented by vaccination
5	Levels of Organism: describe how plant and animal structures and functions provide an advantage for survival.	Ecosystems: describe relationships among living and nonliving parts of a natural system explain what would happen if one of its parts were changed	No data	Interaction with the Environment give examples of beneficial and harmful human interactions with the environment
6	No data	No data	No data	No data
7	Levels of Organism: recognize the organization of cells, tissues and organs. describe how the organs serve the needs of vertebrate organisms Cells recognize that cells carry out life functions recognize that they divide to make more cells. distinguish between plant and animal cells	Ecosystems: describe relationships among populations and communities compare roles of populations explain the factors that affect the number of populations in an ecosystem Flow of Energy and Matter: recognize that producers make sugars through photosynthesis describe how energy changes form through the food web explain that the total amount of matter remains the same as it is transferred between organisms	Reproduction recognize that genes determine inherited traits compare asexual and sexual reproduction distinguish between inherited and acquired characteristics Variation: describe how the fossil record shows changes in life forms compare living organisms with those in the fossil record recognize how variation helps or hinders a populations’ ability to survive recognize that extinction occurs when the environment changes and a population is not able to adapt	Interaction with the Environment describe examples of selective breeding and ways that human activities can change populations Health and Disease explain how various organisms interfere with normal body functions recognize that many microorganisms can cause specific diseases recognize that vaccines help build immunity recognize that the immune system protects against microscopic organisms and foreign substances.
8	No data	No data	No data	No data
9-12	Levels of Organisms explain how cells respond to changes in their environment, describe how organ systems maintain homeostasis in an organism Cells: describe the primary elements and molecular structures in cells. recognize the role of proteins, compare viruses, prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. explain the function of cell organelles. compare active and passive transport, explain the process of mitosis	Ecosystems: describe the factors that affect carrying capacity explain how ecosystems can change from the introduction of new species Flow of Energy and Matter: differentiate between the processes of photosynthesis and respiration explain how matter and energy is transferred and how energy is dissipated	Reproduction explain the relationships among DNA, genes and chromosomes use a monohybrid cross, and to describe the process of DNA replication Variation: explain how sorting and recombination increases variation explain the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction explain how mutations can result in genetic variation Biological Evolution describe evidence that led to theories of evolution use evidence to show the evolutionary relationship among species recognize that artificial selection can vary offspring explain how genetic variation is essential for evolution explain how competition and changing environments promote natural selection explain how genetic variations lead to new species	Interaction with the environment describe risks and benefits of biotechnology describe the risks and benefits of changing a natural ecosystem describe the contributions from diverse cultures to the understanding of the interactions of humans and living systems Health and Disease describe how diseases can be predicted by genetic testing explain how the body produces antibodies and how the immune systems can attack the body’s own cells explain how factors and decisions affect personal health recognize that a mutation can result in cancer.