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science > benchmarks

Taken from ODE's Science Academic Content Standards.

Benchmarks are broad concepts students should know by the time they leave a certain grade band.

Earth and Space Sciences

Students demonstrate an understanding about how Earth systems and processes interact in the geosphere resulting in the habitability of Earth. This includes demonstrating an understanding of the composition of the universe, the solar system and Earth. In addition, it includes understanding the properties and the interconnected nature of Earth's systems, processes that shape Earth and Earth's history. Students also demonstrate an understanding of how the concepts and principles of energy, matter, motion and forces explain Earth systems, the solar system and the universe. Finally, they grasp an understanding of the historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with Earth and space sciences.

  1. Explain the characteristics, cycles and patterns involving Earth and its place in the solar system.
  2. Summarize the processes that shape Earth's surface and describe evidence of those processes.
  3. Describe Earth's resources including rocks, soil, water, air, animals and plants and the ways in which they can be conserved.
  4. Analyze weather and changes that occur over a period of time.

Life Sciences

Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems. An understanding of the characteristics, structure and function of cells, organisms and living systems will be developed. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of the principles of heredity, biological evolution, and the diversity and interdependence of life. Students demonstrate an understanding of different historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the life sciences.

  1. Differentiate between the life cycles of different plants and animals.
  2. Analyze plant and animal structures and functions needed for survival and describe the flow of energy through a system that all organisms use to survive.
  3. Compare changes in an organism's ecosystem/habitat that affect its survival.

Physical Sciences

Students recognize that science and technology are interconnected and that using technology involves assessment of the benefits, risks and costs. Students should build scientific and technological knowledge, as well as the skill required to design and construct devices. In addition, they should develop the processes to solve problems and understand that problems may be solved in several ways.

  1. Compare the characteristics of simple physical and chemical changes.
  2. Identify and describe the physical properties of matter in its various states.
  3. Describe the forces that directly affect objects and their motion.
  4. Summarize the way changes in temperature can be produced and thermal energy transferred.
  5. Trace how electrical energy flows through a simple electrical circuit and describe how the electrical energy can produce thermal energy, light, sound and magnetic forces.
  6. Describe the properties of light and sound energy.

Science and Technology

  1. Describe how technology affects human life.
  2. Describe and illustrate the design process.

Scientific Inquiry

Students develop scientific habits of mind as they use the processes of scientific inquiry to ask valid questions and to gather and analyze information. They understand how to develop hypotheses and make predictions. They are able to reflect on scientific practices as they develop plans of action to create and evaluate a variety of conclusions. Students are also able to demonstrate the ability to communicate their findings to others.

  1. Use appropriate instruments safely to observe, measure and collect data when conducting a scientific investigation.
  2. Organize and evaluate observations, measurements and other data to formulate inferences and conclusions.
  3. Develop, design and safely conduct scientific investigations and communicate the results.

Scientific Ways of Knowing

Students realize that the current body of scientific knowledge must be based on evidence, be predictive, logical, subject to modification and limited to the natural world. This includes demonstrating an understanding that scientific knowledge grows and advances as new evidence is discovered to support or modify existing theories, as well as to encourage the development of new theories. Students are able to reflect on ethical scientific practices and demonstrate an understanding of how the current body of scientific knowledge reflects the historical and cultural contributions of women and men who provide us with a more reliable and comprehensive understanding of the natural world.

  1. Distinguish between fact and opinion and explain how ideas and conclusions change as new knowledge is gained.
  2. Describe different types of investigations and use results and data from investigations to provide the evidence to support explanations and conclusions.
  3. Explain the importance of keeping records of observations and investigations that are accurate and understandable.
  4. Explain that men and women of diverse countries and cultures participate in careers in all fields of science.