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11

Physics and 21st Century Science Standards: The Role of Physics in the NGSS

The Dimensions

The key elements of the NGSS are the three dimensions (Figure 5) that are interwoven

into each standard.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

(DCIs) These are the key pieces of discipline-focused

knowledge (i.e. content) that students should know.

Earth Science

Life Science

Physical Science

Engineering

Science and Engineering Practices

(SEPs) These practices describe specific skills and

actions that can be performed by students that parallel the activities of scientists to

build models and theories and by engineers to design and build systems.

Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)

Developing and using models

Planning and carrying out investigations

Analyzing and interpreting data

Using mathematics and computational thinking

Constructive explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for

engineering)

Engaging in argument from evidence

Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

Crosscutting Concepts

(CCs) These are the unifying ideas that span all science

disciplines that students with a broad science literacy should understand.

Organized by

DCI

Organized by

Topic

Physical Sciences

Matter and Its Interactions

Motion and Stability: Force & Motion

Energy

Waves and Their Applications in Technologies

for Information Transfer

Structure and Properties of Matter

Chemical Reactions

*

Forces and Interactions

Energy

Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation

Life Sciences

From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and

Processes

*

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and

Dynamics

*

Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

*

Structure and Function

Matter and Energy in Organisms and

Ecosystems

*

Interdependent Relationships in

Ecosystems

Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Natural Selection and Evolution

Earth and Space

Sciences

Earth’s Place in the Universe

*

Earth’s Systems

*

Earth and Human Activity

*

Space Systems

*

History of Earth

Earth’s Systems

*

Weather and Climate

*

Human Sustainability

*

Engineering Design

Engineering Design

Engineering Design

Table 1: NGSS organized by DCI and Topic