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USA National Science and Technology Education
Standards Correlation Matrices
Preface
Science and Technology
Science standards identify what students should know and be
able to do in science by the end of a particular grade level or
levels. This section will focus on only the Science and Technology
standards of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) for
grades K-4 and 5-8.
The Science and Technology standards have been placed in a matrix
format to assist schools as they apply the standards to their
science programs. All Science and Technology standards are listed in
the left columns under Standards and under Concepts and
Investigations. At the right are spaces under specific grade-level
headings, grades K through 4 or 5 through 8.
Teachers and administrators wishing to ensure that their science
program meets the NSES Science and Technology standards can use this
format to review the specific standards statements, then note in the
spaces to the right the grade levels in which the standard is being
met. For example, Standard E. 1. b. in the Grades 5-8 standards is,
Students will "Design a solution or a product." In grades K-8,
children may be involved in a number of technological designs.
Children may design paper cup wheels (paper cups taped together
bottom) to test which can roll the greatest distance, design simple
burglar alarms using flashlight cells, bulbs, wire, and buzzers,
design egg-catchers to keep eggs from breaking when dropped from
increasing heights, design human peripheral vision testers, and so
on. These examples and others like them, and/or the pages in the
curriculum they came from, would be marked appropriately in the
Grades 5, 6, 7, and/or 8 columns of the matrix to the right of
standard E. 1. b.
Comparing the learning experiences included in the curriculum to the
standard enables school personnel to discern whether or not the
standard is being met. In the foregoing product design example, the
standard may be met across a number of grade levels. Conversely, if
standard E. 1. b. reveals only blank spaces in the matrix, and few
products or solutions are designed by students, this indicates that
more design experiences should be added to the curriculum. It should
be noted that a particular standard need not be met at each and
every grade level. Design may be included in Grades 5 and 7 but not
in Grades 6 and 8. However, in the NSES standards, student
competence in design is required by the end of Grade 8.
The Science and Technology matrices may also be used to assess
textbook, modules, kits, or other science curriculum materials being
considered for adoption and use. If a school is using the National
Science Education Standards, it may wish to apply the standards to
ensure that the considered curriculum materials do, in fact, measure
up to the expectations of the Science and Technology standards.
Download the USA National Science and Technology Education Standards
Correlation Matrix Grades K-4
Download the USA National Science and Technology Education Standards
Correlation Matrix Grades 5-8 |
