Science & Engineering Practices in Next Generation Science Standards Asking Questions and Defining Problems: A practice of science is to ask and refine questions that lead to descriptions and explanations of how the natural and designed world(s) works and which can be empirically tested. Engineering questions clarify problems to determine criteria for successful solutions and identify constraints to solve problems about the designed world. Both scientists and engineers also ask questions to clarify ideas. K–2 Condensed Practices 3–5 Condensed Practices 6–8 Condensed Practices 9–12 Condensed Practices Asking questions and defining Asking questions and defining Asking questions and defining problems in 6–8 builds Asking questions and defining problems in 9–12 builds problems in K–2 builds on prior problems in 3–5 builds on K–2 on K–5 experiences and progresses to specifying on K–8 experiences and progresses to formulating, experiences and progresses to simple experiences and progresses to relationships between variables, clarify arguments and refining, and evaluating empirically testable questions descriptive questions that can be specifying qualitative relationships. models. and design problems using models and simulations. tested. Ask questions based on Ask questions about what would Ask questions that arise from careful observation of Ask questions that arise from careful observation of observations to find more happen if a variable is changed. phenomena, models, or unexpected results, to phenomena, or unexpected results, to clarify and/or information about the natural clarify and/or seek additional information. seek additional information. and/or designed world(s). Ask questions to identify and/or clarify evidence Ask questions that arise from examining models or a and/or the premise(s) of an argument. theory, to clarify and/or seek additional information Ask questions to determine relationships between and relationships. independent and dependent variables and Ask questions to determine relationships, including relationships in models. quantitative relationships, between independent Ask questions to clarify and/or refine a model, an and dependent variables. explanation, or an engineering problem. Ask questions to clarify and refine a model, an explanation, or an engineering problem. Ask and/or identify questions that Identify scientific (testable) and Ask questions that require sufficient and Evaluate a question to determine if it is testable and can be answered by an non-scientific (non-testable) appropriate empirical evidence to answer. relevant. investigation. questions. Ask questions that can be investigated within the Ask questions that can be investigated within the Ask questions that can be scope of the classroom, outdoor environment, and scope of the school laboratory, research facilities, or investigated and predict museums and other public facilities with available field (e.g., outdoor environment) with available reasonable outcomes based on resources and, when appropriate, frame a resources and, when appropriate, frame a patterns such as cause and effect hypothesis based on observations and scientific hypothesis based on a model or theory. relationships. principles. Ask questions that challenge the premise(s) of an Ask and/or evaluate questions that challenge the argument or the interpretation of a data set. premise(s) of an argument, the interpretation of a data set, or the suitability of the design. Define a simple problem that can Use prior knowledge to describe Define a design problem that can be solved through Define a design problem that involves the be solved through the problems that can be solved. the development of an object, tool, process or development of a process or system with interacting development of a new or improved Define a simple design problem system and includes multiple criteria and components and criteria and constraints that may object or tool. that can be solved through the constraints, including scientific knowledge that may include social, technical and/or environmental development of an object, tool, limit possible solutions. considerations. process, or system and includes several criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost. Based on Appendix F of the Next Generation Science Standards © 2013 Achieve, Inc. on behalf of the 26 NGSS Lead States. Science and Engineering Practices Developing and Using Models: A practice of both science and engineering is to use and construct models as helpful tools for representing ideas and explanations. These tools include diagrams, drawings, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and computer simulations. Modeling tools are used to develop questions, predictions and explanations; analyze and identify flaws in systems; and communicate ideas. Models are used to build and revise scientific explanations and proposed engineered systems. Measurements and observations are used to revise models and designs. K–2 Condensed Practices 3–5 Condensed Practices 6–8 Condensed Practices 9–12 Condensed Practices Modeling in K–2 builds on prior Modeling in 3–5 builds on K–2 Modeling in 6–8 builds on K–5 experiences and Modeling in 9–12 builds on K–8 experiences and experiences and progresses to include experiences and progresses to progresses to developing, using, and revising models to progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing using and developing models (i.e., building and revising simple models describe, test, and predict more abstract phenomena models to predict and show relationships among diagram, drawing, physical replica, and using models to represent events and design systems. variables between systems and their components in diorama, dramatization, or and design solutions. the natural and designed world(s). storyboard) that represent concrete events or design solutions. Distinguish between a model and Identify limitations of models. Evaluate limitations of a model for a proposed Evaluate merits and limitations of two different the actual object, process, and/or object or tool. models of the same proposed tool, process, events the model represents. mechanism, or system in order to select or revise a Compare models to identify model that best fits the evidence or design criteria. common features and differences. Design a test of a model to ascertain its reliability. Develop and/or use a model to Collaboratively develop and/or Develop or modify a model—based on evidence – to Develop, revise, and/or use a model based on represent amounts, relationships, revise a model based on evidence match what happens if a variable or component of a evidence to illustrate and/or predict the relative scales (bigger, smaller), that shows the relationships system is changed. relationships between systems or between and/or patterns in the natural and among variables for frequent and Use and/or develop a model of simple systems with components of a system. designed world(s). regular occurring events. uncertain and less predictable factors. Develop and/or use multiple types of models to Develop a model using an analogy, Develop and/or revise a model to show the provide mechanistic accounts and/or predict example, or abstract relationships among variables, including those that phenomena, and move flexibly between model representation to describe a are not observable but predict observable types based on merits and limitations. scientific principle or design phenomena. solution. Develop and/or use a model to predict and/or Develop and/or use models to describe phenomena. describe and/or predict Develop a model to describe unobservable phenomena. mechanisms. Develop a simple model based on Develop a diagram or simple Develop and/or use a model to generate data to test Develop a complex model that allows for evidence to represent a proposed physical prototype to convey a ideas about phenomena in natural or designed manipulation and testing of a proposed process or object or tool. proposed object, tool, or process. systems, including those representing inputs and system. Use a model to test cause and outputs, and those at unobservable scales. Develop and/or use a model (including effect relationships or interactions mathematical and computational) to generate data concerning the functioning of a to support explanations, predict phenomena, natural or designed system. analyze systems, and/or solve problems. Based on Appendix F of the Next Generation Science Standards © 2013 Achieve, Inc. on behalf of the 26 NGSS Lead States. Science and Engineering Practices Planning and Carrying Out Investigations: Scientists and engineers plan and carry out investigations in the field or laboratory, working collaboratively as well as individually. Their investigations are systematic and require clarifying what counts as data and identifying variables or parameters. Engineering investigations identify the effectiveness, efficiency, and durability of designs under different conditions. K–2 Condensed Practices 3–5 Condensed Practices 6–8 Condensed Practices 9–12 Condensed Practices Planning and carrying out investigations Planning and carrying out investigations Planning and carrying out investigations Planning and carrying out investigations in 9-12 builds on K-8 to answer questions or test solutions to to answer questions or test solutions to in 6-8 builds on K-5 experiences and experiences and progresses to include investigations that problems in K–2 builds on prior problems in 3–5 builds on K–2 progresses